Meredith focuses her practice on education law and labor and employment law. She feels grateful to work with dozens of public school districts across North Dakota, as well as other employers. She has experience in all areas of education law, including student rights and discipline, employee relations and improving employee performance, wage and accommodation laws, FERPA compliance, open meetings and records compliance, investigations, and nonrenewals and discharges, among other things.

Additionally, Meredith is the primary special education attorney in the firm, assisting districts and special education units with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 matters at all stages – from compliance with the laws and advising on issues related to IEPs and 504 Plans, to representation in state complaint investigations and due process actions.

Meredith has defended several claims brought against school districts before the U.S. Department of Education – Office for Civil Rights, and routinely defends school districts and other employers against claims brought before the North Dakota Department of Labor and the EEOC. She litigates in federal and state court, and represents clients in administrative hearings.

She most enjoys opportunities to present to large and small groups on education and employment law matters. She feels strongly that knowledge and preparation are vital for preventing complaints and lawsuits and for ensuring schools and other workplaces are safe environments for all who are present.

Meredith is currently a Director of the North Dakota Defense Lawyers Association, and past President. She was appointed by the North Dakota Supreme Court to sit on the Court Services Administration Committee, a position she held from 2013-2022. Outside of work, Meredith enjoys a busy life with three young children, her husband, and their golden retriever.

Admissions

  • North Dakota
  • United States District Court, District of North Dakota
  • Federal Bar Association
  • North Dakota Supreme Court and North Dakota District Courts

Education

  • Juris Doctor, with distinction – University of North Dakota, 2010
  • Bachelor of Arts – University of Minnesota-Morris, 2007

Professional Activities

  • National School Boards Association – Council of School Attorneys
  • North Dakota School Boards Association – Legal Services Affiliation
  • North Dakota Defense Lawyers Association – Director, 2017-present | President, 2016-2017 | Vice President, 2015-2016 | Treasurer, 2014-2015
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • Big Muddy Bar Association – President, 2015 | Vice President, 2014 | Secretary-Treasurer, 2013 | Officer at Large, 2012
  • State Bar Association of North Dakota
  • Federal Bar Association

Recognitions

  • Super Lawyer – Employment & Labor, Great Plains Super Lawyer®, 2021-2022
  • North Dakota Supreme Court, Court Services Administration Committee – Member, Appointed 2013-2022
  • Exceptional Performance Award – North Dakota Defense Lawyers Association + Defense Research Institute (DRI), 2016-2017
  • Dedicated Service Award – Big Muddy Bar Association, 2015

Publications + Presentations

Publications

  • Contributing Author: Business Torts Desk Reference, A Fifty State Guide (M. Daller, 2015-2022)

