L. Carlos Villegas

Successfully advising school districts throughout Southern California, Carlos Villegas practices in a wide range of areas, including employment, labor, collective bargaining, public records requests, board member training, student issues and Brown Act compliance. Carlos conducts many complex employment and student-related investigations and advocates for clients before the California Civil Rights Department (formerly Department of Fair Employment and Housing), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Office of Administrative Hearings, and Public Employment Relations Board. Carlos also serves as the co-chair of the firm’s Governance Practice Group, he takes into consideration all current and emerging technology issues in the work he does.

In collective bargaining, Carlos draws on deep insights gained from being raised in a union household. He enjoys collaborating with a large team and participating in the give-and-take of negotiations. A dedicated problem-solver, Carlos applies the full gamut of his outstanding legal and people skills to help secure the best outcomes possible. He represents districts in Superior Court and a variety of administrative hearings, including teacher dismissals, certificated layoffs and classified suspensions. Carlos works collaboratively with school districts and unions to resolve employment disputes.

With many years of experience working in school districts and roots in a family full of educators, Carlos adroitly conducts client training sessions on subjects such as Brown Act and school board relations. As well as advising boards on legal issues in his professional life, Carlos is deeply involved with them in his private life, as he has served on the boards of nonprofits and is currently a member of the board of the St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles.

Carlos’s excellent communication skills and natural affinity and enthusiasm for public speaking make him a popular education law presenter at conferences, meetings and other events involving districts, administrators and parent and community groups. In all appearances, his ability to read the room, smoothly shift gears and use humor, and empathy at the right moments enhance the impact of his presentations.

Carlos’ Latino heritage gives him a valuable cultural connection to a very important and sizable demographic group in southwest public schools. In addition to conversational fluency in Spanish, Carlos brings a deep familiarity with the perspectives and concerns of members of this community. He is involved in the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) and the California Latino School Boards Association (CLSBA), as well as the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS), a national organization, and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials.