Overview

Jessica E. Ozalp is an Associate in Lozano Smith's Walnut Creek Office, and an active member of the Governance, Investigations, and Charter Schools Practice Groups. Ms. Ozalp advises public agency clients on compliance with the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, and conflict of interest laws. She supports and advises school districts and county offices of education regarding all aspects of the Charter Schools Act, including charter school oversight, petition review, renewals, and revocation.

Ms. Ozalp frequently assists public agencies in investigating complaints regarding issues such as workplace misconduct, harassment, and discrimination. She is experienced in conducting fact-finding interviews and drafting investigative reports.

Experience

Ms. Ozalp is skilled in guiding local education agencies through the complex landscape of state and federal education law. Prior to joining Lozano Smith, Ms. Ozalp worked as legal counsel for the Wisconsin state education agency (the Department of Public Instruction), and the Education and Workforce Development committees of the Wisconsin State Legislature. In these roles she provided legal opinions, drafted laws, interpreted regulations, and defended public agencies in administrative hearings and litigation matters. In addition to her work as an attorney, Ms. Ozalp has experience as an ESL teacher and writing instructor.

Education

Ms. Ozalp received her Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she was the Managing Editor and Diversity Committee Chair of the Wisconsin Law Review. She earned an M.A. in Applied English Linguistics and a B.A. (cum laude) in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Online Public Meetings Still Allowed Until September 30

By: Harold Freiman, Jessica Ozalp- 06/24/2021