St. John’s University Title IX Lawyer

St. John’s University, located in Queens with a satellite campus located in Manhattan’s East Village, is a widely respected university in New York City and beyond.  When confronted with a Title IX matter,  students, athletes, faculty, and staff face a unique blend of federal and New York requirements and laws If you or your student has been accused of sexual harassment, stalking or sexual assault, or if you are seeking help as a complainant after an incident of sexual misconduct or dating violence, the stakes at St. John’s are real and immediate. Disciplinary outcomes can affect your education, eligibility, immigration status, scholarships, and future career. Saland Law, led by criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Jeremy Saland, advises both respondents and complainants in campus Title IX cases. Although the firm is based in New York City, we handle Title IX matters nationwide as attorney-advisors, relying on our vast experience in these proceedings and in courtrooms as we tailor our strategy to the policies and practices of each institution and the evolving federal rules that govern them.

Why Title IX Matters 

Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funds. For colleges and universities, “sex discrimination” includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and related misconduct. The regulatory landscape has shifted several times since 2020, and federal litigation has affected what rules are currently in force. New York colleges also follow Article 129-B, known as the Enough is Enough law, which sets uniform standards for responses to campus sexual assault and requires an affirmative consent standard. At St. John’s, the result is a structured process that must protect the rights of complainants and respondents while complying with both federal and state mandates.

The Title IX statute, 20 U.S.C. § 1681, is short, but the regulations and university policies that implement it are detailed. St. John’s applies Title IX alongside New York Education Law Article 129-B. That state law defines affirmative consent and requires schools to provide amnesty for alcohol and drug use when reporting incidents, a Students’ Bill of Rights, and clear reporting and referral options. When we advise you, we work inside this framework. We identify which version of the federal regulations the university is applying, how Article 129-B intersects with those requirements, and where St. John’s own policy choices create opportunities for motion practice, evidentiary challenges, or appealable error.

St. John’s Policy Terms You Should Understand

In addition to actions, alleged or true, every case turns on definitions. St. John’s policy defines sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and retaliation. You will also see precise definitions of sexual contact, incapacitation, and affirmative consent. Under New York’s affirmative consent standard, consent is a knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision to engage in sexual activity. It can be expressed through words or actions that clearly convey permission. Silence or lack of resistance alone does not demonstrate consent. Consent may be withdrawn at any time. A person who is unconscious, asleep, involuntarily restrained, or otherwise incapacitated cannot give consent. These words are not abstractions. They control whether conduct falls within policy, whether an investigator credits or discounts messages and witness accounts, and ultimately whether a hearing panel finds responsibility.

Who We Advise and How We Approach These Cases

Saland Law advocates for both complainants and respondents. For a complainant, success may mean obtaining timely supportive measures, a no contact directive with real teeth, and a fair process that culminates in appropriate sanctions and remedies. For a respondent, success begins with immediate preservation of exculpatory evidence, calibrated engagement with the investigator, and a defense that places each allegation against the correct standard of proof and policy definition. For either role, our approach is the same. We pair careful legal analysis with strategic case management. We engage early, manage communications, secure digital evidence and metadata, prepare you for interviews and hearing questions, and document every procedural misstep to preserve your right to appeal.

Evidence, Messages, and Preserving Your Digital Story

Many campus cases turn on digital evidence and witnesses. Texts, DMs, social posts, photos, time stamps, Uber receipts, key-fob logs, class attendance scans, and location data can corroborate consent, incapacitation, timing, or motive. We instruct clients to stop deleting, stop commenting, and stop posting. We collect evidence in native format, preserve metadata, and create a timeline that aligns digital artifacts with witness statements. We anticipate the opposing narrative and proactively surface inconsistencies. We analyze whether evidence is relevant and whether any exclusion rules apply. We also look for policy-based objections, such as limitations on prior sexual history or medical records.

The Investigation, Interviews, and Your Right to Be Heard

An investigator will gather statements and documents, then share a summary or evidence file for review. Complainants should expect to provide a clear chronology, identify witnesses, and detail requested remedies. Respondents should prepare a factual account that is specific and consistent. We vet your statement for accuracy and internal coherence, prepare you for interview techniques, and insist on policy-compliant procedures. When the university circulates the evidence for review, we submit written responses that correct errors, highlight gaps, and propose targeted follow-up. Your voice is heard most clearly in these written submissions.

