Sarah D. Young

Sarah’s passion for the law and focus on employment and education began with her experience as a child watching and learning from her father who owned a small business with a diverse workforce, followed by her undergraduate training as an elementary school teacher. Whether dealing with schools or private entities, Sarah’s bottom-line measure of progress is always focused on the client’s needs, goals and measures of organizational success. Given Sarah’s background before becoming an attorney, and then her service both in-house and at law firms, Sarah understands needs from all sides. As an attorney with Adams & Reese, she brings that broad spectrum of experience and perspective to the firm’s clients.

While in law school, Sarah clerked with the Texas Tech University General Counsel's Office as well as the United States Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Texas. Her academic achievements were honored with the prestigious CALI Award for Litigation with the Federal Government and the Jurisprudence Award for Superior Academic Achievement in Constitutional Law. Prior to law school, Sarah trained as an elementary school teacher, which served as her inspiration for a career in education law.

Experience

• Obtained motions to dismiss and summary judgments in favor of school system clients in discrimination employment lawsuits.
• Obtained a motion to dismiss in favor of a public school system client in a Title IX sex discrimination lawsuit.
• Obtained motions for summary judgment in favor of a public school system client in student injury lawsuits filed under Section 1983.
• Obtained dismissals in favor of employers in charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on various discrimination claims.
• Obtained dismissals in favor of a public school system client in multiple grievances filed with the Federal Office of Civil Rights on matters including Title IX, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Section 504.
• Assisted a public school board and public school system officials in policy drafting and implementation and successfully obtained legal and compliance waivers at the state level on behalf of a public school system client in order to open a comprehensive career workforce high school.
• Assisted and advised employers and C-Suite level executives in drafting and administering employment policies and procedures, job descriptions, training programs, and compensation structures
• Advised a public school board and system officials in negotiating and drafting a school system separation agreement for approval at the state level between a county and city school system.
• Obtained judgments in favor of school system client in multiple special education due process hearings at the state administrative level.
• Represented and advised a large public school system in drafting and implementing a multiple county and municipal law enforcement agencies agreement for a school system wide school resource officer program.
• She advises school boards and administrators on policy issues, develops collaborative educational and workforce-focused programs with private industry, and counsels clients on legal issues related to school facility construction matters and employment matters, including compensation structures.