Title IX Defense in Florida
Serving students & Faculty nationwideTitle IX violations are serious legal matters that can jeopardize your education and future. If you have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment, or discrimination in a school or college setting, your future is on the line. You need a targeted legal approach to protect your rights.
Title IX is a nuanced area of the law. At KJK’s Student & Athlete Defense team, we focus on this area of the law, making us an ideal partner when you are facing Title IX charges. Our co-chair and partner Susan Stone was named Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year” in the Education category for 2025, a distinction that only one attorney can receive in each category and location based on the highest peer reviews in the category. This indicates the level of excellence and experience you can expect when you hire our law firm to represent you in Title IX matters. Contact us today for a confidential consultation to discuss how we can protect your legal rights.
What Is Title IX?
Title IX is a federal law that states that educational institutions that receive federal funds cannot discriminate on the basis of sex. It aims to prevent sex-based harassment and discrimination on college campuses.
Common violations that implicate Title IX include:
- Sexual assault and rape
- Sexual harassment, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual factors, and other sexual physical or verbal conduct
- Sex-based discrimination, such as not allowing individuals of one sex to participate in activities
- Dating violence between intimate partners
Why Do You Need a Title IX Lawyer?
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Under Title IX, complainants and respondents have the right to an advisor of choice. This advisor participates in the Title IX investigation process and explains the affected party’s rights to them through each phase. While the advisor does not have to be an attorney, using a lawyer in this realm is often in a party’s best interests.
A Title IX attorney knows the investigative process inside and out. They can advise you if your rights have been violated. They can ensure you receive due process and that any impermissible evidence is excluded.
Additionally, a Title IX attorney can protect your reputation from unfounded allegations. People may presume you are guilty, and saying or doing the wrong thing can validate these feelings – even if they are incorrect. By having an experienced lawyer on your side who works with these types of cases every day, you can level the playing field when the stakes are highest.
The Title IX Process
To fully understand why you need a team of experienced lawyers on your side, it’s helpful to understand the entire Title IX process, which involves the following sequence:
Complaint Is Filed
A person who believes Title IX has been violated files a formal complaint. This could be the alleged victim, or it could be another concerned party or mandatory reporter.
Interim Measures
The college or university sets up interim measures that support the affected parties. The school is focused on protecting the complainant and may provide temporary measures, such as an escort, modified class schedule, housing changes, or other aspects of their college life. The respondent may also receive interim measures.
Investigation
Colleges and universities are required to investigate all complaints of sexual misconduct concerning their campuses. Sometimes, this duty extends even if the alleged misconduct occurred off campus.
The investigative process helps to determine if Title IX and school policy have been violated. It is important to understand that this process is not the same as a criminal investigation. Title IX investigators will determine if there is a finding of responsibility. If so, it will then determine how to resolve the issue.
Just because the school conducts an investigation under Title IX does not mean that the legal process is restricted to this forum. The case may still result in criminal investigation or findings of fault in a civil case.
During the Title IX investigation, an objective party asks for evidence from the parties, such as physical evidence, text messages, video evidence, or other forms of evidence. The investigator interviews the parties and witnesses. After the investigation, the investigator determines if there is a finding of responsibility.
Hearing
Complainants may choose to resolve Title IX charges through a hearing. During the hearing, each party presents their case. They testify about what happened. They can present witnesses who are interviewed by the hearing officer or panel. After the hearing, the decision maker determines fault and recommends sanctions, if applicable. An experienced lawyer can help throughout the hearing process.
Imposition of Sanctions
If the investigation or hearing results in a finding of responsibility, sanctions are imposed. These sanctions can range in severity from treatment or an intervention program to the removal of scholarships or expulsion.
Appeals
If either party is dissatisfied with the result and feels the panel made an error, they have a limited time to appeal the decision. There are strict time limits and procedures that you must follow to appeal the case.
How Is a Title IX Case Different Than a Criminal Case?
Title IX cases and criminal cases are very different. In a criminal case, you face criminal charges. A conviction can result in imprisonment, fines, and other criminal penalties. In Title IX actions, you are subject to disciplinary action by the school. Schools, colleges, and universities can also be held responsible in these cases, so they have a vested interest in responding promptly to allegations of misconduct to protect themselves.