Hearings and Findings at St. John’s

When a case proceeds to a hearing, St. John’s uses a trained decision-maker or panel. The hearing format addresses relevance, credibility, and whether the evidence meets the preponderance standard. Advisors may ask questions as permitted by policy. We plan for the hearing like trial lawyers. That includes crafted opening framing, a deliberate sequence of topics for questioning, impeachment materials ready to use, and a closing that ties policy standards to the strongest evidence. We also protect the record. Objections are made respectfully but specifically so that appeal grounds are preserved.

Remedies, Sanctions, and Impact Statements

If responsibility is found, remedies and sanctions follow. For complainants, remedies can include ongoing academic adjustments, housing changes, and restrictions designed to prevent recurrence and restore your access to education. For respondents, sanctions can include probation, transcript notations, suspension, or expulsion. We work on impact statements that are compelling and policy-appropriate. We also scrutinize whether sanctions align with guidelines and whether mitigating or aggravating factors were properly weighed.

How New York’s Affirmative Consent Standard Shapes Your Case

Because Article 129-B requires an affirmative consent standard, St. John’s applies a definition that emphasizes clear words or actions indicating permission to engage in sexual activity. That standard does not change based on anyone’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Consent can begin and then be withdrawn. Consent to one act is not consent to another. These rules influence how we frame messages that precede sexual contact, how we address alcohol consumption or intoxication, and how we evaluate whether a party reasonably understood permission at each step. They also guide how we question witnesses who observed interactions before or after the alleged incident.

What About Criminal Cases and Civil Exposure?

Campus processes and both criminal investigations and family court order of protection cases are separate. Statements you make to a university investigator can reach law enforcement. A campus finding can have immigration or licensing implications. For complainants, coordinated reporting can secure orders of protection and evidence preservation. For respondents, we evaluate Fifth Amendment risk, advise you on whether to make statements, and plan a strategy that protects you in both arenas. We also advise on defamation and harassment risks in related online postings, and we manage communications to avoid retaliation claims.

How Saland Law Builds Your Case

Jeremy Saland brings a prosecutor’s eye to evidence and procedure. For complainants, that means a trauma-informed approach paired with relentless attention to detail and safety. For respondents, that means disciplined case theory, meticulous evidence mapping, and focused advocacy at every step. We analyze the intersection of federal Title IX, St. John’s policy language, and New York Article 129-B. We translate complex rules into clear strategy, whether your objective is protective remedies, a fair and thorough investigation, a persuasive hearing presentation, or an appeal that corrects an unjust result. We also recognize that many Title IX matters involve sensitive personal histories. You will be treated with respect, your privacy will be protected to the fullest extent the process permits, and you will always know the plan before we act.

Evolving Rules, Stable Strategy

Federal Title IX regulations have shifted since 2020 and have been the subject of ongoing court challenges. Universities respond by updating policies and training. What does not change is what wins cases. Clear timelines. Preserved evidence. Policy-specific arguments. Professional, measured communications. Preparation for interviews and hearings that projects credibility and command of the facts. Whether the university emphasizes particular grievance steps or adopts revised training language, the essentials remain. We make sure the school follows its own policy, meets required timelines, and treats you without bias or predetermined judgment.

What To Do Today

If you are at St. John’s and a Title IX issue has touched your life, contact us. If you are a complainant, we can help you obtain supportive measures, document your experience, and present a strong, policy-grounded case. If you are a respondent, we can help you stabilize the situation, preserve evidence, and assert a reasoned defense that addresses consent, credibility, and context. Saland Law is headquartered in New York City and advises clients nationwide in university Title IX matters. The sooner we begin, the more options you will have and the more control you will feel.

Speak With a St. John’s University Title IX Lawyer

Your education and future are too important to leave to chance. Call Saland Law to schedule a confidential consultation with Jeremy Saland. Whether you seek protective remedies after sexual assault or need a defense to allegations of sexual contact without affirmative consent, we will guide you through each step, protect your rights, and fight for the outcome you deserve.