Student Issues
Students are at the heart of every public school, private school, and college or university, and legal issues involving students can be highly complex and sensitive. Thompson & Horton attorneys have a long history of work in this area, including:
- Testing and grading issues: Our attorneys work with educational entities in the areas of assessment and accountability and have represented clients in lawsuits over issues such as grades, class rank and GPAs, and graduation.
- Student discipline: We work with clients to create and implement Student Codes of Conduct, represent administrations in informal student discipline hearings, and represent school districts in litigation over discipline-related issues.
- Residency and enrollment issues: We advise administrators on a regular basis regarding the legal requirements for student enrollment in a school district and assist in the often-thorny issue of determining actual residency of students.
- Family law issues: Schools often become involved in custody disputes between divorced or divorcing parents. We work with school administrations on interpreting and implementing custody orders and accompany teachers and other employees who are subpoenaed to testify in court on these issues.
Many of our attorneys have personal ties to educators, and all work to ensure issues involving students are handled with care and respect.