If your student in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach is suddenly facing disciplinary action at their K-12 school, college, or university, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Maybe you've spent years building trust in your school community. Maybe your child's teachers and administrators have always felt like allies — until now. When your family is forced into an adversarial relationship with the very institution meant to support your student, it can be disorienting and heartbreaking.
What's worse? A disciplinary process gone wrong can have lasting consequences. Even if your student's school doesn't make their disciplinary record public, that doesn't mean others won't find out. Future colleges, scholarship committees, and employers can often see signs of past suspensions or behavioral concerns in transcripts, and they won't always give your student the benefit of the doubt.
Don't let one incident or unfair decision derail the future your student has worked so hard to build. If your student is being accused of misconduct or is struggling to navigate a disciplinary process, you need someone in your corner who understands how to protect their rights and advocate for their best outcome.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento has years of experience defending students and their families. Whether your student attends school in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, the Lento Law Firm can help you fight back against unjust treatment and move forward with confidence. Call 888.535.3686 or fill out our contact form today to get the guidance your student deserves.
Education Defense for the Gold Coast of Florida
Florida's Gold Coast, stretching from Miami to West Palm Beach, is a dream destination for many families. With its beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and sunny weather, it's easy to see why so many people choose to build their lives here. It's a great place to raise kids, with top-rated schools and a strong sense of community.
But living in such a popular area comes with its own kind of pressure. Schools are packed with ambitious students and overwhelmed faculty. Expectations are high, and the competition is real. That can create stress for students, parents, teachers, and administrators alike. In these intense environments, it's not unusual for grades to dip, tempers to flare, or for students to find themselves accused of serious misconduct.
If your child is caught in the middle of an academic, behavioral, or sexual misconduct investigation, you might feel scared and unsure of what to do next. You're not alone. You don't have to try to navigate this by yourself.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has helped families throughout the Orange State stand up for their children and protect their future. We understand how schools operate and what it takes to make sure your child's rights are respected. If your student is facing a difficult situation, reach out to the Lento Law Firm today.
Special Education and Disability Rights in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach
Students with disabilities have the right to a fair and appropriate education, but too often, families in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach find themselves fighting just to get the support their children are entitled to. Whether your child attends Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Broward County Public Schools, or the School District of Palm Beach County, schools are legally required to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
These federal laws protect students with disabilities by ensuring they receive necessary accommodations, services, and an individualized education plan (IEP) that allows them to thrive academically and socially. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for schools to delay evaluations, deny services, or fail to implement IEPs and 504 Plans effectively.
That's where our Education Law Team can help. We work with families to hold schools accountable, make sense of confusing policies, and take action when a student's rights are being ignored.
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) & 504 Plans for Southeastern Florida Students
If your child has a disability and attends school in southeastern Florida, securing the right accommodations and services can feel like an uphill battle. Students are entitled to individualized support through an IEP or a 504 Plan, but that doesn't always mean it's easy to get.
Schools are required by law to evaluate students in a timely manner, work collaboratively with families, and develop plans that truly meet each student's unique needs. Unfortunately, many families face roadblocks like incomplete evaluations, vague or inadequate plans, or school teams that fail to follow through on the services they've promised.
Our Education Law Team is here to step in when that happens. We advocate for students across Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and surrounding communities to make sure they receive appropriate accommodations, therapies, academic support, and behavioral interventions. If your child's plan isn't being implemented properly — or if you're being shut out of the process entirely — we can help you take the next steps.
From requesting evaluations and sitting in on IEP meetings to challenging plan violations and escalating disputes when necessary, the Lento Law Firm is committed to helping your family access the education your child is legally entitled to.
When Gold Coast Students Face Discipline and Expulsions
Disciplinary action can turn a student's entire academic career upside down, especially when it comes without fair process or clear communication. In southeastern Florida, students at all levels are at risk of facing suspension, expulsion, or other serious consequences for alleged misconduct.
From Miami-Dade County Public Schools to charter and private institutions across Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, disciplinary hearings can be intimidating and confusing for families. The stakes are even higher for college students attending schools like Florida International University (FIU), the University of Miami, Nova Southeastern University, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), and Palm Beach Atlantic University. A disciplinary record at this level can affect a student's ability to graduate, transfer, pursue advanced degrees, or find employment after college.
We represent students accused of academic dishonesty, behavioral issues, and even serious allegations like harassment or assault. We'll review your school's code of conduct, prepare a defense, and stand by your side during disciplinary meetings or formal hearings. Our goal is to ensure that your student is treated fairly and that their future isn't jeopardized by a rushed or biased process.
