Grievance Procedure–Law School

Students with disabilities who believe they have received inappropriate treatment or inadequate service from the Law School pertaining to their granted accommodations have the right to file a grievance with the Law Dean of Students. The grievance must be submitted in writing to the Law Dean of Students and should include a detailed description of the inappropriate or inadequate service and supporting documentation (when appropriate). Students with disabilities must indicate the resolution they are seeking.

Students with disabilities who are unsatisfied with the response from the Law Dean of Students may submit an appeal within 5 business days to an Academic Associate Dean, attention Law Deans Office, 4th Floor, 120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108, 617-573-8155. Students with disabilities must state the resolution they are seeking. The decision of the appeal by the Associate Academic Dean is final.

Grievances Related to Students Enrolled in an Online Program

Suffolk University is approved to operate in Massachusetts SARA by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) to offer distance education in SARA member states and territories. Consistent with 610 CMR 12.00 [PDF], students must attempt to resolve complaints at the institutional level.

For Massachusetts Residents and Online Students in Non-SARA Member States and Territories

After you have exhausted the Disability Services appeal procedures made available by Suffolk University Law School, described above, if your complaint has not been resolved, you may file a consumer complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) by using the AGO’s consumer complaint form. The AGO consumer complaint form should be used by students who are located in:

  • Massachusetts
  • Non-SARA Member States or Territories (e.g., California, Guam, etc.)

For Online Students Located in SARA Member States and Territories

After you have exhausted the Disability Services appeal procedures made available by Suffolk University Law School, described above, if your complaint has not been resolved, you may file a complaint with the DHE by using the SARA complaint form. The DHE SARA complaint form should be used by students who are located in SARA member states and territories. This includes all students who are located in SARA member states and territories for the purposes of completing out-of-state learning placements, such as internships, practica, clinical experiences, etc. in SARA member states and territories outside Massachusetts.

Additional information from the DHE’s SARA complaint website:

The SARA complaint process is as follows:

  1. Students must first attempt to resolve their complaint using internal administrative procedures offered by the SARA institution.
  2. After all administrative remedies have been exhausted with the MA-SARA institution, the student may submit a SARA Complaint via the URL below.
  3. The Department shall send a copy of the complaint to the institution that is the subject of the complaint;
  4. Within 30 days of the date that the Department sends a copy of the complaint to the institution, the institution must provide a written response to the student and the Department.

More information about DHE’s complaint processes can be found in this [PDF].