By: Rebecca Berkowitz, Esq. College & Prevention Policy Attorney
MCASA is working with the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) to provide trauma-informed training for Title IX attorneys. This training facilitates students’ access to free, quality representation for their Title IX cases, ensuring that no student survivor has to face the process alone.
In 2018, Maryland passed a law stating that students reporting or responding to allegations of sexual misconduct on university and college campuses are entitled to legal representation at no cost. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will reimburse attorneys who represent students in these formal Title IX proceedings at the rate of $100 per hour. In addition to paying for attorneys, MHEC must also develop a list of attorneys who are willing to provide no-cost representation. Colleges are required to present this list to the students on both sides of the Title IX process. In order to be on the attorney’s list, an attorney must attend a trauma-informed Title IX training.
In conjunction with a local criminal defense law firm, Price Benowitz LLP, MCASA developed and provided two day-long trainings for over thirty potential Title IX attorneys. Training topics included trauma-informed interviewing, laws governing college response to sexual assault, and the anatomy of a Title IX case. Going forward, we plan to offer one attorney training each semester.
