If you're a student or the parent of a student at a college or university in Washington, and you're charged with a code of conduct or disciplinary violation, you should not take the matter lightly. Do not make the mistake of believing what some schools describe to be as an educational opportunity. A code of conduct or disciplinary case can have serious potential consequences with respect to academic goals, including internships, and graduate school, and professional goals, including employment opportunities.
Regardless of when you first learn of the allegations, whether it's from the Office of Student Conduct, or from a professor, an athletic coach, the campus police, respectfully declining to discuss the case until you can take the necessary precautions it's critical. You must understand how your school will investigate and adjudicate the charges. To do so, you must familiarize yourself with the applicable policies and procedures. All schools will conduct an investigation and regardless of whether your school will decide responsibility based solely on the investigation or will do so at a hearing, you must present the necessary defense and response.
Notice is an issue at many schools, and you must clearly define the allegations and then present your version of events and support it through all available means, including relevant evidence, supporting witnesses, and anything else that would be appropriate to the circumstances. At schools that decide responsibility out of hearing, you must prepare for the hearing, which in part would include preparing an opening statement, relevant questions for parties and witnesses, a closing statement, and so forth.
You must also bear in mind that schools are not mindful of an accused student's rights and interests, so ensuring a fair process is critical to achieving a favorable outcome. You do not want to find yourself in the position of having to appeal an adverse outcome or sanctions because you failed to take effective steps throughout the process.
An experienced attorney advisor will be your best ally to help you understand and navigate the code of conduct disciplinary process at your college or university in Washington and they should be involved from as early as possible in the case.
Washington colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's code of conduct disciplinary violation advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Antioch University Seattle
- Argosy University Seattle
- Bates Technical College
- Bellevue College
- Bellingham Technical College
- Big Bend Community College
- Cascadia Community College
- Central Washington University
- Centralia College
- City University of Seattle
- Clark College
- Clover Park Technical College
- Columbia Basin College
- Cornish College of the Arts
- DeVry University Washington
- DigiPen Institute of Technology
- Eastern Washington University
- Edmonds Community College
- Everest College Bremerton
- Everest College Everett
- Everest College Tacoma
- Everest College Vancouver
- Everett Community College
- Faith Evangelical College & Seminary
- Gonzaga University
- Grays Harbor College
- Green River Community College
- Heritage University
- Highline Community College
- International Academy of Design and Technology Seattle
- ITT Technical Institute Everett
- ITT Technical Institute Seattle
- ITT Technical Institute Spokane Valley
- Lake Washington Institute of Technology
- Lower Columbia College
- Northwest Aviation College
- Northwest College of Art
- Northwest Indian College
- Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building
- Northwest University
- Olympic College
- Pacific Lutheran University
- Peninsula College
- Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom
- Pierce College at Puyallup
- Renton Technical College
- Saint Martin's University
- Seattle Community College Central Campus
- Seattle Community College North Campus
- Seattle Community College South Campus
- Seattle Pacific University
- Seattle University
- Shoreline Community College
- Skagit Valley College
- South Puget Sound Community College
- Spokane Community College
- Spokane Falls Community College
- Tacoma Community College
- The Art Institute of Seattle
- The Evergreen State College
- Trinity Lutheran College
- University of Phoenix Western Washington Campus
- University of Puget Sound
- University of Washington Bothell Campus
- University of Washington Seattle Campus
- University of Washington Tacoma Campus
- Walla Walla Community College
- Walla Walla University
- Washington State University
- Wenatchee Valley College
- Western Washington University
- Whatcom Community College
- Whitman College
- Whitworth University
- Yakima Valley Community College
Washington Student Code of Conduct Disciplinary Advisor
Mounting the strongest possible defense to college and university code of conduct and disciplinary violations is critical because the stakes are high for an accused student, and the necessary steps must taken as early as possible and throughout the code of conduct disciplinary process. A finding of responsibility and any sanctions can have incredibly serious consequences for an accused student's academic and professional goals, and Joseph D. Lento has unparalleled experience passionately fighting for the future of his clients at schools in Washington and throughout the nation. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a code of conduct disciplinary advisor to students facing disciplinary cases in Washington and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Student Defense Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686.
