Benjamin M Scungio

Ben Scungio is the managing partner of the firm. He is known for his practical, problem-solving approach to resolve legal conflicts in a manner that achieves the best outcomes for all parties involved. He focuses his practice on the representation of Rhode Island school committees, educational collaboratives and educational professionals, handling a myriad of concerns that arise each day including constitutional and regulatory issues. He continues to be recognized by Best Lawyers for the practice area of education law, and for excellence in education law by Rhode Island Monthly.

With a strategic understanding of government and relationship dynamics plus solid negotiation skills, he resolves disputes involving issues that range from parental concerns, to finances and distribution of funding, to collective bargaining and beyond. Ben developed the strategy for a school committee in a Rhode Island Supreme Court case which helped define school districts’ management responsibilities. He also represented a school district in a Rhode Island Superior Court which upheld the privatization of custodial services.

He is a frequent presenter on topics of collective bargaining, policy-making, student discipline, harassment and other emerging issues in education and special education law for superintendents, school district business managers, school committees and other groups.

Ben also represents clients in both residential real estate and business and banking transactions. He remains abreast of the critical changes in the law that impacts these areas and provides tactical advice for firm clients.

Articles & Publications:

“Four on Fourth: Four Cases that Impact the Fourth Amendment (Search & Seizure) in Schools ” (July 2018) BRCSM Insights

“Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse. Recognize. Record. Report”  (March 2018) BRCSM Insights

“Not Everyone Is A Bully: Resolving Conflicts In Schools And Beyond” (November 2017) Rhode Island Small Business Journal

“Building A Better School Committee” (July 2016) Rhode Island Small Business Journal

“Five Questions With Benjamin M. Scungio”  (February 2017) Providence Business News

Bar Admissions:

United States First Circuit Court of Appeals
District Court for the Districts of Rhode and Massachusetts
United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Rhode Island & Massachusetts
United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts
State of Rhode Island Bar, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bar

Speaking Engagements:

Cranston School Committee: “Building a Better Committee” (June 2016)

Rhode Island Association of School Principals (RIASP): “What do you need to know to protect your rights and the rights of students?” (March 2016)

Rhode Island Society of Technical Educators (RISTE): “Student Privacy Panel Discussion.” (November 2015)

Annual  Labor Arbitration Conference sponsored by Schmidt Labor Research Center of URI: “From Vose to North Providence to RIBCO: The RI Supreme Court’s Evisceration of the Steelworkers’ Triology.”  (October 2015)

Rhode Island School Superintendents Association: “How to Integrate the BEP into Collective Bargaining Agreements; Strategic Use of a District’s Policy-making Function; Emerging issues in Unemployment Law.” (February 2012)

Rhode Island Association of School Committees Annual Meeting: “Student Needs and Collective Bargaining.” (April 2011)

Lincoln School District Administrator’s Spring Retreat: “Collective Bargaining; Update on Special Education Law; Issues in Social Networking.”  (April 2011)

Rhode Island Association of School Committees: “Collective Bargaining Workshop.” (February 2011)

Rhode Island Association of School Committees: “School Committee 101- What Makes an Effective School Committee Person?” (November 2010)

Northern Rhode Island Collaborative: “Current Topics Including Sexual and Other Forms of Harassment in the Workplace; BEP Compliance; Ethical Considerations for the School Administrator; Emergent Trends and Issues in Special Education.” (2009)

Lincoln School District’s Administrator’s Fall Retreat: “Progressive Discipline, 504 Issues, Student Discipline, Residency Matters.”(November 2009)

New England Consortium of State Labor Relations Agencies Conference: “Teacher’s Collective Bargaining Rights in Public Education.” (July 2009)

Professional Affiliations:

American Bar Association
Massachusetts Bar Association
Rhode Island Bar Association ( and individual committees on: Creditors & Debtors Rights, Municipal Law, and Labor Relations)

American Arbitration Association, Arbitrator
American Bankruptcy Institute

Rhode Island Association of School Committees
National School Board Association
Council of School Board Attorneys
Rhode Island Uniform Public School Employees’ Health Care Benefits Committee, Chairman

Education:

Suffolk University Law School, 1981

Providence College, 1978