A professor accused of lying about their credentials on their CV or job application can find themselves in a world of trouble. Integrity and credibility are paramount in academia for students and teachers alike. Because the revelation that a trusted professor appears to have been less than honest can damage the reputation of the entire institution, college administrators may rush to label the professor a fraud and oust them from their job instead of conducting a fair investigation to find out the whole story.

However, unintentional discrepancies, errors, or omissions can find their way into one's CV, or there can be other legitimate reasons why you appear to have misrepresented the truth. The Education Law Team at the Lento Law firm are available for your representation nationwide if you have been accused of lying on your resume. Get the skilled and experienced representation you need for the best outcome. Call our legal team at 888-535-3686 or reach out to us online.

The Potential Consequences of Alleged CV Falsification

The consequences can be severe and far-reaching if a college or university determines that you lied on your CV. The most common consequence is termination of employment. Dishonesty can erode trust between the professor, colleagues, administration, and students. Even if the discrepancy or misrepresentation was minor, the institution may fire you to assure the academic community that it values integrity and honesty.

A university's determination that you have misrepresented your qualifications might also lead to legal consequences. If you signed a contract attesting that the information you provided was true and correct, the institution might have grounds to pursue fraud, misrepresentation, or breach of contract claims against you, mainly if they can show your actions materially damaged them.

If the alleged dishonesty involves false claims about an academic degree or professional license, the institution that granted the degree or license may choose to revoke them. Similarly, any awards, grants, or funding that you received that were based, in part, on your qualifications might be withdrawn or revoked.

A false accusation alone can cause you to suffer a devastating loss of reputation in the academic community. With your good name sullied, you may find it challenging to secure future employment within your field, and professional networks may distance themselves from you, making it difficult to rebuild a career.

How the Lento Law Firm Can Help

Facing accusations of falsifying information on your CV or misrepresenting your credentials is a significant and serious situation. If you have been accused, consult the experienced Education Law Team of the Lento Law Firm as soon as possible to advise you of your options and rights.

Professors in such situations are not without defenses. Unintentional errors or omissions can arise through typos, formatting issues, or poorly input data. In some rare cases, the professor might have believed in good faith that their information was correct, only to learn later that, for example, their diploma was fraudulent.

The Education Law Team attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can advise you every step of the way as you undergo an investigation, licensing board review, or if the institution initiates legal action against you. We can gather documentation, invoke protective procedures, communicate and negotiate with school representatives and the state board, or defend you in a lawsuit. Contact our legal team at 888-535-3686 or message us online as soon as possible. We are ready to help protect your job and reputation.