Right to Know Law
RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW (RTKL)/OPEN RECORDS
The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law
Attorney Schnee literally wrote "the book" on the Right-to-Know Law and has written or edited over 10,000 final orders issued by the Office of Open Records.
The Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) - Pennsylvania's open records statute - provides for swift access to governmental records throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This important transparency law helps enable citizens, the media and others to hold government agencies accountable by providing access to public. Having written three editions of the legal treatise on the RTKL and having previously served as the Assistant Chief Counsel for the Office of Open Records, Attorney J. Chadwick Schnee is a leading authority on this open records statute.
Schnee Legal Services, LLC provides a variety of services to government agencies, citizens, third party contractors and other agencies in RTKL matters, including:
- Drafting and filing Right-to-Know Law requests;
- Training Agency Open Records Officers (AOROs) in complying with the legal requirements of the Right-to-Know Law;
- Assisting agencies and third party contractors in responding to RTKL requests;
- Reviewing and analyzing whether any reasons for denying access apply to records, including RTKL exemptions, statutory exemptions, privileges and the constitutional right to privacy;
- Providing representation before the Office of Open Records, County District Attorney Appeals Officers, various county courts of common pleas, the Commonwealth Court and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court;
- Participating in in camera reviews, hearings and mediations before the Office of Open Records.
Schnee Legal Services In Numbers
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A seasoned attorney with more than a decade of experience, J. Chadwick (“Chad”) Schnee started his law firm to serve clients in a wide variety of matters, including, among others, labor and employment law matters, municipal issues, Right-to-Know (open records), Sunshine Act and guardianship matters. Schnee Legal Services is also an employment law firm, having represented numerous organizations and individuals in employment discrimination and unemployment compensation matters.
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Bar Admissions
- The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Middle
District of Pennsylvania
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Authored four books focusing on the Right-to-Know Law and the Sunshine Act.
Consultations
With a commitment to excellence and a passion for justice, we are here to support you every step of the way. Don't navigate the complexities of the legal system alone; let us be your trusted partner. Contact us now to schedule your consultation and start your journey toward resolution and peace of mind.
"At Schnee Legal Services, we understand the importance of trust and will do what it takes to earn it."
~ J. Chadwick Schnee, Esquire
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