Non-Discrimination Policy

Complaint Procedures

I.  The Law School Policy

Chicago-Kent College of Law of the Illinois Institute of Technology provides equality of opportunity in legal education for all persons, including faculty and employees, with respect to hiring, continuation, promotion and tenure, applicants for admission, enrolled students, and alumnae/i, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap or disability, or sexual orientation.

II.  Career Services Users Non-Discrimination Placement Policy

The policy regarding authorized users of Chicago-Kent's placement activities, adopted on May 31, 1990 and as amended on September 8, 1992 ("authorized users non-discrimination placement policy"), states as follows:

Chicago-Kent College of Law of the Illinois Institute of Technology provides its students, alumnae/i, faculty members, law school administrators, and other authorized users of its placement facilities, with equal opportunity to obtain employment without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap or disability, or sexual orientation.  Placement facilities and services of Chicago-Kent College of Law are available only to employers whose employment practices are consistent with this policy and are similarly non-discriminatory.

III.  Enforcement Procedures (as stated in the Student Handbook)

A.   Filing and Investigation of Complaints

• Goals.  The goals of the complaint procedure are conciliation and correction of abuses.  The decision whether to file a complaint against an employer is up to the authorized user who wishes to file a complaint.  The Assistant Dean for Career Services ("Assistant Dean") is available to consult with any authorized user who is uncertain whether to file a complaint.  The Dean in her/his sole discretion may designate someone else ("the Dean's designee") to fulfill the function of the Assistant Dean with regard to any of the complaint procedures set forth herein.

• Filing.  Any current student, alumnae/i faculty member, law school administrator, or other authorized user of the Office of Career Services who believes that an employer has violated her/his rights under the authorized users non-discrimination placement policy may file with the Office of Career Services a written complaint against the employer.  Any such complaint must be filed within 60 days after the complainant knew or should have known of such violation.

• Confidentiality.  Written complaints shall be kept in a confidential file in the Office of Career Services, and only the Assistant Dean and the Dean will normally have access to that file.  If an Ad Hoc Placement Dispute Committee is formed (see Section B below), it may have access to that file.  The identity of a complainant who has filed a complaint shall not be disclosed to any other person without the consent of such complainant.

• Investigation.  Investigation of complaints is the responsibility of the Assistant Dean or the Dean's designee.  Upon receipt of a complaint, the Assistant Dean or the Dean's designee ("Investigator") shall investigate the complaint.

• Remedial Measures and Conciliation.  The Investigator shall attempt to resolve the matter in a way that is agreeable to the complainant, the employer, and the Chicago-Kent College of Law.  If the Investigator determines that the matter cannot be so resolved, she/he shall notify the complainant and the employer in writing.  Whenever practicable, the notice should contain a brief account of the reasons for the Investigator's determination.

• Further Action.  If the complainant, the employer, or the Investigator is dissatisfied with the results of the complaint procedures, that person (or entity) may notify the Dean of her/his/its dissatisfaction.  The Dean may then review the matter and may attempt to resolve the matter in a way that is agreeable to the complainant, the employer, and the Chicago-Kent College of Law.

B.  Further Proceedings:

If the complaint cannot be resolved in a way that is agreeable to the complainant, the employer, or the Chicago-Kent College of Law, and if the Dean, the Investigator, and the complainant unanimously agree that further procedures should be instituted, the Dean shall appoint an Ad Hoc Placement Dispute Committee which shall further investigate the complaint and may conduct additional proceedings.  The Committee may determine that Chicago-Kent's authorized users non-discrimination placement policy has been violated and impose sanctions.  The composition and functions of the Committee, the procedures for conducting its proceedings, and the nature and the extent of the sanctions which the Committee may impose shall be determined by regulations promulgated by the Dean.

C.  Monitoring of Complaints:

At the end of each academic year, the Assistant Dean shall prepare a report of all complaints received and make it available to students and faculty of the School.  The report will specify the types of issues raised in the complaints and the number of times each issue was raised; it will not identify the complainants or employers.  Complaints will be kept on file in the Office of Career Services and monitored by the Assistant Dean and the Dean.  The Office of Career Services shall maintain the complete files created as a consequence of all complaints for not less than ten years.  If a pattern of complaints against an employer emerges over a period of years, the Dean in her/his sole discretion may take further action, including but not limited to the filing of a complaint based on the conduct complained of.

Career Services Office Complaint Against Employer Form

To file a complaint against a legal employer, you must complete the Career Services Office's "Complaint Against Employer" Form.  A hard copy of the form may be picked up in the Career Services Office, Suite 360.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeanne Kraft, Assistant Dean for Career Services.