If you're a student that attends a college or university in South Dakota and you're facing a Title IX hearing, it's important to take necessary steps as early as possible in advance of the hearing itself. At a point in time during the course of the Title IX case, your school will prepare an investigation report. Prior to the report being finalized, it needs to be responded to as strongly and as effectively as possible. All relevant documentation, information, and an evidence needs to be included in the final report. At an absolute minimum relevant text messages, social media posts, pictures, videos, phone logs, witness statements, a forensic evaluation, a polygraph examination, a toxicology report if consent is an issue. The report needs to be as strong as possible because once finalized it's presented to the panel. The panel reviews it in advance of the hearing and has a strong sense of the case before the hearing even takes place.
Attacking the accuser's credibility is key throughout a Title IX case, especially at a hearing. So questions would have to be prepared with that in mind for the accuser and the accuser's witnesses, and opening and closing statement would have to be prepared for the accused. And accused and the accused witnesses would have to be prepped and also would have to bear in mind potential pitfalls and missteps that could take place. A hearing panel would have to be considered for potential bias and conflict. An experienced attorney adviser can help ensure a fair and favorable process during a Title IX case.