PHONE: 510-594-5339

FAX: 510-594-7988
Email: pcarson[at]ruizlaw[dot]com

Priscilla S. Carson

    Ms. Carson represents school district and other public entities in a broad range of education, employment, and constitutional law matters in state and federal court and before administrative boards, including in cases alleging unlawful discrimination and retaliation, harassment, and violation of First Amendment rights. She also advises clients on Education Code and freedom of speech and religion issues, conducts workplace investigations of alleged misconduct, counsels employers regarding potential liability and appropriate corrective action and prevention measures, and assists school districts in employee terminations.

           Ms. Carson presented oral argument at the Court of Appeal in the case of Dawson v. East Side Union High School District (1994) 28 Cal.App.4th 998, which created important precedent regarding the substantial deference that courts should give to local school districts’ decisions that are made within the scope of their broad discretion. Prior to joining Ruiz & Sperow, Ms. Carson practiced law for several years at a major San Francisco law firm where she represented both public and private entities in state and federal court litigation and employment matters.

    Ms. Carson graduated from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1988. She completed her undergraduate education at Wellesley College, graduating cum laude, with a double major in English and Spanish, and receiving a departmental award for excellence in the study of Spanish and Hispanic Cultures. For two years before law school, she worked in Spain and Mexico, teaching English in private schools. She is fluent in Spanish. Ms. Carson gained valuable first hand exposure to the public schools by volunteering at her children’s Oakland public school for nine years, where she worked in the classroom and served on the PTA in various leadership capacities and as an elected member of the School Site Council.

PRACTICES AREAS

Education
Employment Litigation and Counseling
Public Entity Representation
Workplace Investigations

EDUCATION

U.C. Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, J.D. 1988
Wellesley College, B.A. 1983

MEMBERSHIPS

California State Bar