Lozano Smith

In the intricate and often highly specialized world of public sector law, California's education and governmental agencies require legal counsel that is not only profoundly knowledgeable but also deeply committed to their unique missions. For over three decades, Lozano Smith has distinguished itself as the premier legal partner for hundreds of K-12 school districts, community college districts, universities, cities, counties, and special districts across the Golden State. Their Sacramento office serves as a key hub for providing expert, tailored legal solutions that help these vital public entities navigate complex regulations, resolve disputes, and achieve their goals.

Lozano Smith's commitment extends beyond simply providing legal advice; they strive to be true partners with their clients, understanding the challenges and opportunities inherent in public service. Their collaborative approach, combined with a focus on preventive advice and innovative solutions, aims to help public agencies avoid costly legal problems and operate more effectively. For California residents who work within or interact with public agencies, understanding the role and expertise of a firm like Lozano Smith is crucial for ensuring effective governance and positive community outcomes. They are truly at the forefront of legal services for California's public sector.

Lozano Smith's Sacramento office is strategically located at 1 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA. This prestigious address places the firm in a prime, easily accessible location within the heart of California’s capital city. Situated on Capitol Mall, the office is just steps away from important state government buildings, making it an ideal base for a firm that primarily serves public agencies.

The accessibility of this location is a significant advantage for their diverse client base across California. For clients traveling from various parts of the state, Sacramento offers numerous transportation options. The office is well-served by public transportation, including Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) light rail and bus lines, ensuring convenient access for those utilizing public transit. For clients who prefer to drive, there are multiple parking garages and metered street parking options available in the downtown core, although it is always advisable to check current parking availability and rates beforehand. This central and well-connected location underscores Lozano Smith's dedication to providing convenient and efficient legal services to their statewide clientele, enabling easy access for consultations, meetings, and collaborative strategy sessions.

Lozano Smith offers a comprehensive range of legal services tailored specifically to the unique needs of California's education and public sectors. Their practice groups are designed to provide specialized expertise, ensuring that clients receive the highest quality and most current legal advice.

• Education Law: This is a core practice area, encompassing K-12 school districts, community colleges, and universities. Services include advice on student issues (discipline, attendance, rights), special education, school finance, facilities, governance, and compliance with state and federal education laws.
• Labor & Employment Law: Providing guidance on all aspects of public sector employment, including hiring and firing, disciplinary actions, collective bargaining, grievances, discrimination claims, wage and hour issues, leave laws, and compliance with state and federal labor regulations.
• Investigations: Conducting independent and comprehensive investigations into sensitive matters such as unlawful discrimination, conflict of interest, employee misconduct, financial fraud, sexual harassment (including Title IX), and violations of policy or performance standards. Their team is trained in trauma-informed investigation practices.
• Litigation: Representing public agencies in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative bodies, in a wide array of disputes. This includes defense against civil rights claims, employment litigation, construction disputes, and challenges to agency decisions.
• Municipal Law: Advising cities, counties, and special districts on general municipal law matters, including land use and planning, environmental law, public contracting, open meeting laws (Brown Act), public records requests (CPRA), and elections.
• Real Estate & Facilities: Providing legal support for public works projects, school construction, property acquisition and disposition, leasing, and compliance with environmental regulations related to facilities.
• Business & Facilities: Advising on procurement, contracts, competitive bidding, public finance, and bond measures.
• Student Issues & Rights: Addressing complex issues related to student privacy, bullying, discipline, enrollment, and constitutional rights.
• Construction Law: Offering advice and litigation services related to public construction projects, including contract drafting, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance.
• Title IX Compliance: Guiding educational institutions through the intricacies of Title IX regulations, including investigations, policy development, and training related to sexual harassment and discrimination.
• Preventive Advice & Training: Developing and delivering training programs for clients on various legal topics to help agencies avoid costly legal problems through proactive compliance and best practices.

Lozano Smith distinguishes itself through several key features and highlights that underscore its leadership position in California's public sector legal landscape.

