Frequently Asked Questions About Student Rights

Roughly, a disciplinary matter involves alleged misconduct (a conduct-code or honor-code violation), while an academic matter involves grades, progress, or performance. The distinction matters because, at public institutions, disciplinary cases generally require more formal process than academic ones. Schools sometimes label a case "academic" to avoid a hearing — part of my job is to test whether that label is accurate.

Usually quickly. Appeal windows after a finding or dismissal are often measured in days, not weeks, and the record you build early frequently shapes everything that follows. The sooner you involve counsel, the more options remain open. If you are facing a deadline, contact me as soon as possible.

Yes. Public colleges and universities are bound by the Constitution, so students are entitled to due process. Private institutions are generally bound instead by contract — the handbook, catalog, and policies they publish — and by federal statutes like Title IX and Section 504. The strategy differs accordingly, and I tailor it to your school.

The federal Title IX regulations have changed repeatedly between administrations and remain unsettled. After a federal court vacated the 2024 rule in January 2025, the U.S. Department of Education confirmed it is enforcing the 2020 regulations. Because this area can change on short notice, I assess every Title IX matter against the rules and your school's policies as they stand at that moment.

Sometimes. Litigation may be available — for example, a due-process claim against a public university under Section 1983, a Title IX or Section 504 claim, a discrimination or retaliation claim, or a breach-of-contract claim against a private institution. I litigate these matters in both federal and state court and am actively taking on new cases. That said, many matters are resolved faster and more effectively inside the school's own process or through a well-aimed appeal, so I'll give you a candid view of whether, and when, going to court makes sense for your goals.

It can. A misconduct finding or dismissal can surface in graduate admissions, professional licensing, and residency or match processes, and may appear on a transcript. That is exactly why these matters are worth taking seriously from the start, and why the goal is often not just resolving the immediate problem but protecting the record going forward.

I'll discuss fees with you directly so you understand the arrangement before you commit, and I can shape the engagement to fit the matter. That can mean full representation, working behind the scenes in a consulting role, a focused second opinion at a reasonable, agreed cost, or staying on as ongoing or retainer counsel as a situation develops. The first step is a record review to understand your situation and deadlines. Contacting me or submitting the form does not, by itself, create an attorney–client relationship — that begins only once there is a signed engagement.