Legal Advice for Massachusetts University Students
With hundreds of thousands of college and university students in the Greater Boston area, Massachusetts has a rich tradition as an American leader in higher education. For many students, however, a criminal charge can threaten your academic standing or scholarship. If you attend a college or university in Massachusetts and stand accused of a felony or misdemeanor offense, contact a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney at the Boston law firm of Thomas McKean.
Depending on your particular institution and the specific offense charged, a criminal conviction can lead to academic discipline, loss of a scholarship, removal from a dormitory or student housing, or even expulsion. A criminal record will also undermine your chances for admission to a professional or graduate school, and will also complicate your admission to professions such as law, teaching, nursing, or accounting once your formal education is complete.
At the law firm of Thomas McKean, we work with you and your school so that the collateral consequences of your criminal defense situation can be minimized and contained. Due process rights vary a great deal from one institution to another, and it is not always possible to assure the appearance of counsel on your behalf at an academic disciplinary hearing. In cases where you have no right to a lawyer's support at your hearing, we make sure that you are thoroughly prepared and ready to present your own strongest arguments and respond effectively to the academic charges against you.
We represent students, including those from foreign countries, at public and private institutions of higher learning throughout Massachusetts who are subject to adverse action for such criminal offenses as the following:
- Drunk driving
- Drug possession or distribution
- Violent crimes or sex offenses
- Underage drinking
- Internet crimes involving gambling, fraud or harassment
At the criminal defense firm of Thomas McKean, our goal is to protect your academic status while working to resolve your criminal case on the most favorable terms possible. Our familiarity with the full range of alternative sentencing options can give you a significant advantage on both fronts. For a free consultation about our ability to represent university and college students effectively, contact Boston criminal defense lawyer Thomas McKean.
