Title IX Defense for Accused College Students

Jason Thompson is a criminal defense lawyer. In Title IX cases he represents the accused student, not the school and not the student who made the complaint.

If your school has told you that you are the subject of a Title IX complaint, the decisions you make in the first few days matter most. Mr. Thompson advises accused students on their rights and on the mistakes that hurt them later, starting with the first interview.

What is Title IX?

Title IX is a federal law passed in 1972, ensuring all male and female students and employees are treated equally and fairly specifically in educational settings.

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Why an accused student needs an advisor in a Title IX case

Federal Title IX rules let a student bring an advisor of their choice to interviews and hearings. Mr. Thompson serves in that role. The school treats him as the student's advisor or support person rather than as an attorney, but he is closely involved from the investigation through the conduct hearing.

Many Title IX cases run alongside a criminal investigation, and a statement a student gives the school can end up in a police report. Mr. Thompson looks at the campus case and any criminal case together. Anyone contacted about a Title IX investigation should call him before saying anything to the school or the police. Parents often make the first call, and most families do the consultation together.

Mr. Thompson is a former prosecutor and one of the authors of the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association's sex crimes manual, Defending Sex Crimes: Strategies From Allegation to Resolution. Read his full background on the About page.

What should I do if I get a letter from a Title IX coordinator?

Call Thompson Law for a consultation as soon as possible, before you respond to the letter or agree to an interview. Every college that receives federal funding must have a Title IX coordinator, and a letter from the coordinator usually means an investigation has started.

The Title IX coordinator is not always a university employee. Some schools work with outside coordinators who handle Title IX matters for several campuses. Whoever sends the letter, the same advice applies: get a lawyer's guidance before the first interview.

Oregon colleges and universities where Jason Thompson can help as your student's Title IX advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:

  • Blue Mountain Community College
  • Central Oregon Community College
  • Chemeketa Community College
  • Clackamas Community College
  • Clatsop Community College
  • Columbia Gorge Community College
  • Concordia University Portland
  • Corban University
  • DeVry University Oregon
  • Eastern Oregon University
  • Everest College Portland
  • George Fox University
  • Heald College Portland
  • ITT Technical Institute Portland
  • Klamath Community College
  • Lane Community College
  • Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts - Portland
  • Lewis & Clark College
  • Linfield College McMinnville Campus
  • Linn Benton Community College
  • Marylhurst University
  • Mount Angel Seminary
  • Mt Hood Community College
  • Multnomah University
  • New Hope Christian College
  • Northwest Christian University
  • Oregon Coast Community College
  • Oregon College of Art and Craft
  • Oregon Institute of Technology
  • Oregon State University
  • Pacific Northwest College of Art
  • Pacific University
  • Pioneer Pacific College
  • Portland Community College
  • Portland State University
  • Reed College
  • Rogue Community College
  • Sanford Brown College Portland
  • Southern Oregon University
  • Southwestern Oregon Community College
  • The Art Institute of Portland
  • Tillamook Bay Community College
  • Treasure Valley Community College
  • Umpqua Community College
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Phoenix Oregon Campus
  • University of Portland
  • University of Western States
  • Warner Pacific College
  • Western Oregon University
  • Willamette University

Title IX (Title 9) allegations we defend

Sexual misconduct and sexual assault allegations: Including allegations of date rape, unwanted contact at a party, and false accusations made after a breakup. When police are also investigating, Mr. Thompson defends the criminal case as well.

Sexual harassment complaints: Complaints about messages, comments, or conduct toward another student or an employee.

Online photos and videos: Allegations that a student shared, or threatened to share, intimate images. These can also lead to internet crime charges.

Fraternity, sorority, and athletics cases: Allegations tied to Greek life events, and cases against student athletes, where team rules and eligibility add another layer.

What working with Mr. Thompson looks like

  • 25 years as a lawyer in Oregon state and federal courts
  • Former prosecutor with the Marion County and Multnomah County District Attorney's Offices
  • Former Oregon Supreme Court judicial law clerk to the Honorable Paul J. De Muniz
  • Consultations by phone or video, so students do not need to travel to Salem
  • Reachable after hours by existing clients when an emergency comes up

For students at specific schools, see our college student defense pages, starting with Oregon State University.

If you or your son or daughter has been accused in a Title IX case at an Oregon college, call Jason Thompson at (503) 763-3537 or send us a message. What you tell us stays confidential.