Disciplinary hearings in the academic setting address misconduct by a student that goes against the school’s rules or policies. Any resulting penalties can negatively affect your reputation and status at the school. You could lose a future job offer, student privileges, and even your degree, so you should take these hearings seriously.

Our team of diligent Title IX Attorneys at Leifert & Leifert can mount a solid defense for your case. We can start preparing for and handling the disciplinary process, including any associated meetings, hearings, or investigations. Legal counsel can investigate the allegations at issue, find evidence or information, and protect your rights throughout the process.

Possible Results of Disciplinary Hearings

Every institution of higher learning maintains its own rules, regulations, and procedures to handle disciplinary issues. Those rules, often in the form of student codes of conduct, govern these hearings and can be complex to navigate alone. One of our Attorneys can explain the process and ensure you fully understand the situation, with the goal of allowing you to make intelligent and reasonable choices.

Disciplinary hearings can have a variety of outcomes, depending on the alleged offense and its severity. Some disciplinary proceedings might conclude with no action, or a low-level warning. Others could lead to more severe penalties, such as academic probation, revocation of privileges on campus, and even suspension or expulsion.

For allegations involving a student who has recently graduated, a penalty could include the withholding or revocation of a degree. If the offense is also a crime, the school could refer the case to local law enforcement for criminal prosecution in addition to its own penalties.

Consequences to a Person’s Future

Misconduct proceedings in school can have effects farther into the future, beyond graduation. A school’s penalties can have direct effects, such as taking back a degree, but also indirect effects later in life.

For example, someone with a record of student discipline could find it much more difficult to find a job and make a career. This barrier becomes even more prevalent for former students looking to enter a licensed profession, such as law, medicine, or accounting, as records of discipline remain and must be disclosed in most cases.

Even if you do not suffer the worst of penalties from your school and manage to avoid most future risks to employment, the social consequences you can experience for facing the proceedings and any discipline can damage your reputation, friends, and even ostracize family based on alleged misconduct.

How a Lawyer Can Help

Although student disciplinary proceedings are not criminal Prosecutions, an Attorney at Leifert & Leifert can still take an active role in defending against misconduct allegations. For example, a Lawyer can gather more evidence and information to further investigate the case. That investigation could include:

  • Reviewing photo and video evidence
  • Scrutinizing case documents
  • Conducting new interviews
  • Consulting with experts
  • Presenting new evidence
  • Prepare mitigation materials

Because disciplinary hearings are not trials, students do not have the same rights. In fact, students do not have a guaranteed right to legal representation, though school policies often allow an Attorney to advise and accompany a student in their hearing.

An Attorney can prepare a client for a hearing based on their experience, as well as advise them on how to craft a defense. Our lawyers can also prepare the student for a hearing by rehearsing answers, organizing thoughts, and explaining the process based on the school’s procedures. A particular school may have a hearing in front of a panel or just one investigator, and there could be an appeal process to consider before penalties are enforced.

Consult an Attorney About School Disciplinary Proceedings Today

Disciplinary hearings at any academic institution can have negative consequences if the outcome is unfavorable. Our team at Leifert & Leifert is here to help you as you face this pressing issue. We can help gather evidence and build the strongest possible Defense for your case while protecting your rights throughout the process. If you are facing this daunting issue, call our office today to schedule a free initial consultation and get started.

Fort Lauderdale 3rd Avenue
  • Fort Lauderdale
  • 1213 SE 3rd Avenue
    Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33316
  • Palm Beach Gardens
  • 800 Village Square Crossing
    Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
  • Wellington
  • 12230 Forest Hill Blvd
    Wellington, FL 33414
  • Ft Lauderdale
  • 6550 N. Federal Highway
    Suite #220
    Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
  • West Palm Beach
  • 2101 Vista Parkway
    #1006
    West Palm Beach, FL 33411
  • Delray Beach
  • 2160 W Atlantic Ave
    2nd Floor
    Delray Beach, FL 33445
  • Plantation
  • 1200 S Pine Island Rd
    #220
    Plantation, FL 33324
  • Boca Raton
  • 10055 Yamato Road
    Suite 509
    Boca Raton, FL 33498
Get Direction
  • Boca Raton
  • 10055 Yamato Road
    Suite 509
    Boca Raton, FL 33498
Get Direction
  • Plantation
  • 1200 S Pine Island Rd
    #220
    Plantation, FL 33324
Plantation-location
Get Direction
  • Delray Beach
  • 2160 W Atlantic Ave
    2nd Floor
    Delray Beach, FL 33445
Delray Beach
Get Direction
  • West Palm Beach
  • 2101 Vista Parkway
    #1006
    West Palm Beach, FL 33411
west palm beach location
Get Direction
  • Ft Lauderdale
  • 6550 N. Federal Highway
    Suite #220
    Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
Fort Lauderdale
Get Direction
  • Wellington
  • 12230 Forest Hill Blvd
    Wellington, FL 33414
Wellington
Get Direction
  • Palm Beach Gardens
  • 800 Village Square Crossing
    Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Palm Beach  Gardens
Get Direction
  • Fort Lauderdale
  • 1213 SE 3rd Avenue
    Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33316
Fort Lauderdale