A Practice Division of Ratliff Jackson LLP

Student Rights Defense is a dedicated legal initiative of Ratliff Jackson LLP, a boutique litigation and defense firm based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. We focus exclusively on protecting students across New Jersey and Pennsylvania facing disciplinary actions, special education disputes, Title IX investigations, and academic misconduct allegations. Our goal is simple and unwavering: to defend the rights of students and safeguard their futures.

Founded by trial attorneys Terrell A. Ratliff and Samuel D. Jackson, Ratliff Jackson LLP is recognized for its strategic litigation, courtroom skill, and commitment to client-centered advocacy. Our student defense practice reflects those same values. We bring urgency, legal precision, and an unwavering focus on fairness to every school hearing, board review, or university proceeding we handle. Whether representing a kindergartner suspended for behavioral issues or a college student facing expulsion under a Title IX code, we approach every case with depth, care, and resolve.

Focused on Education Law. Rooted in Advocacy.

Unlike firms that treat school law as an afterthought, student defense is a core part of our litigation practice. We are well-versed in the procedural requirements of public school districts, private academies, charter schools, and higher education institutions. We understand how these systems function—and where they often fail to meet basic standards of due process.

We regularly handle:

• Short-term and long-term suspensions
• Expulsion proceedings
• Manifestation determinations under IDEA
• IEP and 504 Plan disputes
• Title IX investigations and hearings
• Academic dishonesty charges
• Appeals before boards of education or university panels

How We Advocate for Students and Earn Trust

When a student is accused of misconduct, the school system often acts quickly—sometimes before all facts are known. Many families do not realize how limited student rights can be during internal investigations or disciplinary meetings. We step in early, request all documentation, challenge unsupported claims, and make sure the student’s version of events is heard and respected.

Clients turn to us because we provide more than legal representation. We offer clarity during confusing processes, strength in difficult moments, and strategic guidance rooted in experience. Our firm does not take a passive approach. We prepare for every case with the assumption that your child’s future is on the line—because it often is.

Purpose-Driven Representation in Every Matter

Every student deserves to be treated with dignity, regardless of the allegations they face. At Student Rights Defense, we are committed to ensuring that fairness is not just a goal, but a standard. We do not back down when the stakes are high or the policies are stacked against our clients. Whether the issue involves an unfair suspension, a discriminatory application of school policy, or a mishandled Title IX case, we are ready to intervene, advocate, and defend.

While the practice serves students nationwide, it is firmly rooted in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Many matters arise in communities such as Camden, Cherry Hill, Trenton, Princeton, and throughout Gloucester County.