The stakes have never been higher in disciplinary proceedings at colleges and universities. The demands of Title IX on academic institutions now require that colleges and universities aggressively investigate and adjudicate claims of sexual misconduct by students. Heightened standards of academic integrity affect professors and students alike, and mandate that institutions pursue all claims of misconduct in a thorough manner. The investigations and disciplinary hearings which result from allegations of misconduct can be complex and intimidating for faculty and students alike, regardless of whether they are the accused or an accuser. Title IX now expressly requires academic institutions to permit attorneys to participate on behalf of both victims and the accused in all investigations and adjudications of sexual assault.  In matters involving assertions of misconduct regarding academic integrity, counsel is now also an essential part of the process.

 

The University Discipline Practice Group of McAndrews Law Offices is led by Dennis C. McAndrews, Joseph E. McGettigan III, and Nancy E. Potter. This practice group was founded specifically to address the needs of individuals (both accused and victims) involved in disciplinary proceedings in higher education, and our attorneys provide clients with superior advocacy during the investigation and adjudication of all claims of misconduct. Our attorneys include highly experienced lawyers with extensive backgrounds in academic institutional matters, administrative law, and litigation. Between them, Mr. McAndrews, Mr. McGettigan, and Ms. Potter possess over four decades of investigatory, prosecution and defense experience at every level.

 

Mr. McAndrews is the founder of a leading national law firm in the practice of education law, and has taught at three Pennsylvania universities for over 30 years. He has served as an administrative hearing officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Education and is frequently called upon to train attorneys on proper investigative, adjudicative, and litigation practices. He has tried many dozens of cases, and argued before every appellate court in the Commonwealth as well is in the federal courts.

 

Mr. McGettigan has served at the highest levels of local, state, and federal prosecution offices for over 20 years. He was a First Assistant District Attorney twice over, and a Chief Deputy Attorney General, having tried hundreds of cases, participated in hundreds of investigations, and is nationally known for his work in high profile matters, including as the prosecutor of serial pedophile Jerry Sandusky and as co-counsel with Mr. McAndrews in the prosecution of millionaire murderer John DuPont.

 

Ms. Potter practices exclusively in the education civil rights space including Title IX, Title VI, and Section 504. She also represents individuals in academic disciplinary and integrity matters. Prior to joining MLO, Ms. Potter served in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights as supervising attorney and team leader.  She represents both students and faculty in Title IX and disciplinary matters. She has provided representation to both Complainants and Respondents at universities all over the U.S.  and has extensive experience with university hearings and administrative processes at the state and federal level.

 

In addition to these highly experienced attorneys, other members of McAndrews Law Offices possess wide and varied skills in these areas, and are able to assist clients who are victims of sexual or other misconduct, or who are under investigation for any type of impropriety and academic institutions.