Patricia Robinson, Attorney

For public school districts across North Carolina, navigating the intricate web of education law, administrative guidelines, and the ever-evolving landscape of student and personnel matters requires highly specialized legal expertise. These institutions play a vital role in our communities, and ensuring they operate effectively and in compliance with the law is paramount. This is where Patricia Robinson, Attorney, a distinguished partner in the Education Law Section at Tharrington Smith, LLP, in Raleigh, NC, provides invaluable legal guidance.

Patricia Robinson brings a unique and highly relevant perspective to her practice, stemming from her firsthand experience as a former middle school Language Arts teacher in Charlotte. This background, coupled with her rigorous legal education and extensive experience advising and representing public school districts, allows her to understand the practical realities and challenges faced by educational leaders. Her passion for supporting public education is evident in her dedication to advising clients on a wide array of issues, including internal investigations, policy revisions, personnel matters, special education, contracts, and public records law. She serves as general counsel for multiple Boards of Education and represents clients in litigation, particularly before the Office of Administrative Hearings. Recognized by prestigious legal publications, Patricia Robinson is a trusted resource for public schools seeking precise, knowledgeable, and proactive legal counsel. This overview will detail the comprehensive services she offers, highlight her unique qualifications, and provide essential contact information for those in North Carolina seeking expert guidance in education law.

Patricia Robinson's office, as part of Tharrington Smith, LLP, is strategically located in the vibrant heart of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, ensuring optimal accessibility for clients throughout the Triangle region and beyond. You will find her practice at 150 Fayetteville St #1900, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA. This prominent address places her office within the Wells Fargo Building, a well-recognized landmark in Raleigh's central business and legal district.

The location on Fayetteville Street is particularly convenient for clients. It is a major thoroughfare that is easily identifiable and navigable for anyone familiar with downtown Raleigh. For those traveling by car, numerous public parking garages and metered street parking options are readily available within a short walking distance of the Wells Fargo Building. This convenience helps to minimize any stress often associated with urban parking, allowing educational professionals and school board members to attend consultations with ease.

For clients utilizing public transportation, Raleigh's GoRaleigh bus system provides extensive service throughout the downtown area, with several stops conveniently located near 150 Fayetteville Street. This makes the office easily reachable for individuals who prefer to use public transit. Furthermore, Raleigh's strategic position in North Carolina offers excellent connectivity to major interstate highways, including I-40, I-440, and US-1. This ensures that clients from surrounding cities and towns, and school districts across North Carolina, can reach the office efficiently and with minimal travel burdens. The easily accessible location of Patricia Robinson's office underscores her commitment to serving a broad range of educational clients across the state, providing expert legal advice within a professional and well-connected environment.

Patricia Robinson, Attorney, provides specialized legal services focused on the unique needs of public school districts and educational institutions throughout North Carolina. Her comprehensive approach covers both proactive counsel and vigorous representation in litigation. Her core service offerings include:

• General Counsel for Boards of Education: Serving as general counsel for multiple Boards of Education, providing ongoing legal advice and support on all aspects of school district operations and governance.
• Internal Investigations: Conducting and advising on internal investigations related to various school matters, including personnel issues, student conduct, and policy violations, ensuring thorough and legally compliant processes.
• Policy Revisions and Development: Assisting school districts in drafting, reviewing, and revising school policies to ensure compliance with current state and federal laws, and to align with best practices in education.
• Personnel Matters: Providing counsel on a wide array of personnel issues, including hiring, termination, disciplinary actions, grievances, employee contracts, and compliance with employment laws specific to public education.
• Special Education Law: Advising on compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This includes guidance on Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, mediations, due process hearings, and related litigation.
• Contracts: Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating various contracts relevant to school operations, such as vendor agreements, service contracts, and inter-local agreements.
• Public Records Law: Advising school districts on compliance with North Carolina's public records laws, including managing requests for information and ensuring transparency while protecting sensitive data.
• Litigation Representation: Representing clients in litigation, particularly in the Office of Administrative Hearings, which often addresses disputes related to special education, personnel, and other administrative matters.
• Student Records/Privacy: Providing guidance on student record management and privacy laws, including compliance with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).
• Student Rights and Responsibilities: Advising on student discipline, constitutional rights (including First Amendment issues), residency, attendance, and other student-related legal matters.
• Staff Training: Offering training sessions for school staff and administrators on various legal topics to ensure compliance and prevent future issues.

Patricia Robinson's services are delivered with a deep understanding of the educational environment, ensuring practical, effective, and legally sound solutions for her clients.

Patricia Robinson, Attorney, brings a distinctive set of features and highlights that make her an exceptional legal resource for public school districts and educational institutions in North Carolina:

