| TYPE | CHARGE | SANCTIONS | OUTCOME |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRUG & ALCOHOL VIOLATION | Distribution of narcotics, alcohol possession | Student Conduct Code Violation | Potential suspension & expulsion | Avoided expulsion and received only a reprimand and probation |
| A freshman at a private university was accused of distribution of narcotics, alcohol possession, and possession of contraband and alcohol. Our client was not of legal drinking age. Our defense included an extensive private investigation to identify and interview witnesses to the allegations. We helped our client prepare a defense that included substance abuse assessments, and mental health evidence used to help portray our client in a sympathetic light. | |||
| CAMPUS PROTEST |
Hate speech, assault, destruction of property | Student Conduct Code Violation | Expulsion | Received a reprimand with no permanent sanction in their academic record |
| A sophomore at a nationally-ranked private university was accused of violating the student conduct code and hate speech during protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Separately, our client faced potential criminal violations for assault and destruction of property. We prepared our client’s defense with the aid of a private investigation and formulated a strategy that included the use of mental health evidence. | |||
| ACCUSED OF USING AI / CHATGPT | Cheating on an exam | Academic Honor Code Violation | Suspension or Expulsion | Found Not in Violation |
| A junior at a major private university was accused of using ChatGPT in a take-home assignment. DC Student Defense analyzed the university’s academic misconduct honor code and the specifics of the accusation to help the student prepare their defense strategy, which included assessing whether to selectively admit certain parts of the accusations while denying others in order to best defend the student. We also helped the client determine whether it was possible to resolve the matter short of a full honor code process by communicating directly with their professor and/or other administrators. | |||
| TYPE | CHARGE | SANCTIONS | OUTCOME |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAW SCHOOL CHEATING ACCUSATIONS | Cheating on an exam | Academic Honor Code Violation | Expulsion | Client is now a successful attorney |
| A third-year law student at a top-15 tier law school was accused of cheating on a take-home examination only weeks before graduation. DC Student Defense guided the student through understanding the potential consequences of being found responsible, including obstacles to be included on the Character & Fitness portion of the bar application in the future. Careful analysis of the allegations and forensic examination of our client’s electronic data allowed the student to mount a successful defense to avoid expulsion or suspension. We also provided legal guidance at the time the student had to complete the Character & Fitness portion of the bar application, including collaborating with a legal ethics expert. Upon learning of the successful resolution of the matter, that legal expert told our client: “You must have had some kind of miracle-worker lawyer helping you!” | |||
| HAZING ACCUSATIONS |
Hazing | Student Conduct Code Violation | Expulsion | Client avoided personal sanctions and the chapter avoided being suspended |
| The president of a sorority chapter at a major private university faced hazing accusations against the chapter. DC Student Defense helped the student – a senior – learn from the university whether the potential sanctions would be directed at individual members, officers or only the chapter. We helped formulate suggested sanctions for the chapter that included ways to remediate the issue and also guided the student and chapter through communications and collaboration with the National Sorority organization. Our work included using private investigators to interview witnesses and preparation of witnesses for a hearing. | |||
| HARASSMENT & STALKING | Harassment & Stalking | Student Conduct Code Violation | Suspension or Expulsion | Client graduated with no sanctions |
| A freshman at a major public university was accused by their roommate of stalking and other kinds of harassment and student conduct code violations. We were hired after a full investigation and multiple hearings and appeals had already taken place and worked with the student to continue fighting the sanctions. We co-counseled with local litigation counsel and the university fought to a stand-still. | |||
| TYPE | CHARGE | SANCTIONS | OUTCOME |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLLABORATION | Cheating on an exam | Academic Honor Code Violation | Potential suspension & expulsion | Found Not in Violation |
| A foreign student at a major private university was accused by a professor of collaborating with other students in completing a remote exam in computer coding. DC Student Defense analyzed the accusations made by the professor, taking into account the professor’s academic background, seniority, and personal rapport with students to help the client formulate their defense strategy. With our help, the student also ascertained what other accused students were raising in their own defense to help inform our client’s defense and assessed cultural biases as a factor in the accusation. | |||
| CHEATING |
Cheating on an exam | Academic Honor Code Violation | Expulsion | Found Not in Violation |
| A group of Chinese foreign students were accused by other students, a teaching assistant, and their professor of collaborating during a proctored exam. We represented the entire group of students and helped prepare their defense through forensic analysis of the exam answer as well as analysis of the exam room’s physical set-up. As part of the defense, we helped the student present cultural issues, as well as potential racial discrimination concerns. The group went through multiple individual hearings. | |||
| PROFESSIONALISM ACCUSATIONS
|
Community Standards | Academic Honor Code Violation | Suspension or Expulsion | Completed residency and became a practicing physician |
| A medical student at a major university was accused of a lack of professionalism during their medical residency. DC Student Defense analyzed the multiple allegations spanning close to two years to determine the best way for the student to address remediation when helpful and to challenge other allegations as appropriate. Strategies were also developed and implemented for improving relationships with preceptors, colleagues, physicians, and medical school deans and administrators. | |||
