If you’ve experienced harassment from a professor, colleague, administrator, or student, you have legal rights under New York and federal law. Our sexual harassment lawyer represents educators, staff, and students facing misconduct in academic environments.
Knowledge should be the only power that matters.
Educational institutions should be dedicated to learning, discovery, and opportunity, but too often, sexual harassment corrupts these environments. The unique power dynamics in academic settings ,where faculty control grades, recommendations, and research opportunities, make these violations especially damaging.
At Megan Thomas Law, we help people throughout New York’s educational system take action against sexual harassment while safeguarding their academic futures.
While anyone can experience harassment, certain groups face heightened risks in academic environments:
Educational institutions have heightened responsibilities to protect these vulnerable populations from harassment and discrimination.
New York provides strong protections against sexual harassment in education:
These overlapping legal frameworks create multiple avenues for addressing harassment in educational contexts.
Schools, colleges, and universities have specific legal obligations regarding sexual harassment:
When educational institutions fail to meet these obligations, they face potential liability under both state and federal law.
If you’re experiencing harassment in an educational setting, these steps can help protect your rights:
Our team can guide you through these steps while protecting your educational or academic career.
Sexual harassment undermines the fundamental purpose of educational institutions: to provide equal opportunities for learning and growth. When harassment goes unaddressed, it doesn’t just harm individual students and employees—it damages the integrity of the entire academic community.
At Megan Thomas Law, we work with students, faculty, and staff to address sexual harassment while preserving their educational and career opportunities.
If you’ve experienced sexual harassment in a New York educational setting, contact Megan Thomas Law today for a confidential consultation.
Education opens doors to opportunity. We’ll help ensure those doors remain open for everyone, regardless of gender.
*The information provided in this post is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Viewing this post, commenting, or engaging with it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Yes. Under New York law, even a single serious incident can constitute actionable harassment. The 2019 amendments to the New York State Human Rights Law eliminated the requirement that harassment be “severe or pervasive,” making it easier to address isolated but significant incidents.
This is a common and valid concern, particularly in specialized academic fields. Both state and federal laws prohibit retaliation against those who report harassment in good faith. Legal remedies are available if you experience negative consequences for reporting. We can discuss strategies to minimize professional impact while addressing the harassment.
No. While harassment from professors, teachers, or supervisors is often highlighted due to the power imbalance, educational institutions must also address peer-to-peer harassment and harassment from third parties like vendors or visitors when they know or should know about it.
Title IX provides specific protections and remedies within educational institutions receiving federal funding. These include internal processes for addressing harassment and implementing accommodations. State and federal employment laws offer additional avenues, particularly for employees of educational institutions. These different legal frameworks can be pursued separately or in combination, depending on your situation.
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