Retired Chief Judge and Acting Director of the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law, Ellen Bass, brings over forty years of experience working with public school districts to her role as Of Counsel to the Busch Law Group. Prior to her appointment to the bench in 2009, Judge Bass served as Assistant Counsel to the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and worked in private practice as counsel to numerous local public-school districts. In 2003, she was privileged to be appointed as In-House Counsel to the South Orange-Maplewood School District. She brings a unique perspective to her representation of local boards, having tackled the issues school districts confront as an insider. Judge Bass has appeared in the State and Federal courts and before the Office of Administrative Law and the Public Employment Relations Commission, and has represented clients in a wide range of school law matters, including special education, labor relations, teacher tenure and seniority, teacher discipline, school ethics, and student disciplinary and HIB matters. She was able to use her wealth of school law experience in deciding, and often amicably resolving, diverse school law issues while on the bench. Judge Bass is a sought-after public speaker, and has taught school law to students in the Graduate School of Education at Seton Hall University as a guest lecturer. Judge Bass considers it the role of a Board Attorney to achieve a “good result” for school board clients. And she defines a “good result” as one consistent with the board’s mission of providing the highest quality education to the children of New Jersey.

“Special Education: A Board Members Role” School Leader Magazine, Winter Issue 2023. Print. (David B. Rubin & Ellen S. Bass, authors)

“When Athletic Coaching Becomes Abusive,” AASA Magazine, Legal Brief, December 2022. (Ellen S. Bass, author)

“Key Legal Issues Facing Districts- When to Call the Attorney”, New Jersey Association of School Administrator, Virtual – March 21, 2023

“School Ethics Update,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, New Brunswick, NJ – February 1, 2023

“Child Study Team Legal Training,” Roselle School District, Virtual – January 27, 2023

“School Attendance Issues,” Ridgewood School District, Ridgewood, NJ – January 10, 2023

“Preparing for Mediation and Due Process,” New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Legal One Program, Special Education Certificate Program, Monroe, NJ – December 15, 2022

“Reflections from A Career on the Bench,” Middlesex County Director’s Group, New Brunswick, NJ – November 18, 2022

“Reflections from A Career on the Bench,” New Jersey School Boards Association Fall Workshop, Atlantic City, NJ – October 25, 2022

“I Didn’t Become An Educator to Go to Court,” South Amboy School District Special Services Staff, South Amboy, NJ – September 2, 2022