To keep abreast of newly enacted legislation and court opinions affecting school policies and regulation, school officials need prompt, competent, and reliable legal advice, and should be prepared to pay for it. By consulting a competent attorney, school officials can avoid unnecessary and costly delays resulting from litigation over procedural matters (e.g., bids, contracts, bond issues, and debt limit) and from Constitutional issues (e.g., various rules and regulations affecting the civil liberties of students and teachers). Informed legal advice should be available to school board members and district superintendents and administrators for use in all decisions having a potential for legal entanglement. (JH)