ACCREDITATION & STATE LICENSURE
When an accrediting agency issues a “show cause” order to a college or university alleging noncompliance with accreditation standards, the educational prospects and careers of the students enrolled at the institution are at stake. The Gallegos Legal Group has a record of success defending institutions before accrediting agencies ensuring continuous accreditation and consequently continuous eligibility to participate in the Title IV programs.
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MANAGEMENT & DEFENSE OF STUDENT GRIEVANCES
The focus by the media, Congress, and plaintiff law firms on student complaints and assaults has resulted in a growing number of student complaints. Students commonly bring these complaints not only directly to the institution but to third parties such as state and federal courts; state licensing authorities; accrediting agencies; the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights; and the media.
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FEDERAL STUDENT AID FUNDS
The ever-changing standards for eligibility for Title IV student aid funds require continuous tracking of regulatory rulemakings. Your institution needs an experienced attorney who remains up to date with the most recent version of regulations. The Gallegos Legal Group has the depth of experience you require to confidently make the decisions your institution needs to grow and plan for the future. Our firm can provide sound legal guidance on the gainful employment metrics, cohort default rate challenges, incentive compensation, 90/10 compliance, and drafting compliant student refund policies.
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EDUCATION LITIGATION & ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS
The Gallegos Legal Group brings a unique blend of civil litigation and administrative law experience. The firm has represented educational institutions before the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), accrediting agencies, state licensing boards, and the courts. Gallegos Law Group has 30 years of experience in USDE program review and audit defense and appeals. Our firm can provide your institution with focused and skilled advocacy. Even if you have conducted your own internal compliance reviews, you may be subject to an administrative action that could threaten your institution’s access to Title IV federal funds.
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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
The recently issued Violence Against Women Act regulations took effect July 1, 2015. These regulations impose new obligations that cannot be underestimated. Enforcement of institutions’ obligations stemming from VAWA and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act is at an all-time high with over 100 institutions currently being investigated for compliance for their response to reports of sexual violence. This includes investigations of elite institutions such as Dartmouth, Princeton, Harvard, Vanderbilt, and Brown. The Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Education recently reported that these investigations are taking, on average, over 1000 days to complete.
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CANNABIS LAW
For decades, the Gallegos Legal Group has offered expertise on how to traverse the intersection of federal and state law. Nowhere is that intersection more volatile than with the cannabis industry. We provide sound guidance on how to establish commercially viable, legally sound commercial interests in cannabis.