The ABA Standards for a Program of Legal Education require that all ABA-accredited law schools provide students with an opportunity to notify the administration of a significant problem that directly implicates the law school’s program of legal education and its compliance with the ABA Standards.
Reporting a Complaint
A student who wishes to file a formal complaint must submit a written statement (hard copy or email) to the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.
The complaint must describe in detail the behavior, program, or process complained of, and indicate how it implicates the College of Law’s program of legal education and its compliance with an identified ABA standard.
The complaint must provide the name of the student submitting the complaint and the student’s email address.
Resolving a Complaint
The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs shall investigate and, if deemed necessary, attempt to resolve the complaint within 14 business days of the filing of the written complaint.
If resolution is not possible, the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs will refer the matter to the appropriate administrator, administrative body, or an administrative official designated by the Dean or the Dean's designee.
If referral of the complaint is made as referenced above, the administrator, administrative body or Dean's designee shall investigate and, if deemed necessary, attempt to resolve the complaint within 30 business days of the date of referral by the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.
Within in five business days of the conclusion of the investigation, the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs shall communicate in writing to the complainant the findings of the investigation and the intended actions, if any, to be taken by the College of Law.
Appealing a Complaint
The student may appeal the decision within 10 business days of receiving the findings of the investigation.
The appeal must be in writing (hardcopy or email) and sent to the College of Law Dean.
The Dean will respond to the student within 20 business days of receiving the appeal.
The decision of the Dean shall be final.
Record of the Complaint
The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs shall maintain a record of the complaint and any supplemental documentation, including documentation of the final resolution, in a confidential manner from the date of the final resolution through the next review of the College of Law by the ABA Accreditation Committee.