We're not in a position to say why you didn't hire an attorney when you were charged with misconduct at UC Irvine. We don't know why you chose to go through an investigation and a hearing on your own. Maybe you thought hiring a lawyer might mean getting your parents involved. Maybe you were under the misapprehension that a campus judicial case is a simple matter or that the would you might receive was a slap on the wrist.
Now, things are where they are. You lost your case, and you're facing a serious sanction, maybe suspension, but if you're here, probably dismissal. You have one option left to you—appeal—and you don't want to blow it.
You came to the right place. The Lento Law Firm is the premier firm in the country when it comes to protecting student rights. Our Student Defense Team knows the law, and we're familiar with UC Irvine's judicial procedures. We've helped hundreds of students appeal their cases. And we're always on your side.
What can we do for you? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or use our online questionnaire right now to tell us more about your case. Don't wait, though. You have just seven days from the end of your hearing to file your appeal, and you have a lot to do to get prepared.
It's Your Right – Use It
You've just been through an exhausting experience. Facing charges, dealing with an investigation, and putting together a case for hearing—these can take a toll on anyone. You may feel like you were mistreated, and if you were, you may have lost faith in the process. So let's start by talking about why you can't walk away at this point and why you must appeal.
Simply put, and without exaggeration, your entire future is on the line. Do you know what happens to people on the job market who don't have a college degree? If you've been dismissed from UC Irvine over your offense, it means walking away from your degree. Whatever courses you've taken, however close you might be to your diploma, you're done. You may be done with academia entirely, though. UCI will include a notation on your transcript explaining the particulars of your offense, and that will likely limit your transfer options. In fact, even if you're just facing suspension, a transcription notation can interfere with your ability to get a good job.
It may not seem like it now, but UCI does want justice to be done in your case. That's why you were presumed Not Responsible (innocent) until you were proven Responsible (guilty). It's why you were allowed to review all evidence in the case. This is your last right, though. Once it's gone, the case is over, and you're an ex-UCI student. You don't want to try and handle a case this important by yourself. Take advantage of your right to appeal, and make the most of it by hiring someone from the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team.
The Appeals Process at UC Irvine
We won't sugarcoat things: it's no easy task appealing a university hearing outcome. Let's start with the fact that you're no longer presumed Not Responsible. The opposite is true, in fact. You've been proven Responsible, and the UCI will treat you accordingly until you can prove you deserve a new hearing.
You can't get a new hearing, though, until you've established you have “grounds” for a new hearing. Basically, you must prove that you were mistreated in some way by the UCI judicial process. There are just three possible grounds for appeal at UC Irvine.
- You've uncovered new evidence that could have an impact on the outcome of the original hearing.
- Your due process rights were violated in some substantive way.
- The sanction is too harsh for the nature of the offense.
That's it: three possible arguments you can make. Plus, appeals are difficult in other ways.
- You are no longer facing the Student Conduct Board. One single individual, the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, holds your entire destiny in their hands, and their decision is final.
- You do not get to make your case at a hearing. You don't get to call witnesses or present evidence. You don't even get to talk to the Vice Chancellor in person. This means your entire case rests on a written document that you can't be on hand to explain or support.
- With the exception of new evidence, the Vice Chancellor will not consider any evidence related to your guilt or innocence. This is not a hearing. It is a review. The Vice Chancellor will only review the record of the case and the contents of your appeal itself.
- Winning an appeal does not mean winning your case. The Vice Chancellor could lessen your sanction, but you must still serve a sanction. Alternatively, the Vice Chancellor could order a new hearing, in which case you would need to make your original arguments all over again.
Fight for Your Future
You fight because you must and because you have the right to fight. You should also fight, though, to win. Yes, you face an uphill battle. Yes, procedures can be difficult to navigate. This isn't a lost cause, though. Students can and do win appeals. Conduct Boards make mistakes—lots of mistakes. They're not made up of law school graduates; they're made up of faculty and students. If you've been mistreated, you have a right to ask for a fair shot at justice.
We can help. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can go over the record with you and look for possible grounds for appeal. We can organize evidence to justify the appeal. We can work with you to draft a strong, compelling document. No one in the country works harder for student justice, and no one gives you a better change at a new hearing.
As we said in the beginning, though, you cannot afford to wait. The window for filing your appeal at UC Irvine is just seven days. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
