Overview

Sarah Kalas Bancroft brings to YM&C an extraordinary wealth of knowledge in the legal field. Her primary areas of practice include labor & employment law, litigation in federal, state, and administrative venues, charter governance, student rights & discipline, and special education.

Sarah worked in civil litigation for two years before transitioning into the field of education law, where she spent the majority of her legal career. Sarah came to YM&C from another education law firm in 2011 and stayed for a period of eight years, specializing in labor and employment, special education, and litigation/insurance defense. Sarah went on to become Deputy General Counsel at the California Department of Education (CDE), where she remained for the next five years.

At the CDE, Sarah practiced predominantly in General and Special Education litigation at the federal and administrative levels working on highly sensitive, complex litigation with broad state-wide impact. Sarah provided legal support and representation for the State Special Schools, Diagnostic Centers, Special Education Division and Nonpublic School Unit, CDE (the entity), the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the State Board of Education in a variety of areas. Sarah developed and provided Board Governance and Accountability training along with many other education-focused training, program guidance for publication, and legislative analysis.

Sarah next became an Administrative Law Judge, hearing general jurisdiction cases for the California Department of Social Services, and gaining valuable insight into the bench-side of the administrative court process. While she enjoyed her years on the bench, Sarah was drawn back to her passion for educational advocacy and legal representation.

YM&C is pleased that Sarah has returned to the firm bringing with her an accomplished and illustrious legal career, broad-ranging and highly skilled legal expertise, and life-long dedication to service for the public good.