If you’ve been accused of a Title IX violation, hiring an attorney immediately could be the most important investment of your life. Title IX procedures are complex, and schools often do not have the experience to understand and protect your rights when you are facing allegations of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, or sexual assault.
A national Title IX respondent lawyer can provide essential legal support to help you avoid severe consequences such as expulsion, suspension, or termination from employment.
A finding of a Title IX policy violation can follow you from school to school, can make applications for further education and future employment difficult, and can even result in criminal charges if the case involves sexual assault, stalking, or dating violence. These are challenging cases that require the guidance of an expert who can help you avoid life-altering consequences of serious accusation.
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. It makes sex discrimination, sexual assault, and sexual harassment unlawful in most public and private schools and colleges nationwide. The law requires educational institutions to have procedures in place to handle sex discrimination complaints and to ensure fairness for all involved parties.
In the United States, nearly 81% of women and 43% of men report having been sexually harassed or assaulted. Interestingly, about 2 to 10% of allegations are determined to be false. Schools and colleges often react quickly and severely to the mere allegation of a sexual offense, resulting in a rush to judgment even when allegations are false or exaggerated.
An attorney can make a significant difference in the results of a Title IX investigation and allegations in the face of serious accusations. Title IX affords rights to both sides throughout the process, but schools might be unaware of or reluctant to provide these rights, especially when they are worried about the optics of providing favorable or even fair treatment to someone accused of sex-based misconduct.
If you’ve been accused of a Title IX violation, you’re entitled to due process. Due process means fair treatment under the law. Within the context of Title IX, due process requires a fair and impartial process for addressing sex-based misconduct complaints. You’re entitled to:
A Title IX respondent lawyer can ensure your rights are protected. Respondents often feel overwhelmed and railroaded by the Title IX process. An experienced attorney is acutely aware of what’s at stake with an adverse ruling and will work hard to obtain the most favorable potential outcome.
A Title IX attorney for respondents can:
An expert Title IX attorney for respondents will build a strong and cohesive defense strategy for you early in the case. They will investigate and explore possible defense strategies, such as whether the accusing party has issues with their memory, has miscommunicated, or has a motive to lie.
When searching for a Title IX lawyer for respondents, be sure to ask how many Title IX cases they have handled, what the results have been, and what their approach is to the investigative strategy. This is a unique and niche area of the law that most attorneys have no experience with, so vet your attorney carefully. A trial attorney, criminal defense attorney, family law attorney, employment attorney, or personal injury attorney might not have the skill or expertise to defend you successfully in the Title IX process.
If you are facing Title IX allegations, an experienced Title IX attorney can protect your rights and help you win your case, protect your reputation, and ensure you are not fired or expelled from your school or college. If your child is facing a Title IX investigation, bringing in the right attorney early in the process will ensure your child has the strategy and support of a professional legal advocate while you can focus on your child’s emotional well-being. An attorney should always have the possibility of criminal charges at the front of their mind as well, as criminal investigations can occur at the same time as, before, or after a Title IX investigation.
Contact us for help connecting with a Title IX attorney who can defend you against school sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations.