Title IX Defense Lawyer
Practice Areas
Experienced Title IX Defense Attorney in Greenville, South Carolina
School administrators and Title IX investigators across the country are frequently unaware of the legal implications tied to Title IX claims, and university students may not realize they have enforceable rights during these proceedings. Allegations can move quickly, involve limited notice, and place education, housing, and future opportunities at risk if due process protections are ignored.
As a Title IX defense lawyer, AnneMarie Odom believes every accused student deserves fair treatment and a meaningful opportunity to be heard. She works to protect due process rights from the start of an investigation through resolution. To discuss your situation with a knowledgeable Title IX defense lawyer, call AnneMarie Odom Law at (864) 775-5833 today.
Title IX Law
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. §§ 1681) formally states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program receiving Federal financial assistance…”
In other words, Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex based discrimination in any education program receiving federal funding. Under Title IX, no person may be excluded from participation in or denied educational benefits because of sex.
Since its enactment in 1972, Title IX applies to students, faculty, staff, and administrators at public and private schools that receive federal financial assistance. Schools must investigate reports of sexual misconduct, gender discrimination, retaliation, and hostile environments. These allegations can limit a student’s access to education and, in serious cases, lead to parallel criminal charges in addition to campus discipline.
Understanding Title IX Investigations in South Carolina
Title IX claims in South Carolina are governed by federal requirements enforced by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office. Schools must follow strict procedures when investigating allegations, and mistakes during the process can lead to unfair outcomes.
Because these investigations can affect education, employment, and future opportunities, early legal representation helps protect due process rights and ensures schools comply with Title IX requirements from start to finish.
Who May Need a Title IX Defense Attorney
- College and university students accused of Title IX violations
- High school students involved in Title IX investigations
- Graduate students or teaching assistants facing misconduct allegations
- Faculty members accused of policy violations under Title IX
- School staff or administrators named in Title IX complaints
- Coaches or athletic department personnel subject to Title IX investigations
- Students or employees accused of retaliation related to a Title IX report
Common Title IX Violation Cases
Violating Title IX can involve a wide range of allegations that schools are required to investigate under federal guidelines. Common cases include sexual violence, domestic abuse, stalking and harassment, gender discrimination claims, and retaliation claims, all of which can carry serious academic and professional consequences.
Sexual Misconduct Accusations
Sexual misconduct allegations are among the most serious Title IX matters a student or employee can face. When someone is accused of sexual misconduct, schools often act quickly, sometimes before all of the evidence is fully reviewed. This means that instances of alleged sexual misconduct can result in immediate restrictions, suspension, expulsion, and/or loss of employment, even when no criminal charges have been filed.
Early legal counsel plays an important role in protecting due process. An attorney helps evaluate evidence, prepare responses, and ensure fair treatment throughout sexual assault cases and other Title IX proceedings while working to reduce long-term academic and professional consequences.
Sexual Harassment Claims
Sexual harassment claims under Title IX involve unwelcome sexual conduct that a school determines interferes with a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program. These claims may arise from verbal statements, written communications, online behavior, or physical actions.
Schools are required to investigate harassment complaints and may impose disciplinary measures while the case is pending. Early legal guidance helps ensure the accused receives notice of the allegations, an opportunity to respond, and fair treatment throughout the process.
Dating Violence and Domestic Violence Allegations
Dating violence and domestic violence allegations fall under Title IX regulations when they occur within an educational program or activity. These cases may involve current or former dating partners and can include physical harm, threats, or patterns of controlling behavior. Schools must investigate these reports and may impose interim measures that affect housing, class access, or employment.
Because these allegations can overlap with criminal exposure, guidance from a Greenville domestic violence defense lawyer like AnneMarie Odom can be critical in reducing the risk of long-term academic or professional consequences.
Stalking-Related Complaints
Stalking related complaints under Title IX may involve repeated unwanted contact, monitoring, messages, or behavior that causes fear or disrupts a person’s ability to participate in school activities. These allegations can arise from in-person conduct or digital communications and are taken seriously by schools. Once a complaint is filed, institutions may impose no-contact orders or other restrictions while an investigation is pending.
Gender Discrimination and Retaliation Claims
Gender and sexual discrimination claims under Title IX may involve unequal treatment based on sex in academics, athletics, housing, discipline, or employment. Examples include denial of opportunities, harsher discipline for one gender, exclusion from programs, biased grading, or unfavorable job actions affecting students or faculty and staff members based on sexual discrimination.
Retaliation claims focus on adverse actions taken after someone reports or participates in a Title IX matter. This may include demotion, termination, reduced academic opportunities, removal from teams or programs, grade penalties, or intimidation meant to discourage involvement. Because unlawful retaliation can trigger serious consequences, careful legal guidance helps protect rights and address improper conduct during an investigation.
What are the Consequences of a Title IX Violation?
A Title IX violation can carry significant consequences under the Title IX process, even before a final decision is reached. Once a Title IX complaint is filed, an educational institution must follow Title IX mandates that can restrict access to classes, housing, athletics, or campus activities tied to the school’s education program.
For an accused student, outcomes may include suspension, expulsion, loss of scholarships, or permanent marks on academic records. Employees may face discipline or termination. This is not even to mention when criminal charges may also be filed.
In any case, working with an experienced Title IX defense attorney helps protect your legal rights, challenge weak evidence, and address the complaint strategically from the start.
Title IX Cases and Criminal Charges
Title IX cases may overlap with criminal matters when a student or employee is accused of sexual assault, stalking and harassment, or related criminal conduct. While Title IX proceedings are governed by federal law, they are separate from the criminal justice system. Therefore, it is common for a Title IX defendant to face a campus investigation at the same time law enforcement is reviewing the same allegations.
This overlap creates serious risks. Speaking with school officials without legal guidance can jeopardize legal rights, since statements made during a Title IX interview may later be used in criminal proceedings. A Title IX attorney helps control communication, protect against self incrimination, and coordinate defense strategies across both processes so one case does not undermine the other.
Professional License Consequences
In some cases, allegations raised during a Title IX investigation may also trigger professional licensing concerns handled through LLR. This is most common when the accused individual holds or is seeking a state-issued license, such as educators, healthcare workers, counselors, or other regulated professionals. Statements, findings, or disciplinary outcomes from a Title IX hearing can be shared with licensing authorities and used as a basis for separate action.
This overlap creates added risk. An adverse Title IX outcome may lead to licensing investigations, suspension, or revocation, even when no criminal charges are filed. Coordinated legal guidance from a professional license defense attorney helps protect rights across both processes, manage communications carefully, and reduce the chance that actions taken in a school investigation create unintended consequences for professional licensure.
Student and Employee Rights During Title IX Proceedings
During the Title IX process, students and employees are entitled to important protections that safeguard their Title IX rights, including:
- The right to timely notice of the allegations and applicable policies
- The right to a fair and impartial investigation
- The right to review relevant evidence before a decision is made
- The right to respond to allegations and present information
- The right to an advisor or legal counsel during meetings and hearings
- The right to question evidence through approved procedures
- The right to be free from retaliation for participating in the process
- The right to written notice of findings and outcomes
What To Do If a Title IX Complaint is Made Against You
Because the consequences and repercussions that a defendant is likely to face when met with a Title IX inquiry can be complicated and draining, the help of an experienced Title IX defense lawyer is essential to guarantee that your rights are protected throughout the process.
When someone is accused of misconduct, especially sexual assault or other sexual misconduct, there is a strong likelihood of a presumption of guilt in the court of public opinion. Such preconceived beliefs can be difficult to dispel anywhere, let alone within an educational institution. If you have been accused of a Title IX violation, it is critical that you hire experienced legal counsel right away.
The Importance of Having an Experienced Titled IX Attorney
Being accused of a Title IX violation places your education, career, and reputation at risk. Schools must follow Title IX procedures and their educational institution’s code, but mistakes, bias, and rushed decisions still occur. A skilled Title IX defense lawyer helps ensure those rules are applied fairly and that your civil rights are respected at every stage.
Title IX defense attorneys provide guidance from the first notice through resolution. They manage communication, review evidence, and prepare responses that protect your position during interviews and hearings. When the stakes are high, working with a knowledgeable Title IX defense lawyer can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your case.
Defending Against False or Unfair Title IX Allegations
Defending against false or unfair Title IX allegations requires close attention to every stage of Title IX proceedings. Problems can arise when a university fails to follow required procedures, ignores reasonable doubt, or conducts a rushed or one-sided investigative process. These flaws can shape the record that later drives decisions in a disciplinary hearing.
An effective defense examines how the investigation was handled, challenges unreliable evidence, and raises procedural violations that undermine fairness. A Title IX defense attorney works to ensure outcomes are based on facts and due process, not assumptions or pressure to reach a quick result.
Why Choose AnneMarie Odom As Your South Carolina & Nationwide Title IX Lawyer?
Attorney AnneMarie Odom has represented students and professionals facing Title IX allegations at the college and university level and beyond. She understands how Title IX procedures intersect with a school’s code and guidance issued by the federal government, and she applies that knowledge to protect due process at every stage. Whether you are a college student or an employee, she focuses on clear strategy, careful communication, and strong advocacy.
As a trusted Title IX lawyer in Greenville, SC, AnneMarie Odom brings disciplined preparation to each case, from initial notice through hearings and appeals. Her approach centers on fairness, accuracy, and protecting your rights while holding institutions accountable to their own rules and federal requirements.
Speak With a Greenville, SC Title IX Defense Lawyer at AnneMarie Odom Law Today
Due process rights are not always guaranteed to college and university students accused of Title IX violations. When you hire a Title IX defense lawyer from AnneMarie Odom Law, you obtain the services of someone who will aggressively represent you while guaranteeing that your due process rights are maintained.
As a highly experienced and knowledgeable Greenville criminal defense attorney, AnneMarie Odom is ready to assist you in these difficult situations that could jeopardize your reputation, career, or ability to continue your education. Get in touch with our office and schedule your initial consultation by giving AnneMarie Odom a call at (864) 775-5833 or completing our online intake form today.
Our knowledgeable Title IX criminal defense attorneys are ready to assist you in these difficult situations that pose a real threat of jeopardizing your reputation, career, or ability to continue your education.
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