As with any Board of Education, every elected Board has an attorney to represent and advise the school district on legal matters. In Somerset County, there is no exception. But what do the attorneys get paid? There have been a few uneducated comments about the Board attorneys in Somerset, but we never take anyone’s word for it. We do our homework.
In February of 2025, the Somerset County Board of Education selected a new law firm to represent them. Normally, a board can engage any attorney it wants at any time. Generally, no one else has a standing to challenge which attorney the board selects to represent them. That includes the superintendent, any member of the public, or school system administration even though the superintendent’s signature is required to sign off on contracts (but cannot be unreasonably withheld). The superintendent does not have any veto power over who the Board selects as their attorney.
An attorney-client relationship is between the Board and their selected attorney, and is confidential in nature. Although the Board can publish a Request For Proposal (RFP) for legal services, it is not required.
But What Do Attorneys Normally Charge?
If anyone has hired an attorney, they know that an attorney typically charges $350/hr. on the Eastern Shore, and $500/hr. across the bridge. When municipalities contract for legal services, there is typically a discount for hourly services due to the fact that legal services are needed on a regular and consistent basis.
But what rate does the Somerset County Board of Education have?
PRIOR ATTORNEYS:
CURRENT ATTORNEYS:
I understand their rate is less, but don’t they drive a long distance to travel to Somerset?
Somerset County Board make a smart choice with the Schifanelli’s. The previous attorney’s and the attorney’s most of the other school board’s use, represent the Maryland and not the Board of Education that it is supposed to represent.
Last I checked Stevensville is closer than Columbia, in addition to the lower bill rate per hour.
My conjecture is they likely sought a firm that already handles a volume of schools and school board work, thus developing actual expertise even though they can’t market themselves as school experts.
The school boards association often gets a contract for Supt. search and then digs into the urban fishbowl for candidates. When hired most have been less than successful on the Shore. My observation.
School boards on the shore typically use the same firm that’s compromised by the unions. The unions then use their whore lawyers to manipulate the board through deceptive practices to ensure that the union’s agenda is fulfilled. Somerset is extremely blessed to have the Schifanelli’s.