Title IX Defense in Maryland

Why You Need an Experienced Title IX Defense Lawyer 

Some schools flagrantly violate the accused’s rights. They may schedule a meeting without the accused without providing the necessary notice. During this meeting, they may interrogate the accused, disregarding their due process rights. 

A student who is not aware of the seriousness of these allegations may say or do something that damages their defense without even knowing it. Before they know it, they are facing serious consequences. 

To protect your rights, you need the assistance of an experienced Title IX defense lawyer. The sooner you engage the services of an experienced lawyer, the sooner they can intervene to protect you. 

Some of the ways that a lawyer can help with your Title IX defense include the following:

• Reviewing your college’s or university’s Title IX policy
• Explaining the school’s investigation process to you
• Advising you of your legal rights
• Advocating for an early dismissal of your case or alternative dispute resolution
• Getting your side of the story and determining the various defenses that you can raise in your case
• Discussing your objectives with you and the realistic likelihood of achieving them
• Being present at all interviews
• Conducting an independent investigation and obtaining, preserving, and submitting relevant evidence in your defense
• Reviewing the investigative report and witness statements
• Making timely responses to the investigative report based on misunderstandings, errors, or omissions
• Preparing you for testifying at a Title IX hearing, if applicable 
• Creating a defense strategy that is customized to your particular situation 
• Filing independent legal claims, as appropriate
• Advocating for supportive measures that can aid your education while the case is pending
• Safeguarding your due process rights throughout the process
• Appealing an adverse decision, if you have viable grounds

Under Title IX rules, you have a right to select an advisor of your choice to guide you through the process. Some of the reasons you should consider hiring the KJK Student & Athlete Defense team are that:

• Our law practice is focused solely on education law. We regularly represent students and faculty members in cases involving Title IX cases, campus misconduct cases, violations of the honor code, special education matters, and other education cases.
• We are experienced. We have represented more than 1,000 students in more than 200 colleges and universities.
• We are recognized leaders in this realm. Our attorneys have appeared on various media outlets, including Law & Crime, CNN, ESPN, USA Today, and Law.com. One of our co-chairs and partners, Susan Stone, was named Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year in the Education category for 2025, a distinction that only one attorney in each category and location can claim each year. The award goes to the lawyer who received the highest peer reviews in the category.
• We provide comprehensive legal services. In addition to the Title IX case at your school, we can represent you in any related criminal or civil cases. We can also help manage your reputation. 

At KJK Student & Athlete Defense, we focus on protecting futures. Call today for your confidential consultation. 

Common Types of Title IX Cases

While the actual language of Title IX is limited, the judicial interpretation of this federal statute has allowed various types of cases to be considered under its mandate, including cases alleging:

• Adverse admissions decisions based on sex or gender
• Failing to provide women’s college sports teams with similar opportunities, facilities, and funding as men’s sports teams
• Disparate disciplinary actions based on gender
• Discrimination in employment on the basis of sex or gender
• Bullying
• Sexual harassment, including quid pro quo or hostile environment harassment
• Acts of rape, sexual assault, or other forms of sexual violence
• Domestic violence
• Pregnancy discrimination claims
• Claims regarding the adverse treatment of students or professors who are parents
• Retaliation after complaining about unfair treatment on the basis of sex or gender

Our legal team has vast experience handling various types of Title IX cases. We know how to carefully review the nature of the charges and build a compelling defense on our client’s behalf. Call today for more information. 

The Title IX Investigative Process 

Title IX cases often involve allegations of sexual assault, harassment, or misconduct. Schools must thoroughly and promptly investigate claims of this nature, as failing to do so can compromise their federal funding. Due to the potential backlash, many schools may act more in the accuser’s interests, potentially resulting in biased proceedings against the accused.

Schools, colleges, and universities can establish the standard of proof they use in these proceedings, but many choose the lower burden of proof of “by the preponderance of the evidence.” This means that the decision is based on whether it is more likely than not that the alleged conduct occurred. Due to this relaxed standard, it’s possible for accused individuals to be found responsible for violating Title IX even when they are innocent, there is little evidence against them, or the accuser consented to the alleged misconduct. 

Possible Penalties for Violating Title IX 

Because Title IX is an administrative proceeding at schools, colleges, and universities, the potential penalties are limited to what these educational institutions can do to those who have violated their rules. Still, the potential concentrations are far-reaching, including:

• Academic probation
• Suspension
• Expulsion
• Revocation of a previously awarded degree
• Loss of academic scholarships
• Removal from leadership positions
• Loss of employment 
• Being forced off a college athletic team

Even if you are ultimately exonerated from the allegations, interim support measures provided to the complainant can disrupt your life and studies. You could be forced to move out of student housing, required to change your class schedule, see your accuser with security personnel, be subject to a no-contact order, and lose your on-campus job. Additionally, your reputation could be harmed if other students or faculty believe you are guilty of the alleged misconduct. 

Differences in Criminal Cases and Title IX Cases

Many people are aware of or have heard of the rights afforded to criminal defendants, such as the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, the right to a free lawyer if they cannot afford one, the right to remain silent, etc. However, these rights do not apply in Title IX cases. 

Title IX proceedings are much different from criminal proceedings. You have a right to an advisor, but that person doesn’t have to be a lawyer. Additionally, your advisor doesn’t have to be free. Your advisor cannot advocate for you in the same way if there are official criminal charges filed against you, such as speaking on your behalf at all times or cross-examining witnesses. 

Your rights and responsibilities are spelled out in your school’s individual Title IX policy. This means that every Title IX case is different from one educational institution to the next. The same rules are not used as they are in criminal courts.

What Evidence Can Be Used in a Title IX Case?

Rules of evidence and procedure govern formal court cases. This is not the case in Title IX cases. Title IX coordinators and investigators do not have to follow these typical standards and procedures. 

Therefore, evidence that would not be permitted in a judicial proceeding, such as testimony about rumors, hearsay, or social media messages, if it were deemed unreliable or did not have a foundation laid for it, may be presented in Title IX cases. 

The Title IX investigator may obtain evidence used against you by:

• Interviewing the accuser 
• Interviewing you
• Interviewing witnesses who may have 
• Taking screenshots of social media posts
• Reviewing text messages, emails, and other digital evidence provided to them
• Analyzing or testing physical evidence
• Reviewing any surveillance footage of the alleged events 
• Reviewing law enforcement investigation documents if the case involves a parallel criminal investigation

Due to the high stakes involved in these types of cases and the potential avenues overzealous investigators can go down to obtain evidence to use against you, it’s critical that you work with an experienced Title IX defense attorney. 

Contact Our Law Firm for a Consultation

If you or your child has recently been accused of violating Title IX, you could benefit from the seasoned legal advice of an experienced and knowledgeable Title IX lawyer. We can review the charges against you, advise you of your rights, and explain how we can help during a confidential consultation. Contact us today to get started.