Latina of Influence | Maribel S. Medina
Community Advocate and General Counsel, Maribel S. Medina is one of Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2014 Latinas of Influence. Follow all of our 2014 Latinas of Influence on twitter with the tag #HLTVLC14
As the General Counsel, Maribel S. Medina oversees all aspects of the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s legal matters and serves as the chief legal advisor to the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools. The Santa Clara County Office of Education oversees 32 school districts.
Ms. Medina’s prior work in both public sector and private sector law throughout California, trained her well for her current role addressing issues ranging from general education law, to real estate and construction and labor and employment matters. Immediately before joining the Santa Clara County Office of Education, she was a partner at a private law firm where she chaired the firm’s education law practice group.
Our entire list of Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2014 Latinas of Influence are invited to participate in our Latina Conference scheduled for April 2, 2014.
Maribel S. Medina, General Counsel, Santa Clara County Office of Education
Ms. Medina also served as General Counsel to the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)—the highest performing largest urban school district in California. In this role, Ms. Medina consistently planned, organized, oversaw, and provided professional legal counsel and representation on all District matters as chief legal counsel.
Ms. Medina also served as Special Counsel to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education—the second largest school district in the country. As lead legal advisor to the Board, she counseled on issues ranging from education, real estate, environmental and construction to labor and budgeting issues.
While an associate for a Southern California law firm, Ms. Medina advised public agencies on municipal law matters, including meeting procedures under Brown Act, conflict of interests, land use, eminent domain, redevelopment and general environmental law matters.
She received her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, her Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University, and her B.A. degree from the University of California Berkeley.
The Daily Journal has recognized Ms. Medina as a “Top 20 Under 40” attorney in California. She has also been selected as one of Southern California’s Super Lawyers, the “Latina Lawyer of the Year” from the Hispanic National Bar Association and the “Benito Juarez Lawyer of the Year” from the Mexican American Bar Association.
Presentations
- Presenter, “Complying with the California Public Records Act,” Countywide Chief Business Officials Meeting, 2014
- Speaker, “Avoiding the Accidental Meeting,” California State Bar Public Records & Open Meetings Conference, 2013
- Speaker, “Controlling Closed Sessions,” California State Bar Public Records & Open Meetings Conference, 2013
- Speaker, “How do I Get Started?” National Association of Latino Elected Officials, Institute for Newly Elected Officials, 2012
- Speaker, “Social Media and School Employees,” California Council of School Attorneys and the County Counsel’s Association, Annual Conference, 2012
