Disciplinary Misconduct Charges and Premed Students at Duke University

There are no minor disciplinary issues if you're a premed student at Duke. Every allegation is serious. You've worked hard to get to this point in your academic career. You've kept your GPA up. You've studied for the MCAT. You've taken O Chem. Any type of blemish on your record, especially if it has to do with your behavior, and you can start looking for a new career path.

Here's the thing: No matter how good you are, no matter how careful, sometimes trouble comes looking for you. Maybe it comes in the form of a false accusation. Maybe it comes in the form of a misunderstanding. Maybe it comes in the form of a mistake. The question isn't how it happens. The question is, what do you do about it?

The answer: you contact the Lento Law Firm. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was created to help students deal with misconduct issues. We're committed to protecting your rights at Duke and to defending you against any charges you may be facing. More importantly, we believe in you and what you do. We know how hard premed is, how hard you've worked, and we want to make sure nothing stands in the way of you earning your diploma and going on on to medical school.

We've helped hundreds of students defend themselves from all types of charges. What can we do for you? Find out by calling 888-535-3686, or take a few minutes right now and use our online form to tell us more about your case.

Misconduct at Duke

Premed is a unique path, and it's not for everyone. It requires commitment, dedication, and a desire to help others. When it comes to Duke's disciplinary policies, though, you're not special. You're expected to abide by the same rules and regulations as any other undergraduate.

What is it that can get you into trouble?

  • Academic Misconduct: As you might expect, Duke takes academic integrity extremely seriously. Maybe at some point, a professor has asked you to write out the Community Standard: "I will not lie, cheat, or steal in my academic endeavors; I will conduct myself honorably in all my endeavors; I will act if the Standard is compromised." Cheating, plagiarism, and anything else that could potentially give you an unfair advantage in the classroom can get you into trouble.
  • Disciplinary Misconduct: You're not just a student at Duke, though. You're also a member of a community. As such, you're also subject to a long list of rules that have nothing to do with your classwork. Duke has policies on alcohol, hazing, weapons possession, and even bridge painting.
  • Sexual Misconduct: This is a special type of disciplinary misconduct that is actually governed by federal law. Title IX prohibits all forms of sexual discrimination and harassment and requires schools to investigate all credible complaints.

Again, there are no "lesser" offenses if you're a premed student. Likewise, there are no unimportant sanctions. If you've been issued a warning for cheating, and that shows up in your permanent record, you're going to have trouble convincing a medical school to accept you. And while medical schools put a premium on academics, they treat personal ethics as just as important. A record of something like disorderly conduct or vandalism will weigh just as heavily against you. You must respond to every allegation and challenge every sanction.

Misconduct Procedures

An allegation of misconduct isn't the same as being found “Responsible for” (guilty of) misconduct. You have rights as a Duke University student. You can't be sanctioned without first being fully investigated and given an opportunity to defend yourself at a hearing.

  • Cases begin with complaints lodged against you with either the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) or the Title IX Coordinator. Those offices must first decide that a complaint is credible and actionable before they proceed to any formal charges.
  • If you've been charged, you are entitled to a Notice of the Charges. This document should explain the allegations against you and provide you with a list of your due process rights, such as the right to a presumption of “Not Responsible” (innocence).
  • You are entitled to a thorough investigation. As part of that investigation, you should be allowed to give your side of the story. Investigators will also collect any physical evidence and interview witnesses. Here again, the case will not go forward if investigators can't find anything to substantiate the allegations against you.
  • Should the investigation turn up credible evidence, you are entitled to defend yourself at a hearing. At the hearing, you may offer opening and closing remarks, introduce evidence, and call witnesses to testify. You also have the right to raise questions for any witnesses against you.
  • While decision-makers in your case don't have to be certain of your guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt" to find you Responsible, they do have to believe it is "more likely than not" that you committed an offense.
  • Even should decision-makers find you Responsible, you are entitled to appeal that verdict if you can demonstrate that procedural errors occurred or you discover new evidence that could impact that verdict.

Unless you've been charged with Title IX sexual misconduct, Duke may bar you from bringing a Lento Law Firm attorney with you to meetings and proceedings. That does not mean you can't consult with a Lento Law Firm attorney about your case. In fact, your attorney's role is far greater than simply accompanying you to a hearing. Your attorney will work with you to develop an overall defense strategy, help you uncover and organize evidence, suggest questions for witnesses, draft documents on your behalf, and even coach you in presenting your case. Beyond any of this, your Lento Law Firm attorney's most important job is making sure you're treated fairly.

Fighting for Your Future

Fighting a misconduct charge is never an easy proposition. Beyond the complexities of the Duke judicial system, you have to worry about whether sanctions are recorded in your record. You have to worry about who might find out about the allegations and whether that might interfere with recommendation letters. You have to keep a close watch on social media and make sure your reputation doesn't suffer online. It's an enormous amount of work to have to deal with on your own.

That's why the minute you suspect you might be in trouble, it's vital that you contact the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. We can negotiate with faculty and administrators if that's what's called for, but we can also be fierce in defending our clients.

Let us help you fight for your academic future. To find out more, call the firm today at 888-535-3686. Or, fill out our online questionnaire.

Contact Us Today!

If you, or your student, are facing any kind of disciplinary action, or other negative academic sanction, and are having feelings of uncertainty and anxiety for what the future may hold, contact the Lento Law Firm today, and let us help secure your academic career.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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