A Title IX Lawyer Normal is a powerful advocate, who will fight to protect your rights and guide you through the complex legal process. Whether you are a male or female student, and regardless of your sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status, you deserve the same opportunities as any other person in your school to participate fully in educational programs and activities without fear of discrimination.
Under federal law all schools that receive federal funds are required to investigate promptly any reports made of sexual harassment. This includes rapes and sexual assaults as well as other forms. They must then take action to eliminate it and prevent its recurrence. If a university fails to comply with federal civil penalties, it could be fined.
Students who are accused by their school of sexual violence are entitled to a due procedure, which includes an impartial hearing with a neutral panel. The process can be lengthy, and the consequences if a student is found responsible for a sexual misconduct claim can be severe.
The best Title IX legal counsel have extensive experience investigating and defending claims of sexual misconduct in universities throughout the United States. They will examine a school’s disciplinary and investigative procedures to make sure they comply with Department of Education Title IX sexual misconduct guidance. Their work includes reviewing the school records, interviewing the witnesses and investigating the evidence provided by the accuser.
A Title IX attorney will be your advisor at the hearing to ensure you have the fundamental rights of defence that are guaranteed both by your school’s policy and the OCR guidance. They will help to prepare your statement, suggest potential witnesses, and present evidence that supports your case. They can also challenge the credibility of your accuser by pointing out inconsistencies and other factors that call their account into question.
In the event you are found to be “responsible”, for a Title IX violation they will assist you with preparing an appeal so that you do not run the risk of being found guilty twice on the same charge. They will also help you to prepare for any appeals by the accuser to attempt to increase your sanctions, including suspension and expulsion from the school.
The cost of a Title IX Attorney may be prohibitive. But many attorneys will represent students accused of committing sexual misconduct within their educational institution on a pro bono basis or on a fee-for-service basis. If you are unable to hire an attorney, there are some law school clinics that offer student representation.
It is important to hire an attorney who has the right mix of national Title IX movement expertise and sexual and gender violence training. The lawyer needs to be a nationally recognized attorney, since a Title IX complaint will be filed at federal court. This requires special knowledge of federal laws and court procedures. If the case involves public universities, it is important that the attorney has local counsel to ensure that state law is followed.
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