There's only one reason to come to this page: you've lost your disciplinary case at Northeastern University. You want to know what options you have left.
You decided to go it alone during the investigation and hearing. We get it: NU told you that attorneys were barred from meetings and hearings, that attorneys were barred from meetings and hearings, and that you could have an advisor, but you had to use one trained by the university. You assumed that meant you couldn't talk to an attorney at all.
The truth is that no one has the power to prevent you from consulting with an attorney. And while the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm may not be able to accompany you to official proceedings, we can play a crucial role in building your defense. That includes helping you to draft and file your appeal.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights, and we take our role very seriously. We know what the law has to say about education and due process. We're also familiar with campus judicial systems like the one at Northeastern. We know that a university hearing isn't like a court case. The participants are different; the rules are different. The stakes can be just as high, though, and the processes and procedures can be just as confusing. If you want to give yourself the best chance of success, you need a Lento Law Firm attorney. We're the premier firm in the country when it comes to helping students defend themselves.
What can we do for you? Find out by calling 888-535-3686. Or use our online questionnaire to tell us more about your case. It's important you act quickly, though. Northeastern gives you just five business days from the end of your hearing to file your appeal.
The Appeals Process at Northeastern University
Let's be clear right from the start: an appeal is not a hearing. At this point, you face some significant challenges. That's one reason having a Lento Law Firm attorney on your side can be so important.
When you are charged with misconduct at Northeastern, you have a number of important rights. One of these is the right to a presumption of innocence. NU cannot just accuse you and punish you. It must go through a process to determine if you are “Responsible” (guilty). That's what the original investigation and hearing were for.
The presumption of innocence means NU can't dismiss you without proof; it also means the university had the "burden" to prove your guilt. You probably offered some evidence of your innocence, but you didn't have to. If Northeastern couldn't offer evidence of your guilt, there's no case.
Things have changed. Rightly or wrongly, you were found guilty of your offense. That means the roles have reversed. The "burden" is now on you. The judicial system assumes that the university made the correct decision, and the only way the system will reconsider that decision is if you can prove that you were treated unfairly during the process.
There are only three possible "grounds"—reasons—for an appeal:
- Some procedural error interfered with your ability to get a fair hearing.
- New evidence has arisen that wasn't available at the time of the hearing but which could have an impact on the outcome of your case.
- The sanction you've been given is more serious than the offense deserves.
You face additional challenges as well:
- There are no hearings in appeals cases at Northeastern. Your entire case rests on the quality of your written appeal. That puts you at a disadvantage. You cannot use your voice or your physical presence to help convince decision-makers. In addition, most students struggle to create clear, compelling judicial documents.
- Unless you have discovered new evidence, you are not allowed to use the evidence you've already introduced. The appeal is not about your innocence. It is about "fairness," and usually, the record of the hearing is the only evidence that matters.
- In most cases, sanctions go into effect before you file your appeal. If you've been suspended or dismissed, you could be forced to conduct your case from off campus.
- Even if you win your appeal, you haven't been found “innocent.” Decision-makers can reduce your sanction. Or, if they believe you were treated unfairly, they can order a new hearing where you have to defend yourself all over again.
What's at Stake
While an appeal is a challenging process, you cannot simply move on. It's crucial that you continue to fight for your future. It is no exaggeration to say that everything about that future is on the line.
University sanctions can be severe. If you've been dismissed, you're not just expelled from the university. NU adds a notation to your transcript, and that almost certainly means you'll be barred from registering at other colleges or universities. In simple terms, your academic career could be over.
If you've been suspended, you can return to NU and finish your degree. Suspensions get noted on transcripts, too, though, and it's not easy explaining disciplinary misconduct to potential employers. Plus, depending on how long your suspension lasts, you may have to begin paying back student loans, and that can make it harder to return to school.
Finally, you should keep in mind as well that despite the challenges, students can and do win appeals cases. The reason is simple: campus justice has a lot of holes in it. Remember that you didn't face a seasoned prosecutor with evidence that had been processed by a fancy crime lab. There wasn't a law school-trained judge there to make sure you were treated fairly. You dealt with a handful of faculty and a student or two. Mistakes happen all the time in systems like that, and you shouldn't have to pay the price for mistakes.
Fight For Your Future
We cannot guarantee to win your appeal. No one can. At this point, you've exhausted a number of your most important rights. The appeals process at Northeastern exists for a reason, though. You deserve justice, and what the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can promise you is that we will fight hard to get you that justice. We'll protect your rights, and we'll make sure you get the best possible resolution to your case.
As we said in the beginning, though, you cannot afford to wait. The window for filing your appeal at Northeastern is just five days. Get started now. Contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
