Anything in a city, county, or city and county charter to the contrary notwithstanding, the governing board or boards of any school district may, in lieu of appointing an administrative advisor pursuant to Section 35041, or any county board of education or any county superintendent of schools may, appoint a legal counsel and fix and order paid the counsel’s compensation as an employee or as an independent contractor. The duties of the legal counsel may include rendering legal advice to the superintendent of schools, the county board of education, and to other officers and employees of the school district or districts and other administrative duties as may be assigned by the superintendent of schools, the county board of education, and the governing board of the district or governing boards of the districts, and serving as the legal counsel of the superintendent of schools, the county board of education, and the district or districts in the preparation and conduct of school district litigation and administrative proceedings, and rendering advice in relation to school bond and tax increase measures and prepare all legal papers and forms necessary for the voting of school bonds and tax increase measures in the district or districts. The legal counsel shall have been admitted to practice law in the state, and shall not be required to have any certification qualifications. The term “legal counsel” as used herein includes a solo practitioner, partnership, or a law corporation.

The county board of education and the superintendent of schools of the same county shall appoint the same legal counsel.

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 697, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1993.)