Why Is Virginia’s Largest Public School District Spending so Much on Lawyers?

In just seven years, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has spent nearly $60 million on lawyers.

During fiscal year 2026 alone, the district set a new record, spending $14.4 million on legal fees.

For a school system that routinely cites budget constraints when discussing teacher pay, classroom resources, and student services, these legal expenditures deserve far more public scrutiny than they have received.

The most striking figure is the nearly $8.9 million paid to King & Spalding during fiscal year 2026. That single firm’s bill exceeded FCPS’s total annual legal spending in every fiscal year before fiscal year 2024.