Education

  • University of Notre Dame, J.D. 
  • Denison University, B.A., cum laude 

Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Ohio 
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio 
  • Illinois Supreme Court 
James K. Stucko, Jr.
Executive Partner

Bringing clarity to the most complex legal questions with his straightforward advice and keen insights, Jim has a no-nonsense approach to practicing law.  With a career spent dedicated to representing school boards and other public and private sector employers, Jim has more than 30 years of experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements, representing employers through grievances and arbitrations, and fielding the myriad of issues that confront school districts and other employers each day. Jim’s ability to cut to the chase and focus on the best real-world solution to a complicated matter enables him to serve as trusted counsel to many boards of education and other employers. 

Primary Focus & Experience

  • Education General Counsel: Provides comprehensive advice and counsel to boards of education throughout the state of Ohio, including advising on public records, open meetings and board policy and governance issues, ethics and contracting advice, contract drafting and interpretation, community and media relations, litigation preparation and avoidance.
  • Collective Bargaining: Negotiates labor contracts on behalf of boards of education with teaching and nonteaching unions. Represents boards in mediation, arbitration, fact-finding and proceedings before the State Employment Relations Board.
  • Employment Law: Defends boards of education in complaints before the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other state agencies; represents clients in all aspects of employment law, from managing internal complaints and investigations, day to day human resources issues, and complex litigation.
  • School Business Operations: Provides proactive advice, review, drafting and negotiations regarding vendor contracts and strategic partnerships, risk assessment and management, and advice regarding financial issues
  • Construction and Real Property: Provides review, drafting and advice on school construction contract issues and disputes; property valuation before county boards of revision and the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals; territory transfers; competitive bidding and sale of property issues.
  • Investigations: Provides guidance to administrators conducting investigations or directly assists with investigations into student and staff issues.
  • Litigation: Represents boards of education through all phases of litigation, including employee and student discrimination and civil rights cases; constitutional claims, including equal protection; Section 1983 claims; retaliation claims; sexual harassment and Title IX claims; teacher termination and employee discharge cases; and student discipline and special education claims.
  • Student Matters: Provides guidance and advice on various student matters, including bullying, parent complaints, student discipline, equity and diversity issues, and student records and privacy concerns.

Professional Associations & Community Involvement

  • Ohio State Bar Association 
  • Catholic Youth Summer Camp/Damascus Board Member-Secretary 
  • Former Board President, St. Agatha Parish Council 

You Might Not Know

Despite playing squash for 40 years, I’m still not very good at it.