Equal Justice University 2025

This interactive session will provide participants with the legal foundations and advocacy strategies to advocate for students facing school discipline and related delinquency charges in challenging circumstances. We will cover the due process discipline rights of all students facing suspension or expulsion in school settings. The session will also cover the rights, protections, and supports afforded to students with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA).  Participants will learn strategies for developing a strong discipline case from case selection and investigation through hearings and appeals. Participants will also have an opportunity to develop advocacy strategies for use in challenging discipline cases that may lead to charges in juvenile court, with a focus on advocacy in Threats of Mass Violence cases. Although the session will highlight Threats of Mass Violence cases, the principles will apply to any school discipline cases and related juvenile charges.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn the due process rights of students facing school discipline  
2. Understand the protections afforded to students facing discipline by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA).
3. Develop legal and advocacy skills to address challenging disciplinary cases in schools and in juvenile court

This session will explore a general overview of debt collection defense strategy and provide insight into what to look for when evaluating defenses in a variety of collections cases, including third-party debt collectors and original creditors.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identifying proper case/litigation strategy in third-party collection cases.
2. Understanding proper evidentiary objections and legal arguments in collections cases, as well as counterarguments from debt collectors.
3. Identifying separate strategies for original creditor cases, fraud cases, and collections scam cases.

Presentation on how to determine a debtor's eligibility for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy and basic bankruptcy rules that every advocate should know. Will discuss some common misconceptions about bankruptcy.