Defense Lawyer for Students

If you are a student facing an allegation of misconduct, you are probably feeling a complex range of emotions: anger and shame at the accusation, worry about what it means for your academic future, and most of all, confusion about what to do next and how to protect yourself against harsh and unfair consequences.

That’s understandable; you’ve worked hard to get where you are academically, and it’s terrifying to think that one mistake, misunderstanding, or false accusation could jeopardize your education and your career. If you have been accused of a type of misconduct that could also carry criminal penalties, there is even more at stake.

Your first impulse may be to want to speak up on your own behalf, especially if you believe that you are innocent of the claims against you. Unfortunately, defending yourself can often backfire, giving your college or university ammunition to support their allegations.

To protect what you’ve worked so hard to achieve, and the future you want to build, you shouldn’t try to fight misconduct allegations on your own. An experienced lawyer for students will advise you, advocate for you, and work to minimize the damage you may face.

Attorney Adam Lamparello is not only a defense attorney; he has also spent years working in higher education as a professor. He understands how the system works, and what it takes to stand up against it. Contact Lamparello Law, Education & Advocacy to schedule a consultation.

Defending Against Allegations of Student Misconduct

Allegations of student misconduct are not always true, and the facts are not always as they first appear, or as the institution asserts. Educational institutions have a wealth of resources, including a deep legal bench to advise them. Students trying to defend against allegations on their own are at a serious disadvantage, both in terms of resources and knowledge of the system.

Lamparello Law, Education & Advocacy levels the playing field, advising students and their parents in matters involving claims of misconduct such as:

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct has existed almost as long as educational institutions, but now technology has made it both easier to violate academic integrity standards, intentionally or inadvertently, and for colleges and universities to detect alleged misconduct.

Claims of academic misconduct may include:

• Cheating on exams, quizzes, or take-home work
• Plagiarism
• Reusing your own prior work without permission (self-plagiarism)
• Impersonating someone to take an exam on their behalf, or having someone take an exam for you
• Fabricating or falsifying data or sources

A finding of academic misconduct can cause you to fail a course, or even be suspended or expelled from your academic institution.

Student Misconduct

Schools have student codes of conduct to govern non-academic student behavior and promote a safe and positive learning environment. Common behaviors that violate these codes include:

• Disorderly conduct
• Harassment or bullying, including cyber-bullying
• Hazing
• Underage drinking, or supplying alcohol to people who are underage
• Drug possession or use
• Vandalism
• Theft
• Disruptive behavior in connection with a campus event or protest

Increasingly, students are charged with disorderly behavior or other misconduct when they are simply attempting to exercise their right to freedom of speech.

Sexual or Personal Misconduct

Interpersonal relationships are common sources of misconduct claims, especially when the people involved disagree about what happened. Allegations may include:

• Sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual exploitation
• Dating violence
• Stalking
• Nonconsensual recording or distribution of intimate images (often called “revenge porn”)

These allegations are serious not only because of the academic impact on both the accuser and the accused, but because they can result in criminal charges as well.

Criminal Allegations Affecting Student Status

Criminal charges regarding a student’s off-campus behavior can trigger school discipline, even if there is ultimately no conviction. Charges that can affect a student’s status with their school include:

• Assault, battery, and other violent offenses
• Drug offenses
• DUI and driving offenses
• Theft
• Fraud

Because institutional discipline can move ahead independent of court outcomes, it’s often best for students to work with a lawyer who understands the interplay between the educational system and criminal defense law.

How Lamparello Law, Education & Advocacy Helps

With extensive experience as both a litigator and a professor, Adam Lamparello is uniquely positioned to guide students and their parents through the often-grueling academic discipline process. More than most attorneys, Adam understands the inner workings of academia, and he is equipped to help families navigate the challenges of defending against misconduct claims.

While Adam’s legal and professional qualifications matter to his clients, they also deeply value his approach to these cases. Adam doesn’t simply see an allegation to be defeated; he sees the real person whose life is affected and whose future is on the line. Adam knows that you are much more than the charges against you, and that your future shouldn’t be defined by your worst moment.