If you're a student at a college or university in Virginia and you're facing a Title IX hearing, it's important to take necessary steps as early as possible prior to the hearing itself. At a point in time during the course of the Title IX case, your school will prepare an investigation report. Prior to it being finalized, the report itself needs to be responded to as strongly and as favorably as possible. At an absolute minimum, relevant text messages, social media posts, pictures, videos, phone logs, witness statements, a forensic evaluation, a polygraph examination, a toxicology report if consent is an issue.
All relevant documentation and information and evidence at a minimum needs to be included in the final report, because once finalized, it's presented to the hearing panel. The panel reviews it in advance of the hearing and has a strong sense of the case before the hearing even takes place. Attacking the accuser's credibility is key at the hearing itself. Questions would have to be prepared for the accuser and the accuser's witnesses with that in mind. And the accused would have to be presented or prepared with a opening and closing statement. Questions would have to be formulated also. Hearing panel would have to be considered for potential bias and conflict. An experienced attorney advisor can help throughout a Title IV case and is especially helpful during a Title IX hearing itself.
