The Hinsdale High School District 86 Board is considering whether it makes sense to hire an in-house attorney in an effort to reduce legal bills.
The board held a special meeting Wednesday night, after The Hinsdalean went to press, to hear the report of a working group assembled to investigate various legal strategies, one of which is hiring an attorney to be on staff. The group was put together at last week’s board meeting.
Board member Asma Akhras asked about hiring a district attorney last week. Board member Jeff Waters asked if the practice is typical.
“I don’t think it’s unheard of,” President Cat Greenspon responded. “There are other districts that have in-house counsel. In-house counsel determines if the district needs additional support in specific cases or specific practice areas.”
Waters noted that attorneys’ relationships by law are with the board of education and not the administration.
“I would express some reluctance to have that relationship on campus, if you will,” he said.
Such a move might help reduce the district’s legal fees, board member Terri Walker noted.
“Our legal costs are exorbitant,” she said. “This might be a way to mitigate some of that, perhaps. I’m not suggesting it’s the right thing to do.”
The district spent almost $697,400 in legal fees during the last fiscal year, the highest amount in the past 10 years. The fiscal year 2025 budget, which the board is slated to approve Sept. 26, estimates legal fees at $660,000. In the last decade, legal fees have totaled $4.35 million.
