Claire DeChambre focuses her practice on education law, employment matters, and general representation of private and public entities. She began her legal career practicing employment and business law, but she quickly learned that her passion is in education law, primarily working with tribal clients. Claire values long-term client relationships and primarily serves as general counsel to Tribally Controlled Grant Schools and Arizona public school districts. Claire advises clients from the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and across Arizona.
She appreciates the variety and complexity of the issues schools confront, as well as the ability to work closely with educators. She particularly enjoys advising clients on federal compliance matters, from employment-related issues to annual audits and everything in between. She often serves as an advisor, keeping clients informed of emerging trends in education, employment, and tribal issues to help avoid potential litigation or reduce liability exposure. Claire frequently provides both preventative advice and training on numerous topics and areas of law, including developing policies and procedures; tribal employment laws; special education law; Title VII discrimination law; Bureau of Indian Education requirements and procedures; background/fingerprint checks and adjudication; and Indian law/Indian land jurisdictional issues.
Claire graduated with her B.A. in Global Studies summa cum laude from the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University. She obtained her juris doctor degree from Boston College Law School. While in law school, Claire focused her studies primarily on environmental law and Indian law.
Presentations & Publications
•“Anatomy of a School Board Meeting,” HeinfeldMeech 2026 Grant School Conference, May 2026
• “Financial Primer for Grant Schools,” NAGSA Spring 2026 Conference, April 2026
• “Hiring, Firing, and Discrimination Claims in Tribally Controlled Grant Schools,” NASIP: 2026 Risk Management and Safety Conference, March 2026
• “Workplace Investigations,” HeinfeldMeech Grant School Conference, May 2025
• “Basics and Best Practices of School Board Governance,” Mahoney Group 2025 Risk Management and Safety Conference, March 2025
• The Cost of Questioned Costs,” HeinfeldMeech Grant School Conference, May 2024
• “Trends in Tribal Employment Law,” Mahoney Group 2024 Risk Management and Safety Conference, April 2024
•“Social Media: What’s Enforceable and Best Practices,” HeinfeldMeech Grant School Conference, May 2023
•“Handling Hiring, Firing, Harassment and Discrimination Claims,” Native American Schools Insurance Programs Risk Management and Safety Conference, May 2023
•“What is a Grievance Policy and How Can It Keep You Out of Trouble? (A perspective from practicing on tribal lands),” ASBA Law Conference, September 2022
•“Employment Practices/HR Documentation/Wrongful Termination and Hiring Practices,” Native American Schools Insurance Programs, April 2022
•Ask the Expert-Q&A Panel, HeinfeldMeech Grant School Conference, April 2022
•“ARP Funds Legal Framework, Challenges and Considerations,” Native American Grant Schools Association ARP Conference, March 2022
•“Torn Between Three Jurisdictions: The Legal Complexities of the Arizona School District Serving Native American Students,” Arizona School Board Association Law Conference, September 2021
•“Signs of the Times in Contracts: Liability Waivers and Liquidated Damages,” Arizona School Board Association Law Conference, September 2020
•“Employment Practices (Harassment, Discrimination, Wrongful Terminations & Hiring Practices),” Native American Schools Insurance Programs, April 2018
•“Jurisdictional Issues for School Districts,” Arizona School Board Association Law Conference, September 2017
•“Transgender Student Rights,” Native American Grant School Association’s 21st Annual Winter Conference, December 2016
