Title IX Defense in Tennessee

An experienced Title IX lawyer in Tennessee can take the steps necessary to protect your rights and ensure that you understand the legal process ahead. When you hire a Title IX defense lawyer from our law firm, we can:

• Review the formal complaint against you and ensure that you understand the allegations and possible outcomes
• Guide you through the complex Title IX process
• Explain your legal rights and options at each phase of your case
• Conduct an independent investigation into the allegations against you and secure evidence to support your defense
• Guide you in interactions with school administrators and interviews
• Review evidence, reports, and findings
• Negotiate with the educational institute for a reasonable outcome that protects your future
• Ensure the college or university follows its own procedures and affords you with due process
• Explain the hearing process and engage with the process to the fullest extent possible
• Make appeals for adverse decisions

You can learn more about how our prestigious law firm can help when you call for a confidential consultation. 

Why Choose KJK Student & Athlete Defense?

When you are facing serious allegations, such as those involved in Title IX cases, you need an experienced legal advocate on your side. KJK’s Student & Athlete Defense team has taken on over 640 cases and engaged with over 190 colleges and universities throughout the country. We are one of the most experienced law firms in this arena and are well-recognized for our client commitment and results. We understand the unique challenges involved in sexual misconduct cases and how to respond to them.

Susan Stone of our firm was awarded Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year in the Education category for 2025, a tremendous accomplishment awarded to only one lawyer in each category and location each year. The award goes to the lawyer who received the highest peer reviews in the category. Having a co-chair and partner with such significant knowledge and experience is invaluable and a great asset for anyone who is facing Title IX cases. 

In addition to our extensive experience in educational law, we also assist with all related aspects of a Title IX case. Whether you need reputation management services to remove damaging online content about the case or you need a criminal defense attorney for related criminal charges, we can help. Contact our dedicated Title IX defense attorneys today to take the first step in protecting your future. 

What Is a Title IX Investigation?

Title IX is a federal law that states that no person in the United States should be excluded from participating in or be denied the benefits of any education program or activity that receives federal financial assistance on the basis of sex. It excludes sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, and other forms of sexual misconduct that would interfere with a student’s studies. 

While the initial intention of Title IX was to provide entry to academic students to women and to ensure that women’s sports received adequate funding, it has now evolved. It is often used in cases involving sexual misconduct, with cases alleging some type of misconduct now making up the vast majority of these cases. In 2022, the United States Department of Education received nearly 9,500 Title IX complaints, many of which complained of sexual violence and harassment. Title IX complaints made up approximately 48% of complaints the Department of Education received that year.

Possible Penalties for a Title IX Violation

Title IX findings of responsibility can lead to serious consequences, including:

• Expulsion or suspension from school
• Academic probation
• Sanctions
• Job loss
• Loss of university housing
• Loss of financial aid, scholarships, and grants
• Removal from leadership positions

Many individuals find that Title IX allegations have a long-term impact on their reputation and career. Negative information can be included on their transcripts and academic records due to the consequences of Title IX findings of responsibility, making it difficult or impossible to transfer to other schools or complete their education. Additionally, these allegations can lead to damage to your mental health and personal relationships.

When you’re confronting such serious consequences, you need a skilled legal advocate who will work diligently to protect you from them. 

Your Rights Under Title IX

If you are accused of violating Title IX, you have several rights you should be aware of, including the following:

• Right to notice – You have the right to be notified of the claims against you in writing, including sufficient details so that you can lodge a defense. 
• Right to due process – You have the right to be heard and to defend yourself against the allegations. 
• Right to prepare – You have the right to be notified of any interview in which anything other than your rights will be discussed and to have sufficient time to prepare for it. You must be given written notice of an interview.
• Right to be free of bias – You have the right to a fair and impartial investigation. The investigator must be free of actual or perceived bias or conflicts of interest. 
• Right to appeal – You have the right to appeal a decision based on limited grounds.

The Title IX Process from Start to Finish

Schools, universities, and educational programs are responsible for establishing procedures for Title IX cases. The general process includes the following steps:

Notice

You and the accuser receive notification from the university’s Title IX coordinator that you have been accused of violating Title IX.

Investigation 

Your school assigns an investigator who interviews the parties and any witnesses. They gather evidence. Your advisor has the right to be present during interviews to ensure fairness. After the investigation has concluded, the investigator prepares a report, summarizing their findings. Both parties have the right to review and respond to the report. 

Hearing

Title IX regulations no longer require schools to have impartial hearings. Some Title IX cases stop at the investigation stage, during which the school reviews the report and decides whether to issue sanctions. 

If your school does provide for hearings, it schedules a live hearing before one or more decision-makers. Your lawyer can help prepare you for the hearing, including preparing an opening statement. You have the right to prepare a list of questions to ask the accuser and witnesses. The school must allow both parties an equal opportunity to present their case. 

Most schools adopt a preponderance of the evidence standard, so if they find that facts are more likely than not as the accuser claims, they award in the accuser’s favor. They may issue sanctions at the end of the procedure. 

Appeal

If you are found responsible for violating Title IX, you may be able to appeal the decision. However, the grounds for appeal are often limited, such as if there is bias, procedural errors, or new evidence. 

What Evidence Can Be Used in a Title IX Investigation?

Colleges and universities do not have to follow the rules of evidence as in civil or criminal courts. They can establish their own rules regarding the types of evidence that can come into a case and how it is presented. Typically, any potentially relevant evidence may be used in a Title IX case, including:

• Witness statements and testimony from people who may have observed some of the actions in question
• Physical evidence, such as bed sheets, DNA tests, and medical records
• Digital evidence, such as screenshots, phone logs, and social media posts
• Written communications between the parties, such as text messages, letters, emails, and social media interactions
• Documentation, including disciplinary records and academic records 

There are also rules about what types of information can be presented that pertain to the accuser’s sexual history. It is often limited so that only information about the particular sexual encounter in question can be introduced. 

An experienced attorney can help challenge evidence that is unreliable and help preserve evidence that can help support your case. They will also know how to present evidence in an effective way that complies with your school’s Title IX procedures. They can challenge evidence that is not properly submitted

Difficulties in Defending Against Title IX Charges

Title IX is a complex area of the law, even for lawyers who are experienced in other arenas. Some of the challenges involved in these types of cases include:

Lack of Evidence

Many Title IX cases lack credible evidence, relying instead on the statements of accusers and biased witnesses. Decision makers may base decisions on circumstantial evidence. 

Pressure

Because schools are mandated to investigate claims of sex-based discrimination, many college campuses take punitive action against the accused so they don’t lose federal funding or face public backlash.  

Changing Regulations

Title IX laws are constantly evolving. A new set of laws became effective in 2024, but lawsuits prevented many schools from having to integrate them. Additionally, President Trump’s administrative order changed the applicability of certain newer terms, replacing constructions involving “gender” with “sex” and rolling back protections based on sexual orientation. Lawyers must stay abreast of these changes to provide an effective defense.

Contact Our Legal Defense Team

The KJK Student & Athlete Defense team understands the nuances involved in Title IX cases. We protect the futures of students and faculty members. We are ready to put our considerable experience and skills to aid in your defense. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.