There's only one reason you're here, on this page. You found yourself accused of some sort of disciplinary misconduct at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Maybe you genuinely made a mistake; maybe you're just the victim of a misunderstanding or a false allegation. You went through the process assuming you'd be treated fairly and that justice would prevail, but things didn't go your way. Now you're looking at a serious sanction--suspension or outright expulsion. You've got one last shot at salvaging your education, and you don't want to waste it.
You've come to the right place. No one in the country is more committed to protecting your rights as a student than the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. No one has the knowledge, background, and experience we do. Our Student Defense Team has defended hundreds of students, just like you, from every conceivable kind of charge. We know the law, we know how the UMBC system works, and we're ready to fight to get you the best possible resolution to your case.
If you're looking to appeal a “Responsible” (guilty) finding at UMBC, we can help. You need to contact us quickly, though. The university gives you just four days to file your appeal, and that's not a lot of time to draft and submit the necessary documents. 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 UMBC
The first thing you need to understand as you embark on this process is that an appeal is very different from what you've already been through, and it will require a shift in your thinking. The investigation was to determine whether there were sufficient grounds to hold an official hearing. The hearing was to determine whether or not you were Responsible for the offense. An appeal is a check on the system, a chance to ensure that you were treated fairly throughout the process.
- In the beginning, you were treated as "Not Responsible." You'd been accused, but the university was required to treat you as innocent until proven guilty. UMBC had the burden of doing that. You may have presented evidence of your innocence, but you didn't have to. If the university hadn't been able to prove its case, you would have been exonerated. The roles are reversed now. Rightly or wrongly, you've been found Responsible. You are now trying to prove the school treated you unfairly, so the burden in the case is squarely on you.
- You must narrow your focus. During the hearing, you were simply trying to respond to the allegations against you. That left you free to use any reasonable argument you could come up with to demonstrate your innocence. Now you're arguing about fairness, and UMBC will accept just three arguments:
- You can argue that the university committed some sort of procedural error that resulted in an unfair hearing.
- You can present new evidence not available at the time of the hearing and argue that it could have influenced the outcome.
- You can argue that you were assigned an unfair sanction disproportionate to the nature of your offense.
- You will have no opportunity to address the appellate board directly. All decisions are made behind closed doors, and they are based exclusively on documentary evidence.
- Unless you have uncovered new evidence in the four days since your hearing ended, you may not present any new evidence. The appellate board will consider only the record of the hearing, the written contents of your appeal, and any response filed by the Complainant.
- You are not arguing for your innocence, and the appellate board cannot decide your innocence. It can modify your sanction, or it can order a new hearing. That is all.
Your first job, then, is to examine the record of the hearing, looking for places where the university may have made mistakes or treated you unfairly. From there, you must draft a persuasive argument explaining exactly what happened, exactly why it was unfair, and exactly why you deserve a new hearing or a lesser sanction.
What's at Stake
If the process of an appeal sounds challenging, that's because it is. You have fewer due process rights at this point, your arguments are limited, and appeals decisions are final.
You cannot give up at this point, though. Here's why.
First, there is no alternative if you want to earn your degree and go on to a successful career. If you're facing dismissal, you won't just lose your spot at UMBC. There's very little chance any other school will accept you with a dismissal on your record. You'll likely be heading onto the job market with no degree at all. Suspension isn't quite so devastating. You can return to the university and finish your degree. Your transcript will carry a record of your offense, though, and that can cost you job opportunities. An appeal is your best option.
Second, while you are now at a disadvantage, students can and do win appeals. Campus justice is prone to mistakes. Lots of mistakes. The system isn't run by legal experts. Your case wasn't decided by seasoned judges with law degrees and years on the bench. Everything was handled by faculty, administrators, and other students. The truth is, it would be unusual if a mistake wasn't made in your case.
Finally, you aren't alone this time. You've got a Lento Law Firm attorney on your side. They know what to look for in the hearing record. They know how to draft a strong appeal. They know how the process works and can guide you through it step by step. And should you win your appeal, they can work with you to put together a stronger defense to present at your new hearing.
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 UMBC 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. Four 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.
