Overview

Jessica McLoughlin is Senior Counsel in Lozano Smith's Walnut Creek office. Ms. McLoughlin advises education and public entity clients on day-to-day labor and employment matters, and represents them in all aspects of litigation.

Experience

Ms. McLoughlin specializes in representing public agencies in a wide range of administrative and trial court litigation matters, from inception through appeal. She brings significant experience in handling personnel issues, including certificated and classified discipline and dismissal proceedings. In addition, she routinely advises clients on contract interpretation, workplace investigations, grievance processing, and responses to discrimination and retaliation claims filed with the California Civil Rights Department, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Department of Industrial Relations. Ms. McLoughlin also regularly assists clients with California Public Records Act requests and provides guidance to school districts on Title IX compliance and student-related matters.

Prior to joining Lozano Smith, Ms. McLoughlin served as a Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County. There, she gained considerable litigation experience through frequent court appearances and honed her skills by conducting evidentiary hearings, litigating various pre-trial motions, and engaging in settlement negotiations. She has tried numerous jury trials to verdict and litigated dozens of preliminary hearings.

Education

Ms. McLoughlin earned her law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law where she received Moot Court Honors and was a Staff Editor for the UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bucknell University where she graduated magna cum laude and lettered all four years in volleyball.

Two New Laws Related to Student Discipline Promote Recess and Restorative Justice Practices

By: Edward Sklar, Jessica McLoughlin- 12/18/2023

California Supreme Court Affirms Public School Districts Cannot be Sued Under Unruh Civil Rights Act for Disability Discrimination

By: Jessica McLoughlin- 09/21/2022