Lehigh University gave you the right to an advisor when you were charged with misconduct but told you in no uncertain terms that you could not choose an attorney as your advisor. The Lento Law Firm feels strongly that this is a violation of your fundamental due process rights.
You should also know, though, that Lehigh cannot stop you from consulting with an attorney, and the Lento Law Firm attorney can do far more for you than simply accompany you to meetings and proceedings. Our Student Defense Team can help you with every aspect of your defense, from preparing answers to investigative questions to preparing questions for witnesses. That includes filing appeals. And they can do all of this without ever stepping one foot on campus.
The Lento Law Firm is committed to the principle that you deserve fair treatment at Lehigh, and we'll do whatever we can to make sure you get it. We know what the law has to say about students, and we know Lehigh's own policies and procedures. Most importantly, we know how to use these resources to your benefit and get you the justice that you deserve.
How can we help with your particular case? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or use our online questionnaire to tell us more about your situation. You absolutely cannot wait, though. You have just three days from receiving notification of the hearing outcome to file an appeal.
The Appeals Process at Lehigh University
Let's start by talking about the appeals process at Lehigh. Yes, you've been through an investigation and a hearing. An appeal is a very different affair, though, and it requires you to think differently about your defense.
- Perhaps the most important difference between a hearing and an appeal is that you're now considered "Responsible" (guilty) of an offense. That wasn't true before. According to Lehigh's own policies, the university was required to treat you as "Not Responsible" until you were definitively proven Responsible. That meant the burden was on Lehigh. The roles are now reversed. Rightly or wrongly, you've been found guilty. Now, you're trying to prove Lehigh committed some error. Lehigh has the presumption of "innocence," and the burden is on you to definitively prove it made a mistake.
- During the hearing, the university could only make one argument: that you had committed the offense with which you were charged. You, on the other hand, could use every conceivable argument to respond to the charges, from offering an alibi to explaining that a witness testifying against you was biased. Again, the situation is now reversed. You are limited in your choice of argument. You must prove the university made a mistake, and there are only three possible mistakes it could have made:
- Lehigh might have violated its own procedures and denied you the right to a fair hearing;
- Lehigh may have been unaware of some evidence that has since come to light, evidence that could potentially exonerate you;
- Lehigh could have assigned a sanction that is simply too severe for the nature of the offense.
- Your choice of evidence is similarly limited. You can present new evidence if it was unavailable at the time of the original hearing. Otherwise, all of your arguments must rely on the record of the original hearing.
- Everything about the appeal happens on paper. You will not have the opportunity to address the Disciplinary Appeals Committee, to argue in your own voice, to explain evidence in person, or to question witnesses. Instead, you must be able to create a clear, compelling written document.
- Even if you win your appeal, your case is not over. The Disciplinary Appeals Committee has only two options open to it. First, it can reduce your sanction. You'll still have a sanction to deal with, though. Second, it can order a new hearing. That means defending yourself all over again.
What's at Stake
At this point, it should be clear just how difficult an appeal can be. You've exhausted most of your due process rights already, you've been found guilty, and your options for defending yourself are limited.
That doesn't mean you should give up, far from it.
First, let's talk about what's at stake.
If you've taken the time to find this page, it almost certainly means you're facing a serious sanction—suspension or dismissal. Either of those results can be traumatic in and of themselves. They can also have long-term repercussions on your life and career. As part of your punishment, Lehigh adds a notation to your transcript, an explanation of the offense that led to your sanction. That probably eliminates the possibility of transferring to another school. Even if you are able to return to the university and finish your degree, these notations can also interfere with job applications.
There is a far more important reason to keep fighting, though. You can win. The appeals process exists for a reason: to correct mistakes in the judicial process. As it turns out, campus justice is quite prone to mistakes. Rules and procedures are far more relaxed than in a criminal court. Faculty, administrators, and students are the ones making the decisions, and they've usually received only minimal judicial training, if any. That means there are likely many ways you can challenge the hearing outcome.
And you're not challenging that outcome alone this time. The Lento Law Firm attorney will go over the hearing record with a fine-toothed comb, and if there are any grounds for an appeal, they'll find them. They'll also work with you to draft a document that is airtight and persuasive.
Fight For Your Future
You need to know that the Lento Law Firm cannot guarantee to win your appeal. No one can do that. At this point, you've exhausted a number of your most important rights. The appeals process at Lehigh University exists for a reason, though. You deserve justice, and what the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can promise you is that they will fight hard to get you that justice. They're here to protect your rights and to make sure you get the best possible resolution to your case.
As we said in the beginning, though, you cannot afford to wait. Three days is not long to put together an appeal. Get started now. Contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