• Exclusive Public Sector Focus: Unlike many general practice firms, Lozano Smith specializes solely in serving education and public agencies. This singular focus ensures unparalleled expertise and a deep understanding of the unique challenges and legal frameworks governing public entities.
• Statewide Presence with Local Expertise: With offices in multiple cities across California (including Sacramento, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Mission Viejo, Monterey, San Diego, and Walnut Creek), Lozano Smith offers both statewide reach and localized knowledge, providing accessible and relevant legal counsel to diverse communities.
• Client-Centric Partnership Approach: The firm operates on the principle of being a "partner" with its clients. They focus on understanding each client's mission and delivering tailored services, prompt advice, confident counsel, and innovative solutions to help them fulfill their public service duties.
• "No Jerks" Rule Culture: Internally, Lozano Smith fosters a unique "No Jerks" rule, emphasizing a collaborative, respectful, and supportive work environment. This positive culture translates into a cohesive team dedicated to client service and promotes a workplace where attorneys and staff can thrive.
• Innovative Solutions & Preventive Law: The firm is committed to innovation, encouraging attorneys to think creatively and develop proactive strategies to help clients avoid legal issues before they arise. Regular practice group meetings ensure attorneys stay abreast of new legal developments and share expertise.
• Comprehensive Training and Professional Development: Lozano Smith invests significantly in the professional growth of its attorneys and staff, offering internal and external professional development opportunities, mentorship programs, and regular training, which translates into highly skilled legal teams for their clients.
• Diversity and Inclusion: The firm actively promotes a culture of diversity and inclusion, recognizing that a diverse workforce brings varied perspectives and enriches problem-solving, ultimately benefiting the clients and communities they serve.
• Experienced Legal Teams: Lozano Smith boasts a large team of attorneys within its specialized practice groups, allowing for a collaborative approach to complex legal problems and ensuring that clients benefit from collective expertise.

As a leading law firm specializing in public agency law, Lozano Smith typically operates under standard professional service agreements rather than offering traditional retail-style promotions or discounts. Their focus is on providing exceptional, specialized legal expertise and value to their institutional clients through clear, professional engagements.

For prospective clients, particularly new public agencies or those seeking specialized advice for a particular project, the firm's engagement process typically begins with initial discussions to understand the scope of legal needs. During these conversations, Lozano Smith's team will outline their approach, relevant experience, and fee structure, which is typically based on hourly rates for their attorneys and paralegals, or sometimes fixed fees for specific projects or ongoing retainers, depending on the nature of the services required. Transparency in billing is a cornerstone of their client relationships. Public agencies considering legal representation from Lozano Smith are encouraged to directly contact the firm to discuss their specific requirements and to understand how the firm's services and fees are structured to best meet their operational and budgetary needs.

For California's education and public agencies seeking expert legal counsel, Lozano Smith's Sacramento office is a central point of contact.

Address: 1 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA

Phone: (916) 329-7433

Mobile Phone: +1 916-329-7433

Prospective clients are encouraged to reach out via phone to initiate a discussion about their legal needs. The firm's team is prepared to engage with public officials and administrators to understand their specific challenges and demonstrate how Lozano Smith's specialized expertise can provide the necessary legal support and strategic guidance.

For locals in California, particularly those involved with or impacted by the operations of public agencies—from school districts to city councils—Lozano Smith stands out as an exceptionally suitable legal partner. Their unparalleled specialization in education and public sector law means that any legal challenge faced by these entities is handled by attorneys who possess not just a general understanding of the law, but a deep, nuanced expertise in the specific regulations and precedents that govern public operations.

The firm's philosophy of partnering with clients, providing both proactive advice and robust representation, ensures that California's public agencies can operate efficiently and in full compliance with the law, ultimately benefiting the communities they serve. Their statewide presence, anchored by the accessible Sacramento office, further ensures that expert legal counsel is always within reach, regardless of an agency's specific location within the state. For public officials and administrators in California, choosing Lozano Smith means choosing a firm with a proven track record, a dedicated team, and a shared commitment to upholding the public trust and navigating the legal landscape effectively. Their focus on preventive advice and innovative solutions helps foster stable and compliant public institutions, directly contributing to the well-being of local communities.