Life as a student can be full of challenges. Students grow and change throughout their education, and with that process comes stress and other difficulties. From managing their time to balancing their workload to creating new relationships with classmates and teachers, students face a myriad of problems that may threaten their academic careers. At the Lento Law Office, our team of student defense professionals has talked with hundreds of students facing issues at school, and we understand how overwhelmed students can feel, especially when they find themselves in trouble. If you are a college student or the parent of a younger student who finds themselves facing discipline at their school, leading student discipline defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento can help you create a plan to defend your rights and protect your academic career. Call 888.535.3686 and retain attorney-advisor Lento today.
The Greater Birmingham Metropolitan Area
Birmingham started out as an industrial city built on iron and steel. Over time, Birmingham and its surrounding suburbs, like Hoover, Cullman, Sylacauga, Mountain Hills, Alabaster, Homewood, and Vestavia Hills, have become a center of educational employment opportunities. Within the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega metropolitan area are major colleges and universities in the areas of law, medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, engineering, and nursing. College sports fans are also drawn to the area as it is the headquarters of the South Eastern Conference or SEC.
There are also many quality private and preparatory schools for younger students in Birmingham and suburbs like Trussville, Bessemer, Helena, and Center Point. At the Lento Law Firm, we have helped students of all educational levels who find themselves facing disciplinary issues. No matter where you are located in the Greater Birmingham area, attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento is available to assist you in defending the allegations against you and helping you understand the complicated processes of school disciplinary procedures.
Birmingham Metro Area Student Concerns
Students in Birmingham can enjoy the best of big city life alongside the benefits of country living. Within the Greater Birmingham area is a vibrant and diverse cultural scene with world-class museums, musical venues, and frequent festivals. In both the city of Birmingham and its surrounding areas, students can also enjoy nature, as the area is home to multiple parks, rivers, and mountain hiking areas. University students have no shortage of school-related activities, from attending college sports games to enjoying a night out at one of the many local craft breweries to performing internships at one of the multiple major companies located in Birmingham.
With all of these opportunities for students, it is easy to see why Greater Birmingham is a draw for students of all ages. However, the same opportunities and activities that may attract students to the area can also cause problems. Students may overwork themselves at internships or jobs and fall behind in class. Other students might get caught up in the excitement of a weekend sporting event and make a poor decision. Whatever the issue or concern, experienced student discipline defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento is available to assist students in Birmingham, Hoover, Talladega, and surrounding cities.
Birmingham Metro Area Schools
The student defense team at the Lento Law Firm has helped colleges and university students defend their rights throughout Alabama and the rest of the country. Some of the colleges and universities where experienced student defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento is available to help students deal with academic or disciplinary problems include:
- Samford University
- Birmingham-Southern College
- Miles College
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of Montevallo
- Virginia College
- Talladega College
In addition to representing traditional college and university students, the Lento Law Firm can also help students in graduate, professional, or technical degree programs who have issues or concerns with their school or program. Some of the schools in Birmingham where we can help include:
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry
- Cumberland School of Law
- Birmingham School of Law
- Miles Law School
- Beeson Divinity School
- South College
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy
- FlatIron School
- Fortis Institute
The student defense legal team at the Lento Law Firm can also help younger students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Students in these grades may also face issues with student discipline, like allegations of bullying or destruction or misuse of school property. Student discipline defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento can help students and their parents in all Birmingham school districts, like:
- Homewood City Schools
- Hoover City Schools
- Vestavia Hills City Schools
- Mountain Brook City Schools
- Trussville City Schools
- Alabaster City Schools
- Pelham City Schools
- Shelby County Schools
- Leads City Schools
- Jefferson County Schools
- Tarrant City Schools
- Birmingham City Schools
- Fairfield City Schools
The Lento Law Firm can provide excellent representation to students facing academic or disciplinary issues at private and preparatory schools across the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega metropolitan area, including:
- Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School
- Mountain Brook High School
- Homewood High School
- The Altamont School
- Indian Springs School
- Vestavia Hills High School
- Alabama School of Fine Arts
- The American Academy for Young Professionals
- Saint Rose Academy
- Heritage Christian Academy
- Briarwood Christian School
- Cornerstone Schools of Alabama
- Highlands School
- Family Sunshine School
- Hoover Christian School
- Islamic Academy of Alabama
- The Westminster School at Oak Mountain
Disciplinary Defense in the Birmingham Metro Area
School discipline can be a tricky subject. Many attorneys believe that they can handle school discipline cases like a criminal trial, but that is not true. Student discipline cases involve complicated administrative processes often heard in front of review boards that use a completely different standard of proof than a court of law. That's why having experienced student defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento on your side is so beneficial. He and the Lento Law Firm defend students facing allegations of things like cheating, plagiarism, drinking or drug use, physical and sexual assaults, or other behavioral or academic issues at schools, colleges, and universities around the country. He and the experienced student defense team at the Lento Law Firm will help you and your family understand the process that you are facing and will help you create a defense that protects your future career.