| TYPE | CHARGE | SANCTIONS | OUTCOME |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRUG & ALCOHOL VIOLATION | Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine | Student Conduct Code Violation | Potential suspension & expulsion | Found Not in Violation |
| A senior, only one semester away from graduation, was charged by their school with possession with intent to distribute cocaine after campus found alleged cocaine in the student’s wallet. The white powder found in the student’s wallet field-tested positive for cocaine. The regular police also responded and took a report as well. The client, aided by other counsel, lost his hearing and faced a potentially disastrous interruption of their college career and professional plans only months before graduation.The student client and their family hired us to represent them while an appeal was pending. A new hearing was granted and our team began gathering evidence, identifying potential witnesses and preparing the client to testify as well as pose questions to witnesses. Key strategy decisions included advising the client as to which type of proceeding might be best suited to his case and focusing the defense on attacking the legal concept of possession. We accompanied our client to a hearing before a panel made up of students and administrators. The panel found our client not in violation.Our client was able to continue their studies, graduate and fulfill their professional plans. We also made sure that our client’s academic transcript and criminal history record contained no mention of the matter. | |||
| SEXUAL MISCONDUCT VIOLATION | Sexual Assault | Student Conduct Code Violation | Expulsion | Found Not in Violation |
| A law student was charged by their university with multiple allegations of sexual assault made by two different complainants. Despite the fact that the law student had already graduated successfully from law school, the university proceeded with a hearing on both allegations. Represented by different counsel, the student lost at the hearing. The sanction was retroactive expulsion and the loss of their law degree. As a result of the expulsion and loss of degree, the law student lost their job offer at a law firm faced the potential of never being able to practice law.The expelled law student hired us to seek an appeal of the decision. Our appeal focused on identifying significant procedural errors in the original hearing and the university reversed the original decision and granted the law student the chance for new hearings. The university also granted the request made in our appeal that the allegations should be heard in separate proceedings by separate panels or judges. Our team then reviewed existing evidence, witnesses and the transcripts of the original hearing, identified new witnesses, prepared the client, and accompanied the client to both of the new hearings.Our client was found not in violation in one case and responsible in the other. However, the judge in the latter case went out of their way to state on the record that the case was a very close one and that the judge did not wish for our client’s legal career to be ruined. Accordingly, the sanction for the one case was merely retroactive suspension. The expulsion was reversed and our client was granted their law degree and given back their chance to pursue their chosen career. | |||
| ACADEMIC HONOR CODE | Cheating on an exam | Academic Honor Code Violation | Suspension or Expulsion | Found Not in Violation |
| Several Chinese foreign students were accused by their university of cheating on an exam. If found responsible, all of the students faced suspension or expulsion. The university offered them an arrangement by which they could admit responsibility in return for not being expelled and instead face potential suspension. This arrangement put the students in a very difficult situation as they did not wish to risk expulsion which would ruin their career plans to study in the United States but also did not want to be forced into admitting responsibility for something they had not done. The students hired us to evaluate their cases and help them decide on a strategy.After thorough reviews of the cases and learning what was at stake for our clients, we were able to make specific recommendations to our clients. The students chose to fight the charges. We identified potential witnesses, reviewed and analyzed the exam answers and prepared our clients for the hearings which were to be conducted entirely in English without the benefits of translators. Although all of our clients could communicate well in English, it remained a second language for them and extra time and effort was necessary in order to prepare them for speaking and being questioned under conditions of great stress. All of our clients were found not responsible and were able to continue with their studies in the United States. | |||
Reviews and Client stories
”“The DC Student Defense provided an excellent service regarding a Title IX allegation that I could have faced suspension or expulsion over. Attorneys Ehrhardt and Wu were instrumental in helping me through the Title IX process and guiding me to resolving the case. I am still able to continue my education fully thanks solely to the advice and help given to me by attorneys Ehrhardt and Wu. I would strongly recommend their services to any student in DC who is faced with Title IX accusations. Mrs. Ehrhardt's professionalism and reliability round the clock made her incredibly easy to work with and her knowledge of the legal surroundings of Title IX, specifically at my school, but I'm sure at any institution, was fantastic. We were able to work together on providing compelling evidence to come to a favorable decision for me, so as to continue my education at my school.”
- Richard B.
”“Attorney Shanlon Wu and his team have been amazing advocates for my college sophomore and our family as we navigate through an alleged COVID-19 violation. The inconsistency with how Universities hand out COVID-19 disciplines across, and within, Universities, is something that no parent can handle alone. With Attorney Wu's team, my child has been able to return to campus and continue his education. I highly recommend him.”
- Claire C.
”“The DC Student Defense fund helped me specifically with an alleged university Covid-19 violation - I could have faced up to suspension or expulsion. With their help I was able to come to a reasonable conclusion with the school that allowed me to learn from my mistakes and still graduate with honors. Very reliable and accurate service, timely, and knowledgeable about a huge variety of legal matters for students.“
- Mike J.
