Mara practices in school law, labor and employment and municipal law. She has represented school district and BOCES clients in matters involving a wide variety of general counsel matters, including student disciplinary proceedings, residency, homeless students, policy review, appeals to the Commissioner of Education, third party vendor contracts, student records and student name change orders.
She works closely with district clerks and administration providing day-to-day guidance and counsel on all issues involving school budgets, elections, board agendas and minutes, public notices and compliance with the Open Meetings Law, Freedom of Information Law and the Dignity for All Students Act. Mara is a member of the Education Law Committees of the Suffolk County Bar Association and Nassau County Bar Association and is a past co-chair of the committee at the Suffolk County Bar Association.
In addition, Mara has lectured on education law issues at conferences including ones sponsored by the Nassau and Suffolk Academies of Law, as well as the New York State Association of School Attorneys, the Long Island Attendance Professionals and Teachers Association, and NBI, Inc.
"Residency Determinations," Long Island Attendance Professionals and Teachers Association, May 9, 2023
"Legalese: What’s the Verdict on School Law?" School Business Official Perspectives Podcast, June 2, 2022
"McKinney-Vento Determinations," Long Island Attendance Professionals and Teachers Association, May 3, 2022
"Bar Association Squares – Play ‘Tic Tac Toe’ with the Counsel," 2022 Annual School Law Conference, Nassau County Bar Association, April 8, 2022
"School Elections: A Looming New Horizon?", Virtual Convention & Education Expo, Co-Sponsored by NYS School Boards Association and NYS Association of School Attorneys, October 28, 2020
"An Election Like No Other: Preparing for a Local Election Postponed Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Local and State Government Law Section Webinar, New York State Bar Association, June 2, 2020
"Seeing if There is a Better Way: A Look into Student Discipline as We Head into 2020," 2019 Annual School Law Conference, Nassau and Suffolk Academies of Law and Education Law Committees, December 6, 2019
"Discipline and Expulsion Essentials Under IDEA and Section 504," National Business Institute, October 4, 2019
"Protecting Student Privacy: Requirements for Schools," National Business Institute, February 7, 2019
"The Non-Resident 'Resident’ Student'," 2018 Annual School Law Conference, Nassau and Suffolk Academies of Law and Education Law Committees, December 7, 2018
"Defending Your District Against Attacks on Social Media," 2018 Summer Law Conference, NYS School Boards Association, July 26, 2018
"Election Day Do's and Don'ts," New York State School Boards Association’s 2024 District Clerk Workshop, September 26, 2024
"Student Discipline in New York – A Changing Landscape," New York School Boards Association Summer Law Conference, July 23, 2024
"'Line Warming' - Best practices for school attorneys supporting school district clients," New York State Association of School Attorneys’ (NYSASA) 23rd Annual School Attorney Law Conference, May 31, 2024
"Student Residency, Custody and Undocumented Youth," Long Island Attendance Professionals and Teachers Association, May 8, 2024
"Residency and McKinney Vento," Long Island Attendance Teachers and Professionals, May 8, 2024
"Striking a Balance: Where Mental Health and Restorative Practices Intersect With Student Disciplinary Proceedings," Nassau Suffolk Law Conference, Suffolk County and Nassau County Bar Association, March 22, 2024
Mara practices in school law, labor and employment and municipal law. She has represented school district and BOCES clients in matters involving a wide variety of general counsel matters, including student disciplinary proceedings, residency, homeless students, policy review, appeals to the Commissioner of Education, third party vendor contracts, student records and student name change orders.
She works closely with district clerks and administration providing day-to-day guidance and counsel on all issues involving school budgets, elections, board agendas and minutes, public notices and compliance with the Open Meetings Law, Freedom of Information Law and the Dignity for All Students Act. Mara is a member of the Education Law Committees of the Suffolk County Bar Association and Nassau County Bar Association and is a past co-chair of the committee at the Suffolk County Bar Association.
Mara practices in school law, labor and employment and municipal law. She has represented school district and BOCES clients in matters involving a wide variety of general counsel matters, including student disciplinary proceedings, residency, homeless students, policy review, appeals to the Commissioner of Education, third party vendor contracts, student records and student name change orders.
She works closely with district clerks and administration providing day-to-day guidance and counsel on all issues involving school budgets, elections, board agendas and minutes, public notices and compliance with the Open Meetings Law, Freedom of Information Law and the Dignity for All Students Act. Mara is a member of the Education Law Committees of the Suffolk County Bar Association and Nassau County Bar Association and is a past co-chair of the committee at the Suffolk County Bar Association.
In addition, Mara has lectured on education law issues at conferences including ones sponsored by the Nassau and Suffolk Academies of Law, as well as the New York State Association of School Attorneys, the Long Island Attendance Professionals and Teachers Association, and NBI, Inc.
"Residency Determinations," Long Island Attendance Professionals and Teachers Association, May 9, 2023
"Legalese: What’s the Verdict on School Law?" School Business Official Perspectives Podcast, June 2, 2022
"McKinney-Vento Determinations," Long Island Attendance Professionals and Teachers Association, May 3, 2022
"Bar Association Squares – Play ‘Tic Tac Toe’ with the Counsel," 2022 Annual School Law Conference, Nassau County Bar Association, April 8, 2022
"School Elections: A Looming New Horizon?", Virtual Convention & Education Expo, Co-Sponsored by NYS School Boards Association and NYS Association of School Attorneys, October 28, 2020
"An Election Like No Other: Preparing for a Local Election Postponed Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Local and State Government Law Section Webinar, New York State Bar Association, June 2, 2020
"Seeing if There is a Better Way: A Look into Student Discipline as We Head into 2020," 2019 Annual School Law Conference, Nassau and Suffolk Academies of Law and Education Law Committees, December 6, 2019
"Discipline and Expulsion Essentials Under IDEA and Section 504," National Business Institute, October 4, 2019
"Protecting Student Privacy: Requirements for Schools," National Business Institute, February 7, 2019
"The Non-Resident 'Resident’ Student'," 2018 Annual School Law Conference, Nassau and Suffolk Academies of Law and Education Law Committees, December 7, 2018
"Defending Your District Against Attacks on Social Media," 2018 Summer Law Conference, NYS School Boards Association, July 26, 2018
"Election Day Do's and Don'ts," New York State School Boards Association’s 2024 District Clerk Workshop, September 26, 2024
"Student Discipline in New York – A Changing Landscape," New York School Boards Association Summer Law Conference, July 23, 2024
"'Line Warming' - Best practices for school attorneys supporting school district clients," New York State Association of School Attorneys’ (NYSASA) 23rd Annual School Attorney Law Conference, May 31, 2024
"Student Residency, Custody and Undocumented Youth," Long Island Attendance Professionals and Teachers Association, May 8, 2024
"Residency and McKinney Vento," Long Island Attendance Teachers and Professionals, May 8, 2024
"Striking a Balance: Where Mental Health and Restorative Practices Intersect With Student Disciplinary Proceedings," Nassau Suffolk Law Conference, Suffolk County and Nassau County Bar Association, March 22, 2024
