CCSD trustees delay hiring decision, schedule interviews for outside counsel

The Clark County School District Board of Trustees on May 7, 2025 reviewed two proposals to serve as the board’s outside legal counsel and voted to delay a hiring decision so trustees could interview the candidates.

Trustees considered proposals from Parker Nelson (Parker Nelson & Associates) and a new firm marketed as NorthStar Law led by David Gardner. The board heard staff presentations on procurement, asked questions about fees and conflicts of interest, received public comment urging the board to prioritize independence, and voted on a motion that will require interviews before a final decision.

A majority of discussion focused on differences in firm structure, availability and price. Purchasing staff member Steve Skaggs explained the procurement background: the district issued an initial request for qualifications (RFQ) and received a single response, then reissued a second RFQ and obtained the two proposals now under review. He also provided trustees with a scoring rubric and the firms’ pricing matrices.

Trustees and counsel described the firms as follows. Parker Nelson presented as a multi-attorney practice offering a range of staff. Trustees recorded Parker Nelson’s proposed principal attorney…