If you're a premed student at UC Berkeley, you already know how difficult academics can be. You've got courses like OChem to worry about, and even the smallest slip in your GPA can doom your chances at medical school.
You may not have realized yet that your behavior is just as crucial as your grades. The truth is that you may still be able to get into med school with a low grade or two on your transcript. After all, you're taking OChem. If you should be found responsible for cheating, though, or stalking, or disorderly conduct, you may have to settle for a lesser career in healthcare or none at all.
Don't take chances. If you find yourself accused of misconduct of any kind, you can't try to handle it alone. You need the best help you can find. You need someone from the Lento Law Firm. Our Student Defense Team is focused on protecting student rights. We know exactly what the law has to say about those rights. We also know UC Berkeley's rules and regulations and can guide you through judicial processes and procedures from start to finish.
The only question is, what can we do for you? Call us at 888-535-3686 to find out, or take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at UC Berkeley
Safeguarding your medical future starts with understanding the rules at UC Berkeley. Of course, knowing what can get you into trouble can go a long way to making sure you avoid it. It's also true, though, that if you've been accused of misconduct, it's crucial that you know exactly what you've been accused of having done. Especially if you are innocent, you can't defend yourself properly unless you understand the charges against you.
At UC Berkeley, there are basically three categories of offense.
- Academic Misconduct: First, you can find yourself in trouble for any type of academic dishonesty. Cheating, plagiarism, and misrepresentation are all explicitly barred under the university's Academic Integrity policy.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Your general campus behavior is under just as much scrutiny as your academic conduct. In this case, your actions are governed by the Campus Code of Student Conduct. Rules, in this case, have to do with things like alcohol consumption, weapons possession, hazing, and misuse of computer resources.
- Sexual Misconduct: You're also subject to a strict sexual misconduct policy. This policy is mandated by federal law under Title IX, and violations are among the most serious offenses with which students can be charged.
- Obviously, there is a broad range of offenses at UC Berkeley, and there is likewise a broad range of sanctions. As a premed student, though, you don't have the luxury of ignoring any accusation. Even a “minor” offense like plagiarism can keep you out of med school if it should show up in your permanent record. You must take every charge seriously. You must defend yourself vigorously, and you need the Lento Law Firm attorney fighting beside you.
Misconduct Procedures
- What does it mean to fight a misconduct charge at UC Berkeley? The good news is that there is a well-defined process. The university must presume you are “Not Responsible” (innocent), it must conduct a thorough investigation and give you a chance to defend yourself at a hearing, and it must provide you with a number of important due process rights.
- Here's what you can expect.
- Cases typically begin with a complaint lodged against you with either the Center for Student Conduct or, in the case of Title IX sexual misconduct allegations, the Title IX Coordinator.
- If you've been accused, the university will provide you with a Notice of the Charges. This notice should identify your accuser, describe the nature of the allegations, and apprise you of your due process rights.
- The Lento Law Firm attorney can help you put together your entire case, and they can accompany you to meetings and hearings.
- You'll undergo a thorough investigation. You never want to be accused of misconduct, but if you are, an investigation is always to your benefit. You'll have the chance to give your side of the story, to offer up evidence, and to suggest witnesses.
- The investigation is just the beginning of the process, though. Once it is complete, investigators turn over their findings to the university. UC Berkeley then sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more decision-makers to preside over this hearing.
- At the hearing, you may offer up arguments, introduce evidence, and call witnesses to testify. You may also raise questions about any of the other side's evidence. This includes cross-examining witnesses.
- Decision-makers determine whether or not you are Responsible (guilty) by employing a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” According to this standard, you are guilty if they believe you “more likely than not” committed the offense.
- You can appeal the hearing outcome, but not simply because you disagree with it. You must have “grounds” for appeal, and grounds at UC Berkeley are limited to
- Procedural error
- New evidence
This rough outline applies to all misconduct cases at UC Berkeley. However, cases can differ in fine detail based on the specific nature of the charges. For instance, if you've been charged with Title IX sexual misconduct, Title IX guidelines give you the right to cross-examine your accuser (the “Complainant”). They have the right to cross-examine you as well. You never want to go into such a case without having carefully prepared your questions and answers.
No matter what the charge against you, though, the Lento Law Firm attorney knows exactly what to expect. They know how processes and procedures at UC Berkeley work, and they'll guide you through everything. They'll make sure your rights are protected, and they'll show you how to use the system to your very best advantage.
Fighting for Your Future
Fighting a misconduct charge is never an easy proposition for anyone. As a premed student, though, you face special challenges. Beyond the complexities of the UC Berkeley judicial system, you have to worry about whether sanctions appear on your permanent record. Even if you are eventually cleared of wrongdoing, you have to worry about who might find out about the allegations and whether those allegations might interfere with med school 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, contact the firm today at 888-535-3686. Or, fill out our online questionnaire.
