Yale Title IX Lawyer
Yale University has a long and storied tradition of providing high-quality education, research, and career opportunities to thousands of students every year. Unfortunately, it also has an increasingly worrying reputation for mishandling sexual misconduct on campus, as well as for failing to protect the rights of students who report violations of their Title IX rights.
It is always important to have help from a skilled attorney during a Title IX case, whether you are the one reporting a violation of your rights or have been accused of violating someone else’s rights. However, given Yale’s less-than-ideal history with these kinds of proceedings, it may be especially important to get the help of a seasoned Yale Title IX lawyer if you find yourself involved in this sort of proceeding here.
What Does Title IX Require Yale to Do?
Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments prohibits all forms of sex-based discrimination in any educational program or institution that receives federal funding of any kind. It also imposes specific requirements on such institutions to protect students and faculty members from sexual misconduct. First and foremost, this federal legislation requires Yale and other schools like it to establish a permanent position within its administration for a Title IX Coordinator. A Title IX coordinator is responsible for enforcing a “fair grievance process” for students and faculty to report violations of their Title IX rights.
If such an accusation is made, the Title IX coordinator must conduct an impartial investigation into the matter while protecting the privacy of all involved parties and providing temporary accommodations like changes in class schedules or housing to the involved parties. Finally, at the end of the investigation, there must be an in-person hearing at which both parties can present evidence and cross-examine witnesses. Both parties may appeal the final verdict from such a hearing if they wish to do so, ideally with assistance from a Yale Title IX attorney.
Possible Outcomes of a Title IX Investigation
It should be emphasized that a Title IX investigation is not the same thing as a criminal investigation, nor is a Title IX hearing the same thing as a criminal trial. In fact, both types of case may proceed simultaneously based on the same incident and have different outcomes since the standard of proof for criminal conviction is “beyond a reasonable doubt” while the standard for a Title IX violation is based on a “preponderance of the evidence.”
Another key difference is that the sanctions imposed against someone found to have violated another person’s Title IX rights are limited to their life and career at school. A Title IX case alone cannot result in consequences like fines or jail time. It can also result in the respondent being banned from on-campus housing and/or activities, suspended, or even expelled from school. Working with a skilled defense lawyer can be key to minimizing the long-term repercussions of a Title IX case at Yale.
Speak With a Yale Title IX Attorney Today
Title IX regulations carry the full force of the United States government behind them, so it is incumbent upon schools like Yale to take these regulations seriously and ensure they protect the rights of their students and faculty. Unfortunately, Yale is one of many institutes of higher learning that has failed to meet this expectation more than once in recent years, which makes it harder for people on both sides of Title IX proceedings to get fair and balanced results from their cases.
Representation from an experienced Yale Title IX lawyer can make a world of difference in how effectively you can enforce your rights and how efficiently you can get through this often-complicated process. Call Mark Sherman Law today to set up an initial consultation, and click here to read some of the 300+ verified reviews on our Avvo.com profile.