Greater Baltimore, Maryland / Washington, D.C. Region College and University Student and Teacher Attorneys
We have observed a growing need for effective legal counsel for students, teachers and academic employees. Schools, colleges and universities have changed dramatically over the last few decades. Zero tolerance policies have resulted in much more onerous academic sanctions in comparison to prior years, when misbehavior may have been dismissed as a"rite of passage".
Moreover, academic sanctions can result in loss of professional opportunities years later.
While legal counsel is widely understood as necessary in judicial proceedings, there are many instances in which effective legal counsel can play a determinant role in the less formal proceedings before academic and employer sanctioning bodies. In these proceedings, the accused do not benefit from the legal protections afforded parties in the courts. There is a great disparity in the standards and procedures applied from institution to institution, and rarely is the legal standard of "beyond a reasonable doubt" applied.
We have represented students, teachers, and academic administrative personnel in a variety of matters. This practice area is headed by Booth M. Ripke, who has successfully represented students at a number of nationally recognized institutions during contested disciplinary proceedings. As a result of our effective counseling and negotiation, students have avoided academic sanction following the resolution of criminal proceedings. Similarly, we have negotiated with academic officials to process potentially criminal behavior through administrative proceedings rather than referring the matter to the police or judicial system.
