The Quinnipiac University School of Law prepares its students to enter into a profession that requires ethical conduct and integrity of its members. To this end, the School of Law has established an Honor Code that all law students must abide by in their dealings with the law school community.
Those students who do not hold themselves to the standards that Quinnipiac School of Law sets for them or who do not work to implement these standards throughout the community may face sanctions. These consequences for Honor Code violations could be severe enough to prevent a student from graduating from law school or even preventing them from passing the bar's character and fitness exam.
If you are a Quinnipiac Law student who is suspected of violating the school's Honor Code, you should consuly with a student defense attorney-advisor to figure out what your options are. Your future in the legal profession could be in jeopardy.
Academic and Professional Misconduct at Quinnipiac University School of Law
The Quinnipiac School of Law has an Honor Code contained within the school's academic regulations. All students are expected not only to read the Honor Code but to make inquiries if they don't understand something in the Code. Students must follow not only the standards of behavior set forth in this Code but also take an active role in encouraging other students to respect them.
The Honor Code applies to all students at the Quinnipiac University School of Law and all academic matters. It also applies to some non-academic matters, to the extent they fall within the scope of Rule 8.4 of the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct. When students begin classes at Quinnipiac Law, they must take an oath—verbal and written—that they have read the Code and will honor it.
Examples of Honor Code Violations at Quinnipiac School of Law
The Quinnipiac Law Honor Code is based on a common law approach rather than a statutory one, meaning that the list of prohibited behaviors is not exhaustive. Rather, broad categories of behavior are defined with examples given.
Some examples of Honor Code violations include:
- Inappropriate use of others' work
- Using or attempting to use prohibited materials or sources in connection with any academic matter
- Giving or receiving prohibited aid on any academic matter
- Failing to make timely disclosure of factual irregularities, discrepancies, and material omissions in the admission application
- Failure to make timely disclosure of charges, arrests, convictions, and formal accusations
- Failure to cooperate with the administration of the Honor Code
- Damaging, misappropriating, or disabling academic sources so that others cannot use them
- Using network or computer access inappropriately
- Invading the security maintained for the preparation or storage of examinations
- Committing any act that the student knows may give an unfair advantage over other students
How Quinnipiac School of Law Handles Academic Misconduct
The Honor Code Committee, which consists of four faculty members and eight students, oversees the administration of the Honor Code at Quinnipiac Law. The process for dealing with Honor Code violations goes through five phases:
- Reporting
- Preliminary inquiry
- Investigation and charging decision
- Hearing
- Appeal
Reporting
Anyone who suspects or learns of a potential violation must report it within a reasonable amount of time to either the associate dean of academic affairs or a member of the Honor Code Committee.
Preliminary Inquiry
The Honor Code Committee chair conducts a preliminary inquiry into reports of Honor Code violations. If they find reasonable grounds to support that a possible violation occurred, they refer it to the Advocate Team.
Investigation and Charging Decision
The Advocate Team, which consists of two students from the Honor Code Committee, investigates the supposed violation. They may meet with the accused student and gather other information to determine if there should be a formal charge. After finishing the investigation, the Advocate Team either brings formal charges or dismisses the matter.
Hearing
The matter moves to a hearing, and a Hearing Panel consisting of one faculty member and four students from the Honor Code Committee hear the case. At the hearing and meeting with the Advocate Team, the accused student is allowed to have a private attorney assist with the defense, but they may not represent the student. The accused student can present evidence, call witnesses, and cross-examine witnesses at the hearing. Once the hearing ends, the Hearing Panel has ten days to decide by majority vote if the student was responsible for a violation.
Appeal
Students can appeal decisions of the Hearing Panel within ten business days of receiving the written decision. The appeal should be submitted in writing to the dean, who can affirm, reverse, or remand the decision. The dean's disposition on the appeal is final.
Potential Sanctions for Honor Code Violations at Quinnipiac School of Law
If a law student is found responsible for an Honor Code violation, the Hearing Panel or dean may impose one or more of the following sanctions:
- Expulsion from the law school
- Revocation of diploma
- Suspension from the law school
- Withdrawal of credit in a course
- Academic probation
- Written reprimand
- Oral admonition
- Restitution
- Conditions such as mediation, referral to counseling, or a letter of apology from the student
How a Student Defense Attorney-Advisor Can Help
If you are accused of academic or professional misconduct at Quinnipiac University School of Law, you could have a lengthy adjudication process ahead of you. Having a national student defense attorney with experience dealing with misconduct hearings can be an invaluable resource to you. They can help you know what to expect and how to present yourself at your meetings and hearing.
Joseph D. Lento has helped countless students across the country with misconduct issues. Don't let an honor code accusation throw your legal career in jeopardy and contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686.