Bullying and Harassment in Southeastern Florida Schools
Every child deserves to feel safe at school. But for too many families in southeastern Florida, that just isn't the reality. Bullying and harassment — whether it's happening in the classroom, in the hallways, or online — can take a serious toll on a student's mental health, confidence, and ability to focus on learning. And when schools don't step in to help, the damage can be even worse.
We hear from families all the time who feel like their concerns are being brushed off. Maybe your child has reported being harassed by a peer. Maybe they're being targeted because of their race, gender, disability, or sexual orientation. Maybe they've been a victim of sexual harassment, and the school hasn't taken it seriously. Whatever the situation, your child shouldn't have to deal with it alone — and neither should you.
Schools have a legal obligation to protect students. Under federal laws like Title IX and the Civil Rights Act, they're required to investigate reports of bullying and harassment and take real steps to stop it. When that doesn't happen, our team steps in to hold them accountable.
Standing Up to Discrimination in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach
Discrimination has no place in our schools — but that doesn't mean it never happens. Across southeastern Florida, students still face unfair treatment because of their race, gender, disability, or other protected characteristics.
If you believe your child is being treated unfairly by a school in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County, you're not overreacting — and you don't have to accept it. Schools have a legal responsibility to provide equal educational opportunities to all students. Federal laws like Title VI, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are in place to protect your child from this kind of discrimination, and when schools fall short, they can be held accountable.
At the Lento Law Firm, we help families take action when schools fail to treat students fairly. We've worked with parents whose children were suspended or expelled based on biased decisions, ignored when they asked for help, or denied the accommodations they were legally entitled to. We understand how isolating and frustrating this can feel — and we know how to push back.
We're here to help you fight for what's right. If you're worried your child is facing discrimination at school, reach out. We'll listen, we'll take your concerns seriously, and we'll work with you to protect your child's rights and future.
Protecting Student Rights and Free Speech in Florida Schools
Students don't lose their rights when they walk into the school building. In fact, the First Amendment protects their freedom of speech, expression, and peaceful protest. But that doesn't mean schools always get it right.
In southeastern Florida, there have been growing tensions between student expression and school authority. Whether it's a student disciplined for wearing a T-shirt with a political message, a school newspaper being censored, or a walkout in support of social justice being met with suspension threats, these situations are happening in public and private schools across Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. While schools can place certain limits on speech to keep the learning environment safe and focused, they cannot punish students simply because they disagree with what a student has to say.
Dress codes are another area where student rights are often tested. When a school enforces policies in a way that disproportionately targets certain students — especially based on gender, race, or cultural expression — that can raise serious constitutional concerns. And with the rise of digital platforms, issues around what students post online and whether schools can discipline them for it have only become more complex.
Understanding where your student's rights begin and end isn't always straightforward, and schools don't always follow the law the way they should. If your student has been punished, silenced, or singled out for expressing themselves, you may have legal options.
What Can a Student Discipline Defense Attorney Really Do for You?
When your child is facing a disciplinary issue at school, it can feel like you're stepping into a process that's already stacked against you. The rules aren't always clear, the deadlines move fast, and the school may not seem interested in hearing your side. That's where our Education Law Team steps in.
How we help depends on your unique situation. Maybe your child is being accused of cheating or misconduct. Maybe the school is threatening suspension, expulsion, or even withholding a degree. We look at the facts, learn the school's policies, and help you figure out the best path forward.
Every school is different. Some may limit how directly an advisor can speak during a hearing, while others allow full legal representation. Either way, we stay one step ahead. We gather evidence, help prepare statements, guide you through interviews or hearings, and work behind the scenes to make sure your child's rights are being respected.
We've helped students across Florida navigate high-stakes disciplinary issues with confidence. No matter what your family is up against, we're ready to step in, get organized, and fight for the outcome your child deserves.
Get Trusted Student Defense Support in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach
If you or your child is facing a serious issue at school in South Florida, you need more than a general practice lawyer. You need a team that understands how student discipline works and what it takes to protect an academic future. That's what we do at the Lento Law Firm.
Our focus is student defense. From public school hearings in West Palm Beach to university disciplinary boards in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, we've helped families across the region stand up to unfair treatment and get back on track. We don't use a one-size-fits-all approach. Every case gets the personalized attention it deserves, with a strategy tailored to your specific goals and challenges.
Your school has resources, policies, and legal backing. You should too. Let us be the advocate in your corner. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888.535.3686 or send us your case details online. We're ready when you are.
