Shannon M. McMinimee

Vcard:

Areas of Practice

• School Law

Professional Experience

Shannon McMinimee's practice focuses on defending schools and businesses.  Shannon started her career in a large international law firm, representing clients in commercial, employment, securities, and intellectual property litigation.  In 2006, Shannon joined the General Counsel's Office for the Seattle School District, where she represented and advised the district on a wide variety of legal issues, including all special education, constitutional, and enrollment matters.  Shannon successfully defended the district in numerous high profile suits in King County Superior Court and before the Washington Court of Appeals; handled over 100 matters before the Office of Administrative Hearings; investigated and responded to over 50 regulatory complaints by state and federal agencies; and assisted in the defense of the district’s student assignment plan before the U.S. Supreme Court.  Shannon also regularly provided guidance to the school board and senior leadership on major initiatives, as well as daily advice to building-based administrators on an array of legal issues.  She also drafted numerous policies and procedures and provided frequent trainings for district staff on topics ranging from preventing and reporting educator sexual misconduct to student speech and religious accommodation.

Shannon joined Preg, O'Donnell, & Gillett in March of 2010, and has continued to represent school districts in special education matters before the Office of Administrative Hearings and the U.S. District Court for the Western District and in general ligation matters before Superior Courts, the Washington Court of Appeals, and the Washington Supreme Court. She is also has conducted harassment, discrimination, and bullying investigations for school districts. Shannon has earned approval as panel counsel for the Washington Schools Risk Management Pool.

Education

Shannon graduated with honors from the University of Washington's School of Law in 2003, where she served as a Managing Editor for the Washington Law Review. She received Bachelor's Degrees in Political Science and Societies and Justice from the University of Washington in 2000, where she was in the Political Science Honors Department.

Admitted to Practice

• Washington State Courts (WSBA #34471)
• United States District Court, Western District of Washington
• United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States Supreme Court

Professional & Community Activities

Shannon is a member of the Washington State Bar Association; the King County Bar Association; the Western District of Washington Federal Bar Association, where she has previously served on the Rules Committee; the National Council of School Attorneys; and the Washington Council of School Attorneys, where she is presently serving as a Board member.  Shannon is also a Director of the Thomas C. Wales Foundation, an organization dedicated to the promise of ordinary citizens actively helping to create a more livable and fair society through civic engagement.

Publications & Presentations

Panelist, 'Equity in Education: Race, Class, and the 'Race to the Top'", Education Law and Policy Society, University of Washington School of Law, May 2010

Presenter, "Dual-enrollment and Special Education services related to Online Learning," Washington Council of School Attorneys 2010 Spring Workshop, SeaTac, WA, April 2010

Guest Speaker, "Legal Issues Related to Special Education: A School District Lawyer's View," Special Education Advisory & Advocacy Council, Seattle, WA, February 2010

Presenter, "Responding to Administrative Agency Investigations and Complaints," Washington Council of School Attorneys 2009 Fall Workshop, SeaTac, WA, October 2009

Presenter, "Advising School Districts on Special Education Discipline Matters: Preventing Common Mistakes," Washington Council of School Attorneys 2009 Fall Workshop, SeaTac, WA, October 2009

Guest Lecturer, "Crisis Communications," University of Washington, College of Communication, Seattle, WA, February 2009

Keynote Speaker and Presenter, "Brown Undone? The Impact of PICS on Elementary and Secondary Education," Seattle University School of Law, February 2008

Presenter, "Meet the School Attorneys," University of Washington College of Education, Experimental Education Unit, Seattle, WA, October 2007

Guest Lecturer, "Constitutional Issues Facing School Districts," University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, WA, May 2007

Presenter, "Nuts and Bolts of Motion Practice," Dorsey & Whitney, Seattle, WA, June 2005

Author, "LaVine v. Blaine School District: Fear Silences Student Speech in the Ninth Circuit," 77 Wash. Law Rev. 545, April 2002.

Honors

• Rising Star, Washington Law and Politics (2007-present)
• Cases of the Year, Washington Law and Politics (2007 and 2009)