The ABA Standards related to student complaints may be found at the ABA’s website. Any student at the law school who wishes to bring a formal complaint to the administration of the law school regarding a significant problem that directly implicates the school’s program of legal education and its compliance with the ABA Standards should do the following:
- Submit the complaint in writing to the ASubmit the complaint in writing to the Assistant Dean for Student Development. The writing may consist of e-mail, U.S. mail, or fax. If it is submitted by e-mail, which is the preferred form, the subject line is to read “Formal Student Complaint” to ensure appropriate attention.
- The complaint should describe in detail the behavior, program, process, or other matter that is the subject of the complaint and should explain how the matter implicates the law school’s program of legal education and its compliance with a specific, identified ABA Standard(s).
- The complaint must provide the name, official law school e-mail address, and a street address of the complaining student, for further communication about the complaint.
- Within three weeks after a complaint is received by the Assistant Dean for Student Development the student will be advised of the resolution of the complaint, any further investigation into the matter, or action the law school is taking to address the matter.
- The complaining student may appeal the decision or action of the law school to the Dean of the law school within ten days of being advised of the law school’s response to the complaint. The decision of the Dean shall be final.
- A copy of the complaint and a summary of the process and resolution of the complaint shall be kept in the office of the Dean for a period of eight years after the date of final resolution of the complaint.
Standard 510. Student Complaints Implicating Compliance with the Standards
- A law school shall establish, publish, and comply with policies with respect 1. A law school shall establish, publish, and comply with policies with respect to addressing student complaints. (A “complaint” is a communication in writing that seeks to bring to the attention of the law school a significant problem that directly implicates the school’s program of legal education and its compliance with the Standards.)
- A law school shall maintain a record of student complaints submitted during the most recent accreditation period. The record shall include the resolution of the complaints.