Presentations

  • Hot Topics in Special Education – all-day administrator and special education unit training, February 2024
  • Recent Legal Issues in Special Education – ND Council for Exceptional Children leadership conference, January 2024
  • Processing, Investigating, and Resolving Discrimination + Harassment Complaints – administrator training for North Dakota public school district, November 2023
  • Legal Issues in High School Sports – presentation to ND Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association members, September 2023
  • Title IX Grievance Procedure Requirements – training for public school’s Title IX team, September 2023
  • Recent Special Education Issues in ND – administrator training for special education unit, September 2023
  • Student Discipline, Special Education Highlights, + Section 504 Overview – training for public school’s administrators, August 2023
  • Lessons Learned from Issues Schools Faced During 2022-23 School Year – NDDPI Back-to-School Drilldown for School Leaders, August 2023
  • Patron (and other) Complaint Procedures + Board involvement in Employment Matters – training for ND public school board, May 2023
  • Student Search & Seizure + Expulsions – webinar training for ND public schools, February 2023
  • FERPA, Open Records, Nonrenewals, and Discharges – Teacher Leadership Academy training, October 2022
  • Title IX Overview – training for public school administrators, September 2022
  • Recent Special Education Issues in ND – administrator training for special education unit, September 2022
  • Nondiscrimination + Anti-Harassment, Grievance Procedures, Your Responsibilities + More — all-staff trainings provided to eighteen ND school districts with focus on new Title IX regulations, August 2020 – August 2022
  • FMLA Overview – all-staff presentation for ND public school district, August 2022
  • Section 504: Child Find, Evaluations, + FAPE – presentation to public school district counselors, August 2022
  • Title IX: New Regulations, New Complaint Processing Requirements – Title IX Coordinator, investigator, and decision-maker training for ND public school district, August 2022
  • Overview of Title IX Requirements — administrator training for North Dakota public school district, August 2022
  • Public Employee and Student First Amendment Considerations – presentation to ND public school principals, May 2022
  • Student Expulsions: Tips and Legal Considerations – presentation to ND public school principals, May 2022
  • Complaints Against Personnel Training – presentation to ND public school principals, May 2022
  • Open Meetings + Records and Complaint Processing – presentation to ND public school board, May 2022
  • Legal Issues in High School Sports – presentation to ND Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association members, September 2021
  • Title IX: New Regulations, New Complaint Processing Requirements – Title IX Coordinator, investigator, and decision-maker training for public school district, September 2021
  • COVID-19 & Special Education, Nonrenewal vs. Discharge, Open Records & Open Meetings, and Nondiscrimination Requirements – training for public school board, September 2021
  • Recent Issues in Special Education – administrator training for two special education units, August 2021
  • Title IX: New Regulations, New Complaint Processing Requirements – Title IX Coordinator, investigator, and decision-maker training for public school district, August 2021
  • Title IX: New Regulations, New Complaint Processing Requirements – Title IX Coordinator, investigator, and decision-maker training for ND public school district, December 2020
  • What Board Members Should Know About Special Education (Including Pandemic-Related Considerations) – North Dakota School Boards Association – School Law Seminar, October 2020
  • Legal Issues in High School Sports – presentation to ND Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association members, September 2020
  • Overview of New Title IX Regulations — administrator training for North Dakota public school district, August 2020
  • Lessons Learned from Issues Schools Faced During 2019-20 School Year – NDDPI/NDCEL Annual School Administrators’ Workshop, August 2020 (co-presented with Rachel Bruner)
  • Hot Topics in Special Education – administrator training for special education unit, August 2020
  • All-staff Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Training, followed by Processing, Investigating, and Resolving Discrimination + Harassment Complaints administrator training for North Dakota public school district, January 2020
  • Special Education Laws Made Simple; National Business Institute (NBI) Seminar, November 2019
  • Processing, Investigating, and Resolving Discrimination + Harassment Complaints; nondiscrimination coordinator + investigator training for North Dakota public school district, November 2019
  • Transgender Student Rights; North Dakota School Boards Association – School Law Seminar, October 2019 (co-presented with Rachel Bruner)
  • School Issues Noted During 2018-19 School Year; presentation at NDDPI School Administrators’ Workshop, August 2019
  • Americans with Disabilities Act – The Interactive Process and Reasonable Accommodations; administrator training for North Dakota public school district, November 2018
  • Processing, Investigating, and Resolving Discrimination + Harassment Complaints; administrator training for North Dakota public school district, November 2018
  • Recent Special Education Issues Facing North Dakota Schools; presentation to special education unit, August 2018
  • Processing, Investigating, and Resolving Discrimination + Harassment Complaints; nondiscrimination coordinator + investigator training for North Dakota public school district, August 2018
  • Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Training; North Dakota School Boards Association Annual Convention, October 2017
  • Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment – Policy + Grievance Procedure Training; all-staff training for North Dakota public school district, October 2017
  • Processing, Investigating, and Resolving Discrimination + Harassment Complaints; nondiscrimination coordinator + investigator training for North Dakota public school district, October 2017
  • Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment – Policy + Grievance Procedure Training; all-staff training for North Dakota public school district, September 2017
  • Processing, Investigating, and Resolving Discrimination + Harassment Complaints; nondiscrimination coordinator + investigator training for North Dakota public schools district, September 2017
  • Hot Topics in Special Education; presentation to special education unit, August 2017
  • Nonrenewal Seminar; North Dakota School Boards Association Seminar, February 2017 (co-presented with Rachel Bruner)
  • Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment – Policy + Grievance Procedure Training; all-staff training for five North Dakota public school districts and special education units, January 2017
  • Processing, Investigating, and Resolving Discrimination + Harassment Complaints; nondiscrimination coordinator + investigator training for five North Dakota public school districts and special education units, January 2017
  • Various Issues in Special Education; presentation to North Dakota public school district, November 2016
  • Laying the Groundwork for a Successful Nonrenewal or Discharge; North Dakota School Boards Association Annual Convention, October 2016 (co-presented with Rachel Bruner)
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Compliance; Administrators and Supervisors Training, North Dakota public school district, August 2016
  • Open Records, FERPA, and Teacher Personnel Files; Administrators and Supervisors Training, North Dakota public school district, August 2016
  • Leave and Accommodation Laws: FMLA, ADA, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act; Administrators and Supervisors Training, North Dakota public school district, August 2016
  • Special Education Issues in North Dakota; Administrators and Service Providers Training, North Dakota special education unit, August 2015