Westport Title IX Lawyer

Since its ratification more than half a century ago, Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments has completely changed public and private higher education in the United States. However, even with so much history and legal precedent, Title IX can still be tricky for school administrators to comply with and difficult for victims of on-campus sexual discrimination to enforce Title IX.

Guidance from an experienced attorney can be crucial in this context. You may be seeking to maintain compliance with Title IX requirements in an ever-shifting political and legal environment. Maybe you need to seek recourse from your school after experiencing sexual harassment or violence. Alternatively, you may need to contest an accusation that you have violated someone else’s Title IX rights. No matter what led to your current circumstances or what outcome you want to pursue, a Westport Title IX lawyer from The Law Offices of Mark Sherman is an important ally.

What Rights Do Students and Faculty Have Under Title IX?

Title IX grants students, staff, and faculty members of federally funded schools the right to be protected from all forms of sex-based discrimination while on school campus and while participating in school-sponsored events. If a student, staff, or faculty member infringes on your rights in any way, you can file a complaint with your school’s Title IX Coordinator. This is a position that federal law requires the administration to maintain.

In response to such a complaint, your school must conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the alleged violation and provide supportive measures in the interim to minimize disruption to your educational career. If needed, after filing a formal Title IX complaint, a Westport attorney can help you seek accommodations such as class schedule changes, alternate housing arrangements, and special transportation options.

Addressing Title IX Complaints as a Respondent

If someone has accused you of violating their Title IX rights while attending or working at a federally funded school, there are certain things you should consider. You do not have the same constitutionally guaranteed rights that a defendant in criminal court would have upon being accused of a criminal offense. Instead, your rights will be whatever your specific school’s code of conduct grants to students and faculty members, subject to internal disciplinary action.

Title IX complaints are also unlike criminal charges in that you cannot face jail time or monetary penalties if you are adjudicated guilty of a Title IX offense. However, you may face sanctions from your school, such as the loss of on-campus privileges, probation, suspension, or even expulsion in extreme scenarios. One of our lawyers in Westport can work on your behalf to prevent these consequences during your Title IX case.

Speak With a Title IX Attorney in Westport for Legal Support

Title IX disputes resemble criminal cases in certain respects, but there are also many unique aspects of a Title IX case. Whether you are a complainant, respondent, or school administrator involved in such a case, understanding and accounting for those unique elements could be crucial to getting through this type of proceeding as efficiently and successfully as possible.

Assistance from a Westport Title IX lawyer can make a big difference in how smoothly your case proceeds and for your chances of securing a favorable final result. Call The Law Offices of Mark Sherman to set up an initial consultation, or click here to see what past clients have said about working with us on Avvo.com.