Thomas B. Mooney

Thomas Mooney is chair emeritus and former co-chair of Shipman’s School Law Practice Group. Tom represents clients in all areas of school law, including labor negotiations for certified and non-certified staff, teacher tenure proceedings, grievance arbitration, freedom of information hearings, student disciplinary matters, special education disputes and all other legal proceedings involving boards of education. Drawing on his decades of legal practice, Tom’s philosophy is straightforward: The best legal problems are those that are avoided. 

Tom is committed to helping current and future education leaders, teachers, personnel, policymakers and lawyers better understand the rapidly emerging issues facing schools today. Tom has taught school law at the University of Connecticut School of Law since 1985, has served as Professor-in-Residence at the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut since 2001, and is an adjunct professor in both the School of Law and the School of Education of Quinnipiac University. Additionally, through presentations, panels, seminars and webinars — including numerous recent webinars addressing the questions of administrators and superintendents with respect to opening schools and providing learning opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic — Tom provides insights that reflect lessons learned over many years.