There's only one reason you'd be here. You found yourself accused of misconduct at the University of Arizona. After an investigation and a hearing, you were found Responsible for (guilty of) the offense. Now you're facing a serious sanction, suspension perhaps, or dismissal. You have one last chance to salvage your academic career—an appeal.
We can help. The Lento Law Firm is the premier law firm in the country when it comes to representing student clients. Our Student Defense Team is dedicated to making sure you are afforded all the rights you deserve and that you get the very best possible resolution to your case. For whatever reason, you didn't choose legal representation going into your original hearing. You're here now, though, and we will fight to the end to protect your educational future.
The time to act, though, is now. UA gives you just fifteen days from the conclusion of your hearing to file an appeal. That's not a lot of time, and there's a lot to get done. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686, or use our online questionnaire to tell us more about your situation.
The Appeals Process at the University of Arizona
How do appeals work at the University of Arizona? Just as with every other aspect of your case, there is a clearly defined process for requesting a “review” of your hearing. That process, though, is significantly different from what you've been through up to now.
- For starters, you're no longer presumed innocent. UA was obligated to treat you as innocent until it proved otherwise. In legal terms, the university had the "burden" of proof in the case. You may have offered some evidence of your innocence, but you didn't have to. You had no burden at all. Once you were found Responsible, though, things changed. The working assumption at this point is that the university found you guilty after a fair and just investigation and hearing. If you can prove you were treated unfairly, you can ask for a new hearing. The burden of proof, though, now rests with you.
- The original case was about guilt and innocence. That's changed as well. You're looking for "grounds" for your appeal—one or more reasons why you feel you deserve a new hearing. Grounds at UA are limited.
- You can claim that the university committed some serious error during the hearing that denied you the right to a fair outcome.
- You can claim that new evidence has been found since the hearing, evidence that could potentially exonerate you.
- You can argue that the sanction you've been given is too severe for the nature of your offense.
- You can argue that the outcome isn't justified by the evidence in the case.
- Most hearings at UA are presided over by several decision-makers—a panel or committee. Reviews, however, are decided by a single individual, the university's Provost.
- There is no hearing into your review request. Your entire case must be contained in your written appeal. That document must be compelling and clear.
- Unless you have new evidence to present, your “proof” must come from the hearing record.
- The Provost's decision is final, and they have only three options. They can uphold the original outcome, they can change the sanction, or they can order a new hearing.
Appeals can happen very quickly. UA sets a fifteen-day time limit on filing the appeal. Because there is no investigation and no hearing, the Provost can consider your appeal immediately, and rulings are often completed in a matter of days.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are experienced at working with these kinds of deadlines. We'll go over your entire case with a fine-tooth comb. If there are grounds for an appeal, we'll find them. We'll also put together an airtight document that offers a compelling justification for overturning the hearing outcome.
What's at Stake
If you're on the fence about whether or not to continue fighting for your innocence, let us clear things up for you. You absolutely must keep going. There's simply too much at stake not to keep going.
If you're considering an appeal, you're likely facing suspension or dismissal. Most students can recover from any lesser sanction. Both of these sanctions are accompanied by transcript notations. If you've been suspended, you can, of course, try to return to UA and finish your degree. You'll still need to explain your offense as part of any job application. If, on the other hand, you've been dismissed, it likely means the end of your academic career. You can't simply transfer to another college or university.
There's another important reason to keep fighting, though—your chances of winning are good. Appeals are all about finding mistakes in the investigation and adjudication processes. The thing is, schools aren't really set up to deal with serious judicial issues. No one on campus is trained to prosecute matters. No one on campus is trained to preside over cases. Under these kinds of conditions, mistakes happen frequently.
You only need someone on your side who can review the record and find those mistakes. That's what the Lento Law Firm is here for. You deserve justice. We want to make sure you get it.
Fight For Your Future
Of course, 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 the University of Arizona exists for a reason, though, and you should never be shy about exercising your due process rights. What the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can promise you is that they will fight hard on your behalf. 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. Fifteen days is not long to put together a strong appeal. Get started now. Contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
