Title IX
Cohen Seglias’ Title IX Group assists schools, colleges, and universities with thorough, prompt, and impartial Title IX and student conduct investigations. Our Group combines real-world law enforcement experience with a working knowledge of the specific needs of educational institutions to develop practical, efficient, and cost-effective solutions.
Our experienced team includes a former state investigator and prosecutor with nearly 20 years of experience supervising and conducting criminal and administrative investigations, two former federal prosecutors with considerable experience investigating and prosecuting sexual violence, and an attorney with over 25 years of experience conducting and participating in internal investigations on college and university campuses. We have conducted dozens of investigations for educational institution clients and we currently serve as Title IX investigation counsel to multiple major state university systems. We are also approved by a leading education-specific insurance company to provide external investigations.
At Cohen Seglias, we know that every institution, allegation, and investigation is unique and yet all must navigate the sensitive nature of Title IX and student conduct investigations. Our attorneys understand the need to balance compassion towards the victim with respect for the due process rights of the accused. Title IX investigations and proceedings differ from criminal or civil proceedings before a court, requiring a tailored approach that takes into account the university setting. Members of the Group help institutions and key individuals involved in Title IX investigations develop a plan of action that addresses the situation at hand while adhering to federal guidelines as well as to the university’s own set of policies and procedures.
We have developed a trusted and flexible model for conducting investigations patterned after the best practices utilized by Title IX administrators, prosecutors and accredited law enforcement agencies, updating practices in response to revisions to the federal guidelines Our firm regularly engages former law enforcement personnel as private investigators to assist in these investigations, allowing us to provide a range of cost-effective staffing options for our clients.
Our attorneys are members of the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) and National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and are acutely aware of the challenges Title IX coordinators and administrators face. We strive to keep our clients up-to-date on the latest in Title IX enforcement and compliance to protect and ensure their integrity. Our team members regularly attend training programs and receive the necessary certifications and clearances for Title IX investigations. We frequently comment on Title IX developments and internal investigations and regularly contribute to our blog, Rules for Schools.