Rachel Dedman, Staff Attorney

Rachel Dedman joined Legal Services as a Staff Attorney in September 2011.  As a Staff Attorney, Rachel advises Texas school districts on a variety of legal issues and helps to review school districts’ legal and local policies.  Rachel is also a presenter at various regional and state-wide training events on a variety of school law topics. 

Rachel earned her undergraduate degree from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, where she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish in 2005.  She is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.  Rachel earned her law degree from the University of Texas in 2009.  Before law school, Rachel worked for a year as a legal assistant, and during law school she clerked for the First Court of Appeals and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

From 2009 to 2011, Rachel was a specialty litigation associate with Strasburger & Price, L.L.P., in Dallas, where she represented and advised governmental entities, including Texas independent school districts.  While in private practice, Rachel gained experience working on several issues specific to school districts, including open record requests, issues arising under the Texas Open Meetings Act, and Office of Civil Rights complaints. 

Rachel is a member of the Austin Young Lawyers’ Association, as well as the State Bar of Texas school law section, the Texas Council of School Attorneys, and the National Council of School Attorneys.  Rachel also gives back to her community as a member of the Junior League of Austin.