• Former Teacher with Practical Educational Insight: A standout feature is her background as a middle school Language Arts teacher in Charlotte for three years (two as a Teach for America corps member). This firsthand experience provides her with a unique and invaluable understanding of classroom dynamics, school operations, and the practical challenges faced by educators and administrators. She finds "great purpose in supporting and advising public school districts."
• Specialized Education Law Expertise: Patricia Robinson is a partner in Tharrington Smith's dedicated Education Law Section. This specialization ensures clients receive highly focused, current, and comprehensive legal advice tailored specifically to the complex and evolving field of education law.
• General Counsel for Multiple Boards of Education: Her role as general counsel for three Boards of Education highlights her deep involvement and trusted position within North Carolina's public school system, indicating a proven ability to handle ongoing, diverse legal needs.
• Highly Accomplished Academic Background: She graduated with high honors from UNC Law in 2016 and was inducted into the prestigious Order of the Coif. She also holds a B.A. with honors and highest distinction in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This strong academic foundation underpins her analytical rigor and legal acumen.
• Extensive Legal Internships and Clerkship: During law school, Patricia externed for Judge Allyson K. Duncan of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and served as a legal intern for the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Educational Opportunities Section, among other roles. These experiences provided invaluable exposure to federal law and civil rights, which are highly relevant to education law.
• Recognized by Prestigious Legal Directories: Patricia Robinson has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (2024-2025) for Education Law. These peer-reviewed accolades signify her rising prominence and respect within the legal community.
• Active Leader in the Legal Community: She is the former Chair of the Education Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and is a member of both the North Carolina Council of School Attorneys and the National Council of School Attorneys. This active involvement demonstrates her commitment to the field and staying abreast of the latest developments.
• Published Author: Her contributions to legal publications, such as "Student Records" in Guide to Student Advocacy in North Carolina and "The Silent War: Free Speech and the Right to Information in the Context of Military Sexual Assault," showcase her thought leadership and expertise.

In the highly specialized and professional realm of education law, particularly when advising public school districts and institutions, "promotions" or "special offers" in the retail sense are not typically provided. Patricia Robinson, Attorney, at Tharrington Smith, LLP, focuses on delivering unparalleled value through her deep expertise, unique perspective as a former educator, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the interests of North Carolina's public schools. Her emphasis is on providing top-tier legal solutions and strategic counsel, rather than offering generalized discounts.

For prospective clients in North Carolina seeking legal assistance from Patricia Robinson, the value and commitment offered include:

• Expert-Level Consultations: While not typically free, initial consultations with Patricia Robinson provide an invaluable opportunity for school boards, administrators, and educational leaders to discuss their specific legal challenges. These sessions offer preliminary insights into complex education law matters, allow for an understanding of potential legal strategies, and help determine the most effective course of action. It's an investment in receiving authoritative and practical guidance from a recognized expert.
• Transparent and Predictable Fee Structures: As part of a reputable firm like Tharrington Smith, LLP, Patricia Robinson is committed to clear and upfront communication regarding legal fees and costs. Clients can expect detailed explanations of the billing structure for their specific education law needs, ensuring transparency and helping to manage legal budgets effectively without unexpected surprises.
• Proactive Risk Mitigation and Compliance: The primary "offer" from Patricia Robinson is the significant value derived from her proactive approach to legal counsel. By assisting with policy revisions, internal investigations, and staff training, she helps school districts prevent costly litigation and maintain compliance, thereby protecting their resources and reputation. This preventative strategy often saves clients considerably more than any short-term "discount."
• Dedicated Partnership and Support: Clients benefit from a legal partner who is deeply invested in the success and well-being of public education. Her commitment to providing ongoing general counsel and support means that school districts have a trusted advisor readily available to navigate daily operational legal challenges and long-term strategic planning.

For specific inquiries regarding service arrangements or to discuss how Patricia Robinson can assist with your particular education law needs, it is highly recommended to contact her Raleigh office directly. This will allow for a confidential and tailored discussion of your unique circumstances.

For school boards, educational institutions, and administrators in North Carolina seeking expert and dedicated legal counsel in education law, connecting with Patricia Robinson, Attorney, is straightforward.

• Address: 150 Fayetteville St #1900, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA
• Phone: (919) 821-4711
• Mobile Phone: +1 919-821-4711

Her office is conveniently located within the Wells Fargo Building in downtown Raleigh, ensuring ease of access for clients traveling from various parts of the city and surrounding areas. To ensure Patricia Robinson can provide the focused attention your legal matter deserves, it is always advisable to call ahead and schedule an appointment. The phone numbers provided are the most direct way to initiate contact and begin the process of securing her distinguished education law expertise.

For public school districts and educational institutions across North Carolina, Patricia Robinson, Attorney, at Tharrington Smith, LLP, represents an exceptionally suitable and highly advantageous legal partner. Her unique qualifications, specialized focus, and profound commitment to public education make her an ideal choice for locals.

The most compelling reason for her suitability for locals is her unique blend of practical teaching experience and specialized legal expertise in education law. As a former middle school teacher in Charlotte, Patricia Robinson intimately understands the daily realities, challenges, and nuances of the school environment. This invaluable firsthand perspective allows her to provide legal advice that is not only legally sound but also pragmatic and tailored to the operational realities of North Carolina's public schools. For local school boards and administrators, this means working with an attorney who truly "gets it."

Furthermore, her role as general counsel for multiple Boards of Education within the state underscores her deep integration and trusted position within the North Carolina educational community. This consistent engagement with local school systems means she is intimately familiar with the specific legal frameworks, local judicial tendencies, and the unique challenges faced by districts in the region. This level of embedded expertise is invaluable for navigating everything from policy revisions to complex litigation.

Her strong academic background, extensive legal internships, and recognition in prestigious legal directories (like Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®) assure locals of her high caliber and dedication to legal excellence. For public institutions, entrusting their legal matters to an attorney with such distinguished credentials provides immense confidence and peace of mind.

Finally, the convenient downtown Raleigh location ensures accessibility for school officials and board members from across the Triangle and beyond, facilitating direct and ongoing collaboration. This combination of specialized local expertise, a practical understanding of education, and a proven track record of supporting North Carolina's public schools makes Patricia Robinson the definitive choice for any educational institution seeking dedicated and effective legal counsel.