ICS provides all manner of legal and consulting services for colleges and universities, including:
Student Affairs
We specialize in providing legal advice and consulting services on a wide range of student related matters including disability compliance, defending decisions to impose student discipline, drafting and assistance implementing student codes of conduct, complying with the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Rights, and defending complaints and audits by the Department of Education and/or Office for Civil Rights. We have broad experience working with behavioral intervention teams on threat assessment and also working with disability resource centers on matters involving accommodation requests related to service animals and emotional support therapy animals.
Employment/Personnel issues
Our team has decades of combined experience advising clients in employment matters. We provide legal assistance in employment discrimination cases, including defending complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and related state agencies. We also provide assistance in drafting and negotiating high level administrative employment contracts.
Faculty Matters
We are experts in providing legal advice on faculty matters including faculty grievances, allegations of discriminatory or wrongful treatment in the granting or denial of tenure, disputes arising from dismissal of tenured faculty members, and investigations in to research misconduct. We can also assist with drafting and implementing faculty related policies and procedures such as departmental bylaws and faculty handbooks.
Athletics
We provide guidance in all aspects of NCAA compliance, including representation should your institution face an NCAA investigation, public relations issues unique to college athletics, drafting and implementing athletics policies and procedures, and developing risk management and litigation avoidance strategies.
Public Relations
Often institutions need advice on sensitive public relations matters. We partner with institutions to assist in navigating these matters to ensure compliance with the law and protect against making statements that may negatively implicate an institution in the event of litigation.
Campus Police Departments
We have experience advising campus police on investigations and allegations of civil rights violations. We assist with training campus police on their vital role in Title IX and Clery compliance. We also assist with drafting and implementing general orders. We have successfully handled Department of Education Clery investigations, assessments and audits.
Minors on Campus and Camp Accommodations
We assist institutions of higher education in legal matters implicating ADA, IDEA and 504 as it relates to higher education institutions with expertise in these areas as they relate to summer camps and other issues that arise with minors on campus.
Climate Surveys
Climate surveys are powerful tools for administrators and school leaders to better understand the experiences and perceptions of students and/or parents or guardians. They are critical to highlight successes and strengths as well as identify areas for improvement. Climate surveys are most effective when they are conducted every two to three years to show progress in key areas. ICS assists school districts and institutions in the creation and implementation of climate surveys to assess and work to improve school culture.
Other Services
ICS is able to handle any and all litigation needs that may arise.
“Courtney is an experienced and effective legal counsel for any educational institution in need of training, planning and policy writing. For five years, she worked with me as in-house counsel for UTC. She was knowledgeable, hard-working and always devoted to protecting the University’s best interests.”
Dr. Roger G. Brown Chancellor Emeritus, University of Tennessee Chattanooga
