Universities and Schools Sexual Abuse Lawyer

If you are reading this, you have likely carried a heavy burden for far too long. The pain, the confusion, and the sense of betrayal that come from experiencing sexual abuse are profound, especially when the abuse occurred in a place where you were supposed to be safe—a school, a college, a university.

It takes immense courage to even begin searching for answers and exploring your options for justice. That you are here, right now, is a testament to your strength and your resilience as a survivor.

At Greg Jones Law, we understand that this is more than just a legal case; it is your life, your story, and your path toward healing. Our purpose is not just to be your universities and schools sexual abuse lawyer, but to be your dedicated allies. We are here to listen with compassion, to provide a safe and confidential space for you to be heard, and to use our national experience to fight for justice on your behalf.

Why Choose Greg Jones Law for Your Sexual Abuse Case

Choosing a law firm to handle a matter this personal is a significant decision. You need a team that not only has the legal skill to win but also the humanity to support you through the process.

• We Listen with Compassion: From your very first call with us, you will find a team that is here to listen without judgment. Your free consultation is completely confidential and is a safe space for you to share as much or as little as you are comfortable with.
• Nationwide Experience: While our firm is based in Wilmington, North Carolina, our practice is national. We have represented clients from all across the United States, and we have experience taking on educational institutions of all sizes. We know their tactics, and we know how to beat them.
• We Work on a Contingency Fee Basis: We firmly believe that justice should not depend on your ability to pay. That is why we handle all school sexual abuse cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay us absolutely no attorney’s fees unless and until we win your case and secure compensation for you. There is no financial risk to you in seeking our help.

When you choose Greg Jones Law, we will handle every aspect of your legal claim—the paperwork, the investigations, the communications with the school’s lawyers—so you don’t have to. We provide you with regular updates, but we carry the legal burden so you can focus on yourself. Contact us today to discuss your case during a free, no-obligation case consultation. 

The Betrayal of Trust in a Place of Learning

A school should be a sanctuary for growth, discovery, and personal development. Whether it’s a kindergarten classroom, a high school sports field, or a university lecture hall, these institutions make a fundamental promise to every student and every parent: to provide a safe environment.

When that promise is broken by an act of sexual abuse, the harm cuts deeper than the physical and emotional scars. It is a fundamental betrayal of trust by the very people and systems that were supposed to protect you. This abuse can take many forms, and your experience is valid no matter what it looked like:

• Abuse by those in authority: A teacher, professor, coach, guidance counselor, or other staff member who exploited their position of power and trust.
• Peer-on-peer abuse: Sexual harassment, assault, or misconduct by a fellow student that the school knew about, or should have known about, and failed to stop.
• Institutional failure: A school or university that ignored reports, failed to properly investigate claims, neglected to perform background checks on employees, or fostered a culture of silence that protected abusers rather than survivors.

You may feel isolated, but you are not alone. Sadly, these situations are far too common across the country. And when they happen, the responsibility does not lie solely with the perpetrator. The institution itself has a profound legal and moral duty, and when it fails in that duty, it must be held accountable.

Holding Powerful Institutions Accountable: Your Fight is Our Fight

Pursuing legal action against a school district or a university can feel impossible. These are often massive, well-funded institutions with teams of lawyers and public relations experts dedicated to protecting their reputation and their bottom line. It can feel like a battle of David vs. Goliath, and facing that alone is a burden no survivor should have to bear.

This is where we come in. The team at Greg Jones Law has built a national reputation by standing up to powerful corporations and institutions on behalf of those they have harmed. We see schools and universities that fail to protect their students as no different from a pharmaceutical company that puts a dangerous drug on the market. They have put their own interests before your safety, and that is unacceptable.

We will stand with you, leveling the playing field and ensuring your voice is not just heard, but is a powerful force for change. We will handle the legal complexities, the aggressive tactics from the opposing side, and the day-to-day work of building your case, allowing you to focus on what matters most: your well-being and your healing journey.

Understanding Your Legal Protections

The law provides powerful tools to protect students and hold institutions accountable. You have rights, and understanding them is the first step toward reclaiming your power.

Title IX: A Federal Mandate for Safety

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a landmark federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. This includes sexual harassment and sexual assault.

Under Title IX, your school has a legal obligation to:

• Respond promptly and effectively to all reports of sexual misconduct.
• Conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into your complaint.
• Take immediate action to stop the abusive behavior and prevent it from happening again.
• Provide supportive measures to help you continue your education safely, such as changing your class schedule, housing arrangements, or providing no-contact orders.
• Protect you from retaliation for reporting the abuse.

If your school failed to meet these obligations, it violated federal law. This failure can be a cornerstone of a legal claim to hold them responsible for the harm you endured.

