You were pretty close to graduating, until your school suddenly claimed that you violated their student conduct policy. Maybe the college is accusing you of plagiarism or of cheating on an exam. Or maybe your violation involves a problem in student housing or a criminal offense.
Generally, if you’re accused of a student conduct offense, your college or university will have a procedure consisting of various levels. Often, this procedure includes a hearing. Depending on the university, you may or may not be allowed to have an attorney at the hearing. Or the attorney may attend the hearing, but the attorney may be barred from speaking. Still, an attorney can help guide you through these procedures. And even where the attorney cannot attend the hearing, an attorney can help in a variety of ways:
An attorney can help prepare any written materials or appeals that you must submit. A client may not be in the best position to understand how they come across to others. What you see as understandable justification, the university might see as a self-serving excuse. An attorney can help you focus on a defense that would more likely appeal to the university’s decisionmakers.
Even if the attorney cannot appear or help you at the actual hearing, he or she can prepare you for questioning and work on your presentation. Again, what you might see as a reasonable explanation, the college might see as “blaming others.” Further, you might unconsciously express yourself in ways the college finds off-putting. Maybe your facial expressions appear arrogant, when you are really just thinking. An attorney can help improve how you communicate.
If you have questions about this or another related education matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com.
(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)