- Student-Defense & Education Counsel
When your education is on the line, you need focused representation.
A Students' Lawyer is the student-defense and education-law practice of Zachary Gaynor, Esq. I represent students and families in disputes with colleges and universities — from Title IX and disciplinary cases to academic dismissals, professional-program matters, disability accommodations, and claims against the school itself — in campus proceedings and, where warranted, in court.
A practice focused on students
I concentrate on education law and student–university disputes — not a side practice.
Campus proceedings to court
From internal hearings and appeals to litigation in federal and state court when needed.
Candid, direct assessments
A clear read on your options and risks before you commit to a course of action.
Confidential by default
Sensitive academic and disciplinary matters handled with discretion
From the first notice to the final ruling — here's where I step in.
Title IX & Conduct Defense
In the hearing as your advisor where the rules allow it, and behind the scenes where they don't — from first notice through the final appeal.
Academic Dismissal & Program Appeals
Appeals built on the school's own written rules and aimed at reinstatement — for undergraduates through medical, nursing, and law students.
Disability Accommodations (504/ADA)
Securing the accommodations the law requires, and enforcing them when the school falls short.
FERPA & Your Record
Getting the complete file, correcting what's wrong, and turning the record into leverage.
Court, When It's Warranted
Emergency injunctions, breach-of-contract claims, and civil-rights litigation in federal and state court.
Second Opinions & Urgent Strategy
A fast, candid read on your options before a deadline closes — even if you already have counsel.
Not sure where your situation fits? That's exactly what the Full Read + Game Plan is for.
A campus decision can follow a student for years.
A finding of misconduct, a dismissal, or a denied accommodation is not just a grade — it can derail a degree, a graduate placement, a residency or match, a professional license, and a career. Every case is intensely fact-specific, and the real stakes — lost time, a derailed trajectory, a lasting mark on a record — often cannot be reduced to a dollar figure. These matters also move quickly, on the institution's calendar and the institution's rules, and the windows to respond or appeal are often short and unforgiving.
My role is to level that field: to read the policies the school is bound by, protect the record, meet every deadline, and press the strongest good-faith arguments available — quietly inside the process where that is what the situation calls for, and in court where it is not.
Who I represent
Representation across the disputes students actually face.
Select an area to learn more, or view the full list. These summaries are general information about the matters I handle — not legal advice about your situation.
Campus Discipline & Conduct
-
Student-on-Student Conflicts & Bullying
A student defense lawyer on peer harassment: no-contact orders, mutual orders as quiet sanctions, ignored reports, hazing overlap, and Title IX limits.
-
Alcohol & Drug Allegations
On- and off-campus alcohol and controlled-substance allegations.
-
Hazing & Student Organization Discipline
Individual and organizational defense in hazing matters.
-
Academic Misconduct & Honor Code
Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, and unauthorized-AI allegations.
-
Student Conduct & Code-of-Conduct Defense
Defense across the full range of student code-of-conduct charges.
-
Title IX & Sexual Misconduct
Defense in campus sexual-misconduct investigations and hearings.
Academic Standing & Progression
-
Admission & Acceptance Rescission
A lawyer for admitted students on rescinded offers: senior-year grades, conduct allegations, social media posts, and the first days after the letter.
-
Leave of Absence & Administrative Breaks
A student defense lawyer on leaves of absence: voluntary and involuntary leave, medical leave, return conditions, and denials when you try to come back.
-
Academic Dismissal & Suspension
Dismissals, suspensions, and probation for academic performance.
-
Readmission & Reinstatement
Petitions to return after dismissal, suspension, or withdrawal.
-
Degree Revocation & Rescission
Defense when a school moves to revoke a conferred degree.
-
Grade Disputes & Grade Appeals
Challenges to grades alleged to be arbitrary, mistaken, or retaliatory.
-
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeals
Financial-aid SAP appeals to restore eligibility.
Professional & Graduate Programs
-
Professionalism & Fitness Concerns
Professionalism, conduct, and fitness-to-continue allegations.
-
Clinical, Rotation & Externship Failures
Failed or contested clinical rotations and field placements.
-
Graduate & Doctoral Program Dismissal
Master’s and PhD dismissals, qualifying-exam and advisor disputes.
-
Health-Professions Programs
Dental, pharmacy, PA, and allied-health program disputes.
-
Law School Dismissal & Academic Standing
Academic dismissal and standing matters in law school.
-
Nursing School Dismissal
Academic and clinical dismissals from nursing programs.
-
Medical School Dismissal & Remediation
Dismissal, remediation, and promotion-committee matters in medical school.
Student Rights & Accommodations
-
Student Government & Organization Issues
A lawyer for student leaders on election disputes, impeachment and removal, recognition and funding denials, and speech issues at public institutions.
-
Testing Accommodations for Standardized & Licensing Exams
Overview A testing accommodations lawyer works on a narrow problem with enormous consequences. A testing entity has said no, or has demanded more documentation, and a fixed test date is coming. Standardized and licensing exams are gateways. If the exam does not measure what you can actually do, that score follows you into admissions files…
-
Discrimination, Harassment & Retaliation
Discrimination and retaliation in the education setting.
-
Due Process at Public Institutions
Enforcing constitutional due process at public colleges.
-
FERPA & Education Records
Access, correction, and disclosure of education records.
-
Disability Accommodations — 504 & ADA
Securing and enforcing accommodations in higher education.
Litigation & Relief
-
Appeals & Court Review
Internal appeals and judicial review of institutional decisions.
-
Injunctions & Emergency Relief
Emergency court relief to halt or pause a school’s action.
-
Breach of Contract Against Universities
Claims that a school broke the contract formed by its policies.
-
Private Student Loan Disputes
Servicing, default, collection, and credit-reporting disputes on private loans.
-
Discrimination & Civil-Rights Litigation
Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504/ADA claims in federal and state court.
How an engagement actually works.
Every case is different, and timelines vary. This is the general approach I bring to a student matter.
Engagement in writing, then the record
Scope and fee are set in a signed agreement first. Then you send everything, and before any review begins I confirm the record is actually complete.
I read all of it
I gather the notice, policies, and record, identify every applicable deadline, and pinpoint where the school's own rules and the law are on your side.
A real working meeting
Not a consultation — a working session on your file. In person, by video, or by phone, with no time limit: straight answers and a plain list of what to do next.
Follow-up, then advocacy if needed
Seven days of follow-up email questions come standard. Some matters need sustained advocacy after that; many do not — and I will tell you which yours is.
Facing a deadline? The sooner we talk, the more options you have.
Most appeal and response windows are measured in days. If a school has made an allegation, issued a dismissal, denied an appeal, or denied an accommodation, reach out today.