Images of tenured professors, deans, and department heads will come to mind when you think about influential people at colleges and universities. As surprising as it may be, however, the school's legal team—usually known as its Office of General Counsel (OGC)—may wield the most clout in this highly litigious climate.  

Our doors are open if you are here because you need a student discipline defense lawyer. To request a consultation appointment, send us a message or call the Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686. 

Shifting Landscape 

A couple of generations ago, dedicated general counsel offices were the exception rather than the rule. Outside of a handful of elite universities, in-house attorneys simply were not necessary. A trustee from the board or an outside law firm would tend to these matters on an as-needed basis. 

That model is a thing of the past because of the legal challenges that universities now face. For example, the undergraduate enrollment at Swarthmore College, a liberal arts school in Pennsylvania, was 1,651 in 2021. Despite the rather modest scope of the institution, there is a Swarthmore Office of General Counsel with two attorneys and a paralegal. 

Contributing Factors 

Several factors have contributed to the explosion of offices of general counsel in academia. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 played a part in the evolution of legal representation for academic institutions. 

A great deal of legal work became necessary as a response to reams of complicated regulations. Other factors include student discipline issues, anti-discrimination laws, diversity initiatives, sexual harassment matters, environmental issues, admission practices, and acts of violence on campus, just to name a handful. 

Wide-Reaching Influence 

The OGC attorneys have a great deal of influence in every area at many colleges and universities. Rather than providing legal guidance as the administrators traverse a course that they have set, the OGC is now helping to set that course in many cases. 

Some people in academia are concerned about the overly cautious nature of many institutions from a legal perspective. They don't go down certain paths because of the potential for litigation, and some argue that this has a debilitating effect on the big picture. 

Student Discipline Defense 

You should take all of this into account if you are facing dismissal or another type of student discipline issue. Administrators blindly follow guidelines when they pursue these actions, but they are not attorneys. 

At the same time, the lawyers that they have on staff see a completely different picture. The punitive intent of the administration is of no interest to them. Their objective is to advocate for the interests of the institution in a broad sense. 

With this in mind, when you engage the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm, we will make your case with the office of general counsel based on the potential blowback on the institution. We speak their language, and the OGC may advise the administration to reconsider their disciplinary efforts. 

We Are Here to Help! 

The Student Defense Team at Lento Law Firm is standing by to act as your advocate if you are facing a student discipline proceeding of any kind. If you would like to schedule a consultation, call us at 888-535-3686 or send us a message through our contact form.