Students

The educational environment faced by school boards, superintendents, administrators and teachers, as well as the students, families and communities they serve, presents constantly evolving challenges. Lozano Smith understands these challenges, as well as the sincere desire of each and every educational institution to provide the best possible learning environment for its students. Lozano Smith's Student Practice Group is recognized statewide for its steadfast, proactive and creative assistance to school districts and expertise on a broad range of student issues. Based on the expertise of attorneys in the Student Practice Group, the firm is able to provide legal services in a timely, cost-effective manner-something that is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for today's districts.

Areas of Practice

To best serve the needs and promote the success of its clients, the firm's Student Practice Group has broad expertise in:

Student Free Speech Rights
Student Publications
Dress Codes
Religion in Schools
Search & Seizure
Constitutional Due Process
The Equal Access Act
Jurisdiction to Discipline
Suspension & Expulsion
Expulsion Hearings
Rehabilitation Plans
Alternative Discipline
Expulsion Appeals
Involuntary Transfers
Continuation Schools
Student Fees & Charges
Student Records
Directory Information
Access to Records
Grade Changes
Custody & Education Rights
Caregiver Affidavits
Retention of Records
Public Records Act
Law Enforcement at School
Gang-Related Activity
Child Abuse Reporting
Megan's Law
Media Access to Campus
Community Day Schools
Compulsory Education
Student Residency
Residency Verification
Student Truancy & SARB
All Student Transfers
Open Enrollment
Extracurricular Activities
Student Athletics
Athletic Eligibility
Student Drug Testing
Title IX, Title XI, Section 504
Harassment & Discrimination
Cyberbullying
Graduation Requirements
Promotion & Retention

Real World Applications

The Student Practice Group at Lozano Smith understands the hurdles and opportunities facing its clients, and has an unsurpassed level of experience and expertise to protect the interests and promote the success of school districts, their staff and students. Of particular significance is the firm's leadership in student discipline matters. Lozano Smith regularly helps districts to develop comprehensive policies and regulations aimed at preventing student discipline problems, as well as all other policy issues impacting student rights, including student speech, student clubs, student transfers, and student fees, to name only a few. When discipline problems do surface, the firm provides practical advice and assistance as to all aspects of suspensions, expulsions, involuntary transfers and alternative forms of discipline.

In addition to opinion services and representation of school districts in all forms of student matters, Student Practice Group attorneys are well versed in assisting districts in interactions with organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and governmental agencies such as the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Student Practice Group attorneys also regularly present numerous seminars and in-service training to school districts on issues related to students, including sessions on cyberbullying, student records, religion in the schools, search and seizure, student discipline, and many other topics.