Title IX Defense Utah
Serving students & Faculty nationwideIn their attempt to provide female students with a fair and safe education, schools, colleges, and universities are sometimes overzealous in their application of Title IX. This can lead to students, athletes, and staff members facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct. If you find yourself in this position, a Title IX defense lawyer can help.
KJK’s Student & Athlete Defense provides a robust defense in Title IX cases. Our practice focuses on saving futures. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
What is Title IX?
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational settings. Basically, any college, university, or educational program that receives federal funding can lose that funding if it is found to violate this mandate, such as by denying admission to a college because of someone’s sex when no exception for this decision applies.
What Are Common Violations Under Title IX?
Title IX can involve various forms of prohibited conduct related to sex or due to someone’s biological sex. More recent interpretations also prohibit discrimination based on gender expression, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Schools, colleges, and educational programs can face Title IX violations when they discriminate against students due to their sex, such as refusing to admit women students to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) simply because they are women. Another common ground for Title IX accusations is when these educational institutions or programs do not provide similar facilities or opportunities for female athletes as they do for male athletes.
Faculty, staff members, and other students can face Title IX allegations if someone accuses them of sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, or sexual harassment.
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How a Lawyer Can Help If You’re Accused of Violating Title IX
Those accused of violating Title IX generally have the right to select an advisor of their choice who can help explain their rights and prepare them for the case ahead. An experienced Title IX defense lawyer can help by:
- Reviewing the allegations against you and explaining them to you
- Reviewing your school’s Title IX policy and explaining the process ahead
- Guiding you throughout the investigation and administrative process
- Protecting your rights by ensuring the school follows its own policy and provides due process
- Challenging the school if they do not follow proper protocols
- Conducting an independent investigation to gather evidence to aid in your defense, discover inconsistencies in the accuser’s story, and
- Advising on how to respond to allegations, provide context for the accusations, and build a compelling narrative
- Building the best defense possible based on the details of your case and proven successful strategies
- Preparing you for a live hearing
- Preparing lists of questions for witnesses and the victim, and how to respond to questions that are posed to you
- Assisting with an opening and closing statement
- Arguing to exclude irrelevant evidence or evidence that is prejudicial, such as that involving sexual history, mental illness, or negative character evidence
- Advocating for lighter sanctions if you are found responsible for violating Title IX
- Emphasizing mitigating factors
- Pointing out bias continuously that can put the school on notice that a lawyer may sue it
- Emphasizing procedural issues, such as a lack of notice, that can invalidate findings
- Advocating for a favorable resolution through mediation
- Appealing adverse decisions based on bias, new evidence, or procedural errors
If you are facing Title IX allegations, you need experienced legal counsel.
Why Choose KJK Student & Athlete Defense?
Title IX allegations can disrupt your education and negatively affect your future and career. When the stakes are so high, you need experienced legal counsel on your side. You don’t need just any attorney; you need one who has handled these types of cases before with a strong track record of success.
KJK Student & Athlete Defense is a law firm that is nationally recognized for its success in Title IX and other education cases. We routinely defend students, professors, doctoral candidates, scientists, and researchers in Title IX cases, campus misconduct claims, and related criminal prosecutions. We have successfully represented more than a thousand clients at over 200 colleges and universities throughout the country.
Our attorneys have repeatedly been recognized by Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year in the Education category. Only one lawyer can receive this designation each year for the location and category, and the award goes to the lawyer with the highest peer review ratings.
The Title IX Investigative Process
The Title IX process can vary from school to school, but it generally follows these steps:
- Notice: The Title IX office receives a complaint. The Title IX coordinator informs the parties of the allegations and the process.
- Investigation: A special investigator interviews the parties and witnesses, collects evidence, and prepares a report with their findings. The accused can present additional evidence to provide context or aid their defense for the investigator’s review.
- Response: The parties respond to the findings. After the response, the decision-maker may determine whether Title IX has been violated and impose sanctions if so.
