About YM&C

Serving public, private, and independent schools and institutes of higher education since 1993.

Leading From the Forefront of the School Choice Movement

Young, Minney & Corr, LLP (YM&C) is the recognized leader in all areas of school law. We are passionate about the mission of school choice and its power to uplift lives. Many of the schools we work with operate in low-income areas, and we have seen the dramatic difference that quality school choice can make in the lives of children in these communities. YM&C has been instrumental in protecting our school clients’ interests through battles in the legislature, the courts, and before administrative agencies.

Our Philosophy

Here are four of the key pillars of our approach to serving our clients:

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Preventative Approach

YM&C attorneys emphasize a preventive approach to the law, helping our clients anticipate legal difficulties, minimize exposure to legal claims and fees, and avoid operational challenges.

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Relationships Matter to Us

YM&C attorneys care about their clients and about education as a whole. We support the school community and build long-term, positive, and rewarding relationships with our clients.

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Here When You Need Us Most

YM&C attorneys understand that prompt response times are vital. Our office has extended hours from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday, and attorneys are available 24/7 to respond to our clients’ needs.

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We Are A Team

YM&C attorneys collaborate to leverage our collective knowledge, expertise, and wisdom to benefit our clients. With 40 attorneys dedicated to school law, YM&C is proud to have a diverse group of attorneys with varied backgrounds, personalities, and experience serving our clients.

timeline

A History of Dedicated Service

YM&C is unique in that the entire firm focuses exclusively on education law and has litigated nearly every seminal appellate decision that improved equal access to school choice. Here are some key dates and events in our firm’s history.

1992

YM&C Founders Jim Young and Paul Minney began working in education law.

1993

Paul Minney drafted California’s fifth charter petition which is still open to this day.

1994

YM&C argued and won its first case challenging the establishment of a public school.

Groundbreaking Decisions

YM&C argued and won the first case challenging the applicability of the Educational Employment Relations Act to public schools, establishing that charter schools were not subject to collective bargaining until 1998 when the law was changed.

1993 - Present

YM&C grows from 60 school clients to over 700 school, nonprofit organizations and public agencies.

1993 - 2015

YM&C started with one office in Sacramento and now has offices throughout the state of California in Walnut Creek, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

1996 - Present

YM&C has been a primary sponsor and presenter at the Charter Schools Development Center (CSDC) and California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) conferences for 25 years and regularly gives presentations on every facet of charter school law for a variety of charter school conferences and events.

National Focus

YM&C’s work now extends past California to Washington, Oregon, New York, and Arizona.

words from our clients

“I have been working with YM&C for some time. I appreciate their diligence, professionalism, and extraordinary efforts to assist their clients. They employ highly qualified attorneys with expertise in special education, governance, human resources, charter renewals, and labor relations. I am very satisfied with the support they provide.“

Arina Goldring-Ravin

Executive Director

Los Angeles Leadership Academy

“I have had the opportunity to use many law firms for many cases, and all of them have been very good. However, regarding YM&C, it is not just good work but exceptional work. I have worked with Paul Minney, Sarah Kollman, Jim Young, and Bill Trinkle. All have handled many of my charter school’s needs. Of particular note is a case we prosecuted for failure to provide reasonable space under Prop. 39. Sarah provided exceptional research and is the most organized person I know. She can rapidly cite the minutest details from memory. Paul is an exceptional litigator who is meticulously prepared, and his calm, thorough demeanor in court usually unsettles the opposition. Bill provides tremendous strength in his knowledge and guidance in litigation. The staff is always supportive and gets you in touch with counsel as soon as possible. And ALL have the most profound passion for Charter Schools. Whether this is the first time you have used legal counsel or the 100th time, there is no finer firm. Period.“

Carl Raggio

Former Executive Director

Ivy Academia Charter School, CWR3 Consulting LLC

“Operating today’s charter schools holds a unique set of challenges that are becoming progressively more technical. Excellent legal support requires a current, in-depth understanding of all legal aspects relating to education and, specifically, charter schools. Young, Minney, and Corr (YM&C) are superior in terms of having a broad knowledge base and a keen understanding of the political and practical processes needed to support charter schools during this turbulent and confusing transitional period. This firm is client-centered, professional, reasonable, highly ethical, and always offers a representation of which one can be proud. YM&C has our organization’s highest endorsement.“

Mary Searcy Bixby

Founder, President and CEO

Altus - The Charter School of San Diego