Facing allegations of academic misconduct as a student can severely disrupt your education and cast a shadow on your school or university experience. If found guilty, you can face expulsion, and your future career prospects can be severely prejudiced. If you are a teacher or lecturer, complaints of misconduct can ruin your professional reputation, affect your personal life, and, in worst-case scenarios, end your career.
Whether you are a student, teacher or lecturer, the earlier you seek advice and support from our specialist solicitors in connection with misconduct allegations, the better your chances of securing a positive outcome.
Defence solicitors for allegations against school and university students
School and university investigations into a student’s conduct can include accusations of:
- Plagiarism
- Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for work
- Collusion
- Fabricating evidence in support of an exceptional circumstances claim
- Making up evidence in support of an appeal
- Falsifying data
- Bribery or intimidation to gain an unfair advantage
- Examination misconduct
Defence solicitors for allegations against school and university teachers and lecturers
School and university investigations into a teacher or lecturer’s conduct can include accusations of:
- Falsifying qualifications
- Fraud
- Actual or threatened physical violence
- Bullying
- Harassment
- Inappropriate relationships with students
- Sexually inappropriate conduct towards students
- Attending work under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Examination misconduct
Why choose DJMS Solicitors?
If you are a student, teacher or lecturer facing investigation for alleged misconduct, our expert solicitors are on hand to provide the advice and support you need. Our specialist team deals with cases across Primary, Secondary, Further and Higher education.
We understand what is at stake in many cases of this nature, and we are sensitive to how stressful they can be for the accused and their families. We seek to relieve some of the burden by providing practical, concise legal advice that enables you to understand your position and the options available to you. We have strong relationships with many of the UK’s leading criminal barristers, whose input we will call on should it be necessary.
We deal with all issues relating to student and teacher misconduct:
Alleged student misconduct
- Advising in connection with misconduct allegations, including:
- Interpreting your school or university’s policies
- Gathering evidence in support of your defence, including identifying and interviewing any witnesses
- Helping you prepare for any interviews with your school or university
- Accompanying you to any interviews with your school or university where permitted
- Representing you before a misconduct panel
- Appealing for the reversal of any prejudicial decision
- Representing you in any concurrent criminal charges, from pre-charge to trial
Alleged teacher/lecturer misconduct
- Advising you on any disciplinary investigations and hearings held internally
- Supporting you during investigations by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), including:
- Preparing written responses during the investigation stage
- Collating evidence in support of your defence, including identifying and interviewing any witnesses
- Representing you at any interim proceedings
- Responding to the notice of referral
- Representing you at hearings before the TRA’s Professional Conduct Panel
- Applying for the reversal of a Prohibition Order
- Pursuing appeals
- Representing you in any concurrent criminal charges, from pre-charge to trial
- Assisting you in proceedings with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
- Applying for a waiver from disqualification from OFSTED