Academic Progression Issues
Schools and colleges throughout the Birmingham metropolitan area have academic standards that students must maintain in order to remain enrolled. These standards usually require students to take a certain number of credits or courses and maintain a certain grade point average. When students cannot meet these criteria, the school may have several options. Students might be required to take remedial classes, work with a tutor, or take summer classes. If grades don't improve, students can be placed on academic probation or dismissed from their school or program.
At the Lento Law Firm, our experienced student defense team knows that students often fall behind for a reason. Sometimes students have problems keeping up because of personal problems in their lives, like issues in their relationships, difficulties with their roommates, or a death or illness in the family. Other times, students may have difficulty with their coursework because they cannot get along with their instructor or their instructor is ineffective. Whatever the reason, student defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento can work with you and the school administration to create a reasonable solution to academic progression issues before they derail your academic career.
Academic Misconduct Issues
Universities, colleges, and private schools all take their ethics and integrity seriously. Universities and schools across Birmingham have honor codes and other policies on academic misconduct that describe the types of behavior that are prohibited. For example, Samford University's honor code requires students to take a pledge against academic misconduct and details the types of behaviors that are prohibited and their punishments. In general, most schools will punish the same types of academic misconduct: cheating, plagiarism, being complicit in someone else's misconduct, and misusing school resources in a way that gives the student an unfair advantage.
While punishing these behaviors is important for educational institutions, the punishments are often more heavy-handed than is necessary when a student makes a mistake. Often, teachers and school officials may misinterpret a student's actions, or the student may have had a reasonable basis for believing that their actions were allowed. Whatever the case, the experienced academic misconduct professionals at the Lento Law Firm, can help students defend their actions and work with the school to negotiate an acceptable resolution.
Behavioral Misconduct Issues
Colleges, universities, and other educational institutions usually have a student handbook or code of conduct that governs student activity. These regulations can address everything from students' dress code, social media, and computer use to even their behavior while off-campus. For instance, at Miles University, the student handbook lists several behaviors for which the university has “zero tolerance.” If a student is found to be responsible for behaviors such as robbery, drug use, bullying, fighting, assault, or arson, the student can receive a permanent notation on their academic record and be immediately suspended or expelled without a review by the university judicial council.
In many cases, however, a student accused of behavioral misconduct will have the ability to present their side of the story to their school's administration, review board, or judicial council before a decision is made. If you or your child is facing an investigation into their behavior, it is important to get help to guide you through this process. The consequences of a finding of responsibility can be severe and may affect a student for the rest of their life. Get the help you need to defend yourself by retaining the experienced student defense team at the Lento Law Firm.
Title IX Sexual Misconduct Issues
All schools and universities that receive funds from the federal government are required to follow several federal laws, including one section referred to as Title IX. Title IX prohibits educational institutions from engaging in discrimination based on gender or sex, which can cover a broad range of offenses. Schools will create their own guidelines and policies to stay in compliance with Title IX, and these regulations can relate to a wide range of activities, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, unwanted touching, stalking, and domestic abuse or intimate partner violence. Frequently, these policies will also cover online or social media-related behaviors, like sending or receiving nude photographs, pornography use or production, online solicitation or prostitution, and cyberbullying.
While the goal of stopping sex-related offenses is laudable, intimate relationships between people are often complicated. Misunderstandings and mistakes can be the basis for allegations that can ruin a student's academic career or professional future. Whether the accusations against a student are based on a mistake or were the result of a momentary lapse of judgment, Title IX student defense attorney-advisor, Joseph D. Lento can help. These charges are serious, and the Title IX investigation process can be lengthy and complicated. The Lento Law Firm will help guide students through the Title IX investigation and review process and will make sure that the proper procedures are being followed. Mr. Lento can assist in finding evidence that helps support your defense and will make sure that your rights and interests are protected throughout the investigation. The Lento Law Firm can also help students who were found responsible for Title IX violations to file an appeal if possible. If you or your child were accused of a Title IX offense, the potential long-term consequences are too serious to handle on your own. With over twenty years of experience defending students across the country, put your trust in leading Title IX student defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm.
School Discipline Defense Attorney-Advisor Value
If you or your child has been charged with an academic or behavioral disciplinary violation, it is important to put your best defense forward. Disciplinary charges can cause you to fail a grade or a class, serve a suspension that creates a gap in your transcripts, or even be dismissed or expelled from school. Being found responsible for disciplinary violations can have consequences that affect your ability to graduate and your future career prospects. Don't defend yourself from these important charges. Student defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento practices student defense for a variety of school-related issues and concerns and is recognized nationwide as a leader in student disciplinary proceedings. Contact the premiere student defense attorney-advisor team at the Lento Law Firm today by calling 888.535.3686 and learn more about how you can protect your rights and reputation.
