School hearings typically occur when a student is accused of violations of the school code, be it academic dishonesty or, worse, inappropriate actions towards other students. These hearings are quasi-administrative legal proceedings governed predominantly by the schools’ internal codes and rules. The law requires these proceedings to provide a degree of due process to the accused; however, in practice this is not always the case. These hearings can get extremely adversarial and prejudiced against the accused party. What’s also important is that statements made during these school hearings can be subpoenaed and used in other types of proceedings, such as immigration or criminal ones.
A lawyer can help ensure that the disciplinary proceeding is being conducted impartially, and that a complete and accurate administrative record is established in case the student has to go to court. A lawyer can also advise when, in light of the student’s other life circumstances, it may be smarter to refuse to discuss certain topics.
At Demidchik Law Firm, we’ve assisted numerous students during their administrative hearings. Our attorneys are skilled at quickly reviewing and analyzing school codes, getting in touch with appropriate authorities, and helping students negotiate the most favorable outcomes possible.