Higher Education Law

Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt P.C., maintains one of the largest and most successful higher education law groups in the Midwest. Our higher education practice includes representation of numerous colleges and universities throughout Missouri and Illinois.

In addition, the Firm is one of approximately twenty law firms in the nation that have been appointed to act as Select Counsel to represent higher education institutions insured by United Educators Insurance Risk Retention Group, Inc., the nation's largest insurer of colleges and universities.

The attorneys in the Firm's higher education group provide a full range of services to colleges and universities, ranging from day-to-day counseling on legal issues to representation in complex litigation. We regularly provide services in the areas of employment counseling and litigