George Joseph

Mr. Joseph has practiced as a school solicitor for more than 35 years, providing a full range of education law services. In addition to serving as general solicitor for four area school districts, the local Intermediate Unit and numerous nonpublic school systems, he has experience in handling special education matters including mediation and litigation of special education and Section 504 due process hearings. He has also, over time, provided representation on behalf of every public school district in Erie, Crawford and Warren counties as special counsel for a variety of specific assignments.

Mr. Joseph has extensive experience in policy drafting, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Open Meeting Law, State Officials Ethics Act and the Right to Know Law matters. He has been involved in contract drafting and review and construction projects, as well as other legal issues that confront both public and nonpublic school entities, their administrations and boards. Mr. Joseph also advises his education clients on matters of labor and employment law, including grievance arbitration, employment practices and discrimination claims. He has extensive experience in negotiating collective bargaining agreements pursuant to provisions of the Pennsylvania Employee Relations Act. Mr. Joseph also has experience in tax-exempt financing for public entities and has served as issuer's counsel and underwriter's counsel in numerous general obligation bonds and tax anticipation borrowings.

He also serves as general solicitor for a local sewer authority and a township, providing advice on diverse matters from public employment, financing, municipal liens and claims, zoning enforcement as well as developer agreements and contract drafting and review. As an assistant solicitor for Erie County, he conducts the annual County Upset Tax Sale and litigates tax sale objections on behalf of the Tax Claim Bureau. He also represents the Erie County Department of Health in matters of public health including restaurant food safety and licensure matters and sewage facilities matters.

Mr. Joseph has been involved in labor and employment matters in the private sector as well. He has represented employers in matters of employee benefits, company policies and handbooks, employment discrimination and harassment, and unemployment compensation issues.

In addition to these practices, Mr. Joseph has handled litigation of workers' compensation before Workers' Compensation Judges, the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. His experience includes the representation of injured workers, employers and insurers in a full range of legal matters.