CLC to Represent Students at Expulsion Hearings : TRAINING ON JANUARY 11, 2012

The Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is starting a new pro bono program to represent students at school expulsion hearings.  On January 11, 2012, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee will offer an orientation and training session for lawyers who may be interested in representing students at these hearings.

Work on these cases offers excellent litigation experience, presenting the opportunity to interview and develop a working relationship with the client, investigate and develop the case, and conduct a trial-type administrative hearing with an independent hearing officer, presenting direct testimony, cross-examination of  witnesses, and opening and closing statements.  This is excellent litigation opportunity for lawyers who do not routinely get courtroom trial experience. 

These are short term commitments, typically requiring between 15 and 25 hours of work, completed over a period of three to six weeks. Pro bono lawyers who take on these cases will receive continuing assistance from the Lawyers’ Committee, form documents, and instruction materials. 

Representation of students at expulsion hearings will meet a crucial public need.  Expulsions in the Chicago Public School system are high and increasing at an alarming rate.  There were 775 expulsions in 2008, up from 172 eleven years earlier, in 1997.  Being expelled will often have devastating effects. Once expelled, students are likely to drop out. Without a high school diploma, in this economy, they have almost no chance of finding a job – they risk a ruined life of poverty.  Expelled students are at high risk for gang activity and future incarceration.  Representation at expulsion hearings is an important effort that can be made to break the school-to-prison pipeline.

In addition, school expulsion data show a problem of significant racial disparities.  In 2006, African-American students made up 48.5% of CPS’s students without disabilities, but they received 80.5% of the student expulsions.  The African-American expulsion rate was six times the rate of expulsions for whites.  These disparities are increasing.  According to Catalyst, more than 60% of expelled students in 2008 were black boys, up from 53% five years ago.  Representation of African-American students at expulsion hearings is likely to produce more equitable outcomes, reducing the level of racial disparity. 

To find out about representing students in these hearings and receive training, lawyers are invited to the orientation and training session on:

Wednesday, January 11, 2012  9:30 a.m. – noon

Held at:  Schiff Hardin, LLP

66^th Fl. Conference room

233 South Wacker Dr.

The Lawyers’ Committee expects to be able to provide CLE credit for attendance.

If you plan to attend, please notify Paul Strauss at the Lawyers’ Committee by sending an e-mail to pstrauss@clccrul.org or by phoning (312) 630-9744 ext. 229.  Questions should also be directed to Paul Strauss.