- Hearing: Not all schools provide for a live hearing, but some do. If your school is one of those that do, there will be a decision maker or panel that will hear evidence and testimony and ultimately render a decision at the end of the proceedings. Your Title IX defense lawyer can help you with this process.
- Appeal: The parties have a limited right to appeal the decision, such as by raising the grounds that there were procedural errors, new evidence, or a conflict or bias that affected the outcome of the case.
Your Title IX defense lawyer can assist you through each step of the process.
Colleges and Universities Throughout Utah
Utah has a variety of public, private, two-year, and four-year colleges and universities, including the following:
- Southern Utah University
- University of Utah
- Utah State University
- Utah Tech University
- Utah Valley University
- Weber State University
- Salt Lake Community College, various locations in Salt Lake County
- Snow College, Ephraim and Richfield
- Bridgerland Technical College
- Davis Technical College
- Dixie Technical College
- Mountainland Technical College
- Ogden–Weber Technical College
- Southwest Technical College
- Tooele Technical College
- Uintah Basin Technical College
- Brigham Young University
- Eagle Gate College
- Ensign College
- Fortis College
- Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Mount Liberty College
- Neumont College of Computer Science
- Newlane University
- Provo College
- Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
- Rocky Vista University
- Roseman University of Health Sciences
- Salt Lake Baptist College / Salt Lake Bible College
- Western Governors University
- Westminster University
Possible Penalties Under Title IX
Even though Title IX cases are not as serious as criminal ones (which can result in incarceration and probation), your school or university could have a lot of power over you. Sanctions it can impose may include:
- Suspension, expulsion, or revocation of your degree
- Loss of leadership positions
- Requirements to change classes or jobs
- Job loss or loss of tenure
- Loss of financial aid
- Removal from a sports team
- Change in housing or being banned from college housing
- Public apologies
At KJK Student & Athlete Defense, we strive to prevent our clients from realizing these punishments.
KJK’s Legal Practice Areas
In addition to providing a robust defense in Title IX cases, we also provide legal representation in the following:
Criminal Prosecutions
While Title IX and criminal cases can sometimes involve similar allegations, the process and procedures involved in criminal cases are much different from those involved in Title IX cases. Criminal cases tend to take longer, as there is much more emphasis on providing the accused with due process rights and a fair process. In contrast, many Title IX cases are resolved within a few months.
Our experienced lawyers understand how Title IX cases can affect criminal ones and can advise you of what to do – and not to do – to protect your rights. While Title IX penalties can result in expulsion or suspension, criminal cases can result in the loss of your freedom and incarceration.
Civil Claims
Some claimants begin the legal process by initiating a Title IX case, but they may later sue based on similar allegations. Title IX is not an exclusive remedy, so criminal and civil cases can arise based on similar facts. A lawsuit can damage your reputation and jeopardize your personal assets. Our experienced attorneys can zealously defend your rights in this arena.
Reputation Management
Title IX and related accusations can damage your reputation. The signs of the legal matter can long outlast the finding of not being responsible for a Title IX violation. Our team can help remove negative information about you online so that it does not damage your reputation.
Student Misconduct Cases
Our dedicated student misconduct practice defends students who are accused of violating their school’s code of conduct. We can handle cases involving accusations of cheating, hazing, or racial bias, always ensuring that our clients receive a fair process.
Special Education Matters
Our law office also takes on cases involving special education, including helping students with 504 or IEP plans receive the same level of education as their peers.
At KJK Student & Athlete Defense, our focus is on saving futures. Whether that involves defending you against Title IX violation accusations, protecting your online reputation, or representing you in a criminal proceeding, we are fully equipped to do that. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.
Facing Title IX Violations? Contact KJK Student & Athlete Defense for a Confidential Case Review
If you’re facing Title IX violations, you need to begin protecting your future immediately. Without a solid defense, you can face serious consequences that affect your academic and professional career for years to come.
KJK Student & Athlete Defense can provide legal assistance and representation if you or your child is facing accusations of violating Title IX in Utah. Contact us online or call 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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