State Laws and Civil Justice

In addition to federal law, every state has its own set of laws that provide avenues for justice. While the abuser may or may not have faced criminal charges, you have the right to file a separate civil lawsuit.

A civil lawsuit is not about sending someone to jail; it is about holding the perpetrator and, crucially, the negligent institution financially responsible for the immense harm they caused. This is where you can seek compensation for your suffering and losses, and it is a process that is entirely within your control. We can pursue a civil case even if the police were never involved or if a criminal case did not result in a conviction. Your story and your truth are what matter in a civil claim.

What Does Justice Look Like for a Survivor?

Justice means something different for everyone. For some, it’s about ensuring what happened to them never happens to another student. For others, it’s about receiving the financial resources needed to rebuild their life. For many, it’s about finally having their story officially validated and holding the responsible parties accountable.

Compensation in a university or school sexual abuse case is not about putting a price on your pain; it is about providing the resources you need to move forward. We can pursue compensation for:

• Medical and Therapy Costs: This includes the cost of any immediate medical attention you required, as well as the ongoing and future costs of therapy, counseling, and treatment for trauma-related conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
• Pain and Suffering: This acknowledges the profound emotional and psychological trauma you have endured—the fear, the anxiety, the loss of trust, the depression, and the impact on your ability to enjoy life.
• Lost Educational Opportunities: Did the trauma force you to drop out of school, change your major, transfer to another university, or abandon your academic and career goals? We fight to recover the value of those lost opportunities.
• Lost Income and Earning Capacity: If the abuse and its aftermath have affected your ability to work or have diminished your future earning potential, we will seek compensation for those losses.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme negligence, courts may award punitive damages. This is not to compensate you, but to punish the institution for its reckless disregard for student safety and to send a powerful message that this behavior will not be tolerated.

At Greg Jones Law, we work tirelessly to help you secure a resolution that supports your healing.

Your Legal Journey with Us: A Step-by-Step Guide

The legal system can be intimidating, but we will be with you at every step, making sure you understand the process and feel empowered.

The Free & Confidential Consultation

This is our first conversation. It’s an opportunity for you to tell your story to an experienced and compassionate legal professional, ask any questions you have, and learn about your legal options. There is no pressure and no obligation.

Investigation and Case Building

If you decide to move forward, our team will launch a comprehensive investigation. We will gather evidence, such as school records, witness statements, personnel files, and internal communications. We handle all of this discreetly and professionally.

Filing the Claim and Negotiation

We will file a legal claim on your behalf and formally notify the institution. Most often, this opens a period of negotiation where we will aggressively advocate for a full and fair settlement that meets your needs. The vast majority of these cases are resolved through a settlement, avoiding the stress of a trial.

Resolution and Healing

Our ultimate goal is to achieve a resolution that provides you with a sense of justice and the financial security to support your long-term healing. Whether through a negotiated settlement or, if necessary, a court verdict, we will not stop fighting until we have pursued every avenue for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s natural to have questions. Here are answers to some of the most common ones we hear.

What if the abuse happened a long time ago?
Do not assume it’s too late. While there are laws called "statutes of limitations" that set deadlines for filing lawsuits, many states have special exceptions for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The deadline may be extended or may not start until you "discovered" the connection between the abuse and your current harm. Please, let us evaluate the specifics of your situation before you give up hope.

What if I don’t have any physical evidence?
This is very common. Abusers are often careful not to leave evidence, and survivors are not thinking about collecting it in the moment. Your testimony—your story—is powerful evidence. We can build a strong case around your account, supplemented by other evidence like school records, emails, and witness statements.

Will I have to face my abuser in court?
It is highly unlikely. The overwhelming majority of civil sexual abuse cases are resolved through confidential settlements long before a trial is necessary. Our goal is to achieve the best possible outcome for you with the least amount of additional trauma.

What if I reported it to the school and they did nothing?
This fact is not a weakness in your case; it is the very foundation of it. A school's failure to act on a report is clear evidence of negligence and a violation of its legal duties under Title IX. It strengthens your claim against the institution.

Greg Jones Law: Trusted Universities and Schools Sexual Abuse Lawyers 

You have already taken the most difficult step by seeking information. You have shown incredible strength in surviving and considering a path toward justice. You do not have to walk the rest of this path alone.

Let us be your advocates, your allies, and your fighters. Let us help you hold the responsible parties accountable and reclaim your future.

Contact Greg Jones Law today at (910) 251-2240 or through our online form for a free, completely confidential, and no-obligation consultation. We are here to listen and ready to help.

Your journey toward justice can begin with a simple, confidential conversation.