If you're here because you've lost a disciplinary case at Boston University, your first question is probably, is it worthwhile to file an appeal? The answer is always yes, but especially so if you're facing a serious sanction like suspension or dismissal. If BU is trying to dismiss you, it likely means the end of your academic career. You're probably not going to find a school willing to accept you with a dismissal on your transcript. A suspension means taking time off from school, and it can be tough going back after a break. The fact is, though, that even a minor sanction—even a warning—can follow you around if it should wind up on your permanent record, and that could cost you graduate school opportunities and maybe even some jobs.
We want to be clear right up front. We cannot offer any guarantees that you can win your case. No one can do that. But in the first place, you're always better off fighting a sanction than simply accepting it. And in the second place, you don't have to fight it alone. You have us.
The Lento Law Firm is the premier firm in the country for student defense. The attorneys on our Student Defense Team know the law, and they're experienced as defense counsel. More importantly, they know how the BU system works. They've dealt with all types of judicial cases, from plagiarism allegations to sexual assault charges, and they know how the appeals process works.
Below, you'll find some basic information on starting your appeal, but before you get into any of that information, you need to know that your best chance of winning your appeal and finishing your degree is to call
the Lento Law Firm. Call 888-535-3686, or use our online questionnaire to tell us more about your case.
The Appeals Process at Boston University.
If you're at the point of appeal, you already know some important information about Boston University's judicial system. You know, for instance, that BU gives you some important due process rights as a Respondent (accused). From the beginning of your case, you were presumed “Not Responsible” (innocent); you were thoroughly investigated, and you had a chance to defend yourself at a hearing; you were allowed to review all of the university's evidence against you.
At this point, you've used most of those rights. You do have one crucial right left, though: the right to appeal the hearing outcome. Why is it so valuable? Because it means there's still hope that you can successfully defend yourself and avoid a sanction. The fact is, plenty of students do win on appeal. A university hearing isn't like an actual court case, and faculty and administrators do make mistakes. One of those mistakes could result in a new hearing or dismissal of the charges against you.
An appeal is not a get-out-of-jail-free card, though. For instance, you're not allowed to simply file an appeal because you object to the verdict in your case. You must be able to show that justice wasn't done. An appeal is a last check on the system, a chance to ensure that you were treated fairly in all aspects of the case. In particular, you must have "grounds" for an appeal. Grounds can include things like
- The discovery of new evidence that could potentially have altered the outcome of the hearing;
- A procedural error that may have altered the outcome of the hearing;
- Bias or prejudice on the part of a decision-maker in the case;
- A sanction that is clearly disproportionate to the nature of the offense.
- Establishing grounds is your first problem, but you'll face others. For example, you have just ten days from the end of your hearing to file your appeal. That's not a lot of time for evidence to come to light or for you to come up with proof that a judge in your case was biased against you. In addition,
- You began with a presumption of innocence, but that's no longer the case. You've been proven "guilty," and the judicial system will act based on that assumption. Overcoming that assumption can be difficult.
- You don't get another chance to present your case. The appeals officer's decisions are based entirely on the documentary evidence from the hearing and whatever arguments you can build in your appeal itself. It can be much harder to challenge an allegation on paper than in person.
- You aren't making your case to a panel of decision-makers. Boston University's Provost is the sole appeals official. That means your ultimate fate now rests in the hands of a single individual.
- Sanctions go into effect immediately after the hearing. That means if you've been suspended or dismissed, you may have to defend yourself from off-campus.
Can you succeed in your appeal? Absolutely. You're going to need help, though. You're going to need someone who can help you come up with effective arguments, who can work with you to develop grounds, who can draft a compelling document, and who can make sure that you're treated fairly throughout the process. In short, you're going to need someone from the Lento Law Firm on your side. We have filed hundreds of appeals over the years. We know what appeals officers look for, we know what makes for the best evidence, and we know how to make you look good on paper.
Fight For Your Future
We won't promise you something we can't deliver. At this point, you are in a difficult situation with limited options. You've exhausted most of your rights, and you've already been found "Responsible" for an offense. No one can promise a victory under those conditions. Here's what we can promise you, though. No one gives you a better chance of winning than the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. No one knows the system the way we do, and no one is better positioned to leverage that system for your benefit.
You cannot afford to wait, though. The window for filing your appeal at BU is brief. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
