Clemson Student Defense Lawyer

Every academic year, over 23,000 undergraduate students come to Clemson to study and socialize at the city’s eponymous university. While attending college is an exciting and immensely influential period in a young person’s life, it can also be one that sometimes inspires unwise decisions, sometimes ending in student conduct hearings or even criminal charges.

Being arrested or accused of a conduct violation while at school does not always mean the end of your educational pursuits, but it is a serious circumstance that warrants representation from a skilled defense attorney. By retaining a Clemson student defense lawyer who has handled cases like yours successfully in the past, you could significantly boost your chances of securing a favorable resolution that does not unduly impact your academic or professional opportunities.

Dealing with Criminal Charges on Campus

Almost every college student in the United States is old enough to be tried as an adult if they violate state criminal law, which means that even minor misdemeanor charges could have lasting consequences. Some of the charges with which Clemson student defense attorneys commonly help students include:

• Underage possession of alcohol
• Providing alcohol to a minor
• Fake ID possession
• Simple marijuana possession
• Unlawful possession of a controlled prescription medication, like Adderall
• Drug paraphernalia
• Disorderly conduct and/or public intoxication
• Simple assault
• Criminal sexual conduct

Many college students who get arrested for offenses like those listed above have never been in legal trouble before, so the prospect of going to court and facing a judge can understandably be an intimidating one. Assistance with managing concerns and expectations is one of many reasons why retaining knowledgeable legal counsel can be so important to protecting a young person’s future prospects in this kind of situation.

Depending on the circumstances, a dedicated attorney may be able to secure participation in a pre-trial intervention program as an alternative to criminal prosecution for first-time offenders. Once an individual completes the program by fulfilling community service requirements, paying restitutive fines, and/or attending counseling, their charges could be dropped without giving them a criminal record.

How Student Conduct Proceedings Differ from Criminal Trials

In many cases, arrests for criminal behavior that occurs on or off campus may result in disciplinary action from the Clemson University Office of Community and Ethical Standards, a division of Student Affairs responsible for enforcing the Student Code of Conduct. Importantly, conduct hearings have a less strict standard of proof than criminal trials, so even if a student’s criminal charges do not result in a conviction, they could still face sanctions at school.

In addition, students who are subject to disciplinary proceedings at school do not have the same guaranteed Constitutional rights that they would in criminal court, and student defense lawyers cannot accompany Clemson students into meetings with a student judicial board. It is important to work with a qualified legal representative while preparing a defense strategy for these hearings, especially if they occur at the same time as a related criminal trial.

Talk to a Clemson Student Defense Attorney Today

Not every mistake made in college will or should have permanent consequences, but that can unfortunately be the case sometimes when students do things that constitute a violation of state law. Fortunately, you have help available from dedicated legal professionals with experience guiding Clemson students through both the student conduct process and proceedings in state criminal courts.

A Clemson student defense lawyer could be the steadfast ally you or your child needs to effectively fight your case. Call today.