There has been a substantial amount of publicity about the effect that so-called “Name, Image, and Likeness” rights have had on collegiate athletes over the past few years. Some student-athletes are reported to be earning millions of dollars from marketing deals while still in school. However, NIL deals no longer start at the college level. A number of states now allow high school student-athletes to benefit from NIL deals as well. This is great for any high school athlete lucky enough to secure a NIL contract – but it also raises the stakes if the student gets into trouble at school.

The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team has years of experience representing high school students accused of serious misconduct by their schools. We understand that it's important to have a clean disciplinary record as a high school student – whether or not you have managed to ink a lucrative NIL contract. Call us today at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation to learn how we can help if your student is facing serious disciplinary charges at school.

The NIL Scene for High School Students

Whether a high school student-athlete is allowed to benefit from an NIL deal depends on the state. At least 25 states (including the District of Columbia) allow students to benefit from NIL contracts in some form or another, with more states considering allowing these kinds of deals at the high school level. The Florida High School Athletic Association, for example, recently amended its bylaws to explicitly permit NIL contracts for high schoolers – provided they follow the FHSAA guidelines for NIL agreements. The Iowa High School Athletic Association similarly permits high school student-athletes to “earn compensation from the use of the Name, Image and Likeness” provided IHSAA regulations are observed.

However, as noted above, the high school NIL rules vary from one state to another. It's important to have a clear understanding of the NIL rules in your state before your student-athlete signs an NIL contract as a high schooler.

An NIL Deal Makes Disciplinary Issues Even More Critical

A serious misconduct allegation can have an impact on the future of any high school student. When that student is benefiting from an NIL deal, the stakes are even higher. The contract may require the student to have and keep a clean disciplinary record, and depending on the sanctions that the school wants to impose on a student for misconduct, it could mean the end of their NIL deal.

On top of that, of course, is the concern that any note on their permanent academic record that they were disciplined by their school for misconduct can affect their ability to get into college.

This is why if your high school student has an NIL deal and is accused of serious misconduct by their school, it's important to contact the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. We will fight to protect your child's rights throughout the disciplinary process and will use our experience and skills to do everything we can to help your student keep a clean record and avoid any disciplinary actions that could impact their NIL deal.

The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team Can Help

The experienced attorneys from the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team regularly defend high school students all across the country from serious misconduct allegations. We understand the rules, policies, and procedures that apply in these kinds of cases, and we can protect your child's rights and will defend them from start to finish. Where appropriate, we'll use our experience to negotiate with the school for an outcome that will leave your child's record clean and their NIL deal in place.

If your high school student is talented and fortunate enough to have an NIL deal, it's important to do everything possible to protect it. If they are facing serious misconduct allegations from their school, contact the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation. Tell us about your student's situation, and let us tell you how we can help.