Hillary Hoffman
Alexandria,VA
Summary
Dynamic litigator and general counsel with proven history of providing expert legal advice and representation. Experienced as both in-house and outside counsel. Committed to advocating for clients and providing sound legal advice. Build trusting, long-term relationships through developing rapport and providing thorough and honest communication on legal matters.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
General Counsel
District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences
07.2021 - Current
- Senior member of the executive team responsible for agency oversight and strategic planning, such as resource utilization, budgeting decisions, and determining the priorities of the agency.Advise the agency on all matters involving its legal and legislative activities, powers and procedures, and policy;
- Direct the legal resources of the Department of Forensic Sciences with respect to federal and District laws, contracting and procurement, and any other transactions;
- Represent the agency in litigation and in other legal matters in which the agency is a party or has legal interest;
- Oversee a legal staff of five in all legal matters;
- Assure the legal sufficiency of the agency’s programs and policies;
- Work collaboratively with the Mayor’s Office, Deputy Mayor, and Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel on agency primary concerns.
Assistant General Counsel
District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent for Education
09.2011 - 07.2021
- Represented the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in administrative hearings concerning appeals of discipline and terminations; complaints to the Office of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; proceedings regarding licensing revocation, suspension or denials, unemployment, subsidy approvals, and failure to provide an appropriate public education to students with special needs.
- Negotiated range of settlement agreements and mediated dispute resolutions.
- Serve as a designated Hearing Officer for the Office of the Attorney General to review proposed employee terminations and as a designated Hearing Officer for the D.C. Public Schools on involuntary student transfers. Designations involved holding hearings and writing decisions.
- Ethics Officer for the Office of the State Superintendent for Education.
Attorney Advisor
District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General
06.2006 - 09.2011
- Drafted legislation, rulemaking, and policy for the Division of Early Learning and previously for the Child Support Division in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (“OAG”).
- Drafted final rules on Financial Institution Data Matching, which were published in the D.C. Municipal Regulations on October 24, 2008.
- Drafted Expansion of the Child Support Payment Earned Income Tax Credit Amendment Act, which was passed by The D.C. Council in 2011.
Adjunct Professor of Appellate Writing and Legal Drafting
George Mason School of Law
08.2008 - 05.2010
- Taught appellate writing and legal drafting to second-year law students at George Mason School of Law.
Director of Federal and Family Court Monitoring
District of Columbia Public Schools
02.2004 - 06.2007
- Oversaw all aspects of implementation of the class action consent decree compensatory education plan in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, coordinating the Office of Special Education with the General Counsel’s office, OAG, Plaintiffs’ counsel, and the court.
- Developed and presented a comprehensive policy and training program on compensatory education for the DCPS Office of Special Education. Conducted training for school personnel on laws and regulations.
Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert Hodges
United States Court of Federal Claims
08.2001 - 06.2003
- Drafted over twenty-five opinions for the United States Court of Federal Claims—five of which were appealed to the Federal Circuit and upheld on appeal on topics such as Fifth Amendment takings, government contracts, military pay, savings and loan suits, HUD mortgage interest contracts, breach of trust, contract surety, Equal Access to Justice Act, and excise tax.
Attorney Advisor
District of Columbia Public Schools
09.2000 - 08.2001
- Handled more than forty special education litigation cases a month.
Education
Juris Doctor -
Bachelor of Business Administration - Marketing
Skills
- Strategic thinking
- Negotiation and Dispute resolution
- Employment law
- Litigation management
- Trial experience
- Civil litigation
- Investigation skills
Accomplishments
- Key member of Executive Team that successfully re-accredited Washington, DC's consolidated forensic laboratory.
- Direct and oversee all agency legal matters, including four licensed attorneys.
Timeline
General Counsel - District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences
07.2021 - Current
Assistant General Counsel - District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent for Education
09.2011 - 07.2021
Adjunct Professor of Appellate Writing and Legal Drafting - George Mason School of Law
08.2008 - 05.2010
Attorney Advisor - District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General
06.2006 - 09.2011
Director of Federal and Family Court Monitoring - District of Columbia Public Schools
02.2004 - 06.2007
Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert Hodges - United States Court of Federal Claims
08.2001 - 06.2003
Attorney Advisor - District of Columbia Public Schools
09.2000 - 08.2001
Texas Tech University - Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing
Baylor University School of Law - Juris Doctor,
Publications
- Hoffman-Peak, Hillary. “No Child Left Behind Enhances the Remedies Available Under IDEIA and Section 504.” Children’s Legal Rights Journal, 29, 1, 15-32, William S. Hein & Co., Inc., Spring, 2009, 219116569.
- Hoffman-Peak, Hillary. “A Matrimonial Practitioner’s Guide to Special Education Law.” American Journal of Family Law, 23, 2, 90(13), Aspen Publishers, Inc., Summer, 2009, 200979070.
BAR ADMISSIONS
Texas; District of Columbia
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