In a criminal case, you have the right to be represented by a criminal defense attorney. In a Title IX case, you have the choice of advisor. A criminal defense attorney is more involved in protecting their client’s rights and can make arguments and advocate on their behalf. An advisor informs you of your rights through the process and can guide you, but they are not as directly involved as a criminal defense lawyer.
In a criminal case, the prosecution has the highest burden of proof of showing that you are guilty by proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The standard of proof in a Title IX case is by the preponderance of the evidence, which just means that the facts are more likely than not as the complainant alleged. If the complainant in a Title IX action provides convincing evidence or testimony, this could be enough to result in significant penalties.
Keep in mind that criminal charges may still result if you are facing accusations of sexual violence or the violation of other criminal laws. Title IX cases are restricted to the college or university’s response to complaints of sexual discrimination, harassment, or other misconduct. An experienced lawyer can advise you on how the Title IX process can affect any potential criminal case that is filed in your case and how to best protect your rights.
Consequences of Title IX Actions
Even though Title IX actions are not criminal cases, they can still result in significant consequences that can have a lasting impact on your education and future. Depending on the outcome of your Title IX case, disciplinary action may include:
- Loss of scholarships and other financial assistance – You could lose scholarships, loans, and other financial aid.
- Loss of housing – You could be ordered to move off campus and to stay away from the complainant.
- Removal from leadership positions – If you’re active on campus, you could be forced to resign from leadership positions in clubs and societies.
- Removal from extracurricular – You could be removed from societies, clubs, and Greek life.
- Suspension from school – You could be suspended from school, which could result in lower grades or failing classes.
- Suspension from school – You could be suspended from school, which could result in lower grades or failing classes.
- Expulsion from school – Many students accused of Title IX violations face expulsion as a possible punishment.
- Job loss – If you are a university employee or have an after-school job on campus, you could be fired from that position if the allegations are found to be substantiated.
- Degree revocation – In some cases, the school may choose to revoke a degree you have already received.
Your educational program can be severely affected when Title IX violations are alleged. Protect your legal rights and interests by lodging a strong defense with the help of an experienced lawyer.
Contact a Title IX Defense Attorney for a Confidential Consultation
If you are facing accusations of sex discrimination, dating violence, or sexual harassment in a college setting, it’s important that you take the matter seriously. Your future is at stake. KJK’s Student & Athlete Defense team has extensive experience handling these cases. We can guide you through the disciplinary process and protect your due process rights. Contact us today for a confidential case review.
Peer Advice
A Client’s Tips For Facing A Title IX Investigation
I OFFER THE FOLLOWING TIPS
For students who may be involved in a Title IX or related matter, I offer the following tips. First, I recommend that you call a Title IX lawyer before you make any other move. Following that step, one should consider staying away from public statements on the matter. I also recommend that this public silence be countered with engagement in therapy and frequent self-care. Similarly, reach out to the appropriate contact at your school to coordinate supportive measures so that you may continue with your academics. Establishing a list of hobbies and rituals to ground myself was incredibly helpful throughout the ups and downs of the case.
See What Our CLients are Saying about our title ix attorneys
Testimonials
We will be forever grateful to you for engaging with us to assist our son...
Kristina and Susan are very competent ...
Susan Stone and Kristina Supler represented our male college freshman...
against a false Title IX claim of non-consensual sexual intercourse. Current Title IX laws are strongly slanted in the accuser’s favor, and our son was denied due process by the university. This legal team expertly highlighted the accuser’s false accusations, while exposing the university’s many inconsistencies. They were there when we needed them – quick to take our phone calls or respond to our questions and concerns. Without their expert legal advice, our son would have likely been another silent and unfortunate victim of current Title IX university policies. We give Susan and Kristina the highest of recommendations!
I was a member of a fraternity at a public university...
that was kicked off campus for reported hazing. My involvement with the fraternity was unaware of any misdeeds being done, and was shocked when the school charged me with failure to report hazing. That’s when I contacted Susan and Kristina, who were extremely helpful and wonderful to work with. Thanks to them they helped guide me through collecting proof of my innocence, which ended up leading to the result we wanted of no charges against me. I highly recommend their service to anyone who might need it!
You are the utmost professional counselor...
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K-12 Student DefenseKJK’s Student & Athlete Defense practice group is here to protect your child’s future. Defending students of all ages, our team is here to make sure your family is given fair treatment when it comes to disciplinary actions issued by your school district.
Title IX
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