Washington’s Council of School Attorneys (COSA) is a nonprofit organization that identifies and disseminates legal information to its members on concerning legal issues for school attorneys. COSA also promotes the exchange of legal information and analysis amongst its members.

Continuing Education

COSA offers specialized continuing legal education (CLE) credits via spring and fall workshops exclusively for attorneys representing Washington’s K-12 public school districts.

The workshops consist of timely and relevant presentations on the issues that are crucial to your school district clients. Workshops also include valuable insights from experienced school attorneys and an opportunity for COSA members to network. COSA also provides resources and support to public school attorneys in Washington.

Benefits of Membership

COSA members receive:

  • Registration to its Spring Workshop, with CLE credits reported to the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA),
  • Registration to its Fall Workshop, with CLE credits reported to the WSBA,
  • Ethics CLE credits provided annually at one or both of its workshops
  • A copy of the Common School Manual – hard copy and digital versions are available

COSA members are included on the:

  • COSA roster, which is posted to the WSSDA website and provided to school boards as a resource,
  • COSA listserv, where COSA members receive information and can query other,
  • Referral list of investigators and mediators, as applicable.

Membership Eligibility

To become a member of COSA, you must be:

  • A current member of the Washington State Bar

 And at least one of the following:

  • A school director
  • A school administrator
  • A practicing attorney for:
    — One or more school districts in the state of Washington (This means having performed legal services for at least one school district within the last twelve months.) OR
    — The Washington State School Directors’ Association or the Superintendent of Public Instruction

But not:

  • An attorney representing or advocating on behalf of persons, entities, or issues adverse to public school districts or COSA.

Apply for a Membership