General Counsel

Manuel F. Martinez, is the General Counsel for SFUSD. As the District’s principal legal advisor, Mr. Martinez supports the Board, Superintendent and the entire District on all legal matters. He also heads the Legal Division and is licensed to practice law throughout California, all four California federal districts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Mr. Martinez obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School at Loyola Marymount University, where he was a member of the Scott Moot Court Honors Board. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he majored in Political Science. With over 25 years of working in, or on behalf of governmental agencies, Mr. Martinez spent the 13 years in a large education law firm where he was a partner representing school districts throughout California. As a partner, he served as General Counsel to several clients advising on a wide range of issues. Mr. Martinez has experience in litigation, appeals, and administrative hearings as well as a range of topics including labor and employment, student issues, governance, Brown Act, California Public Records Act and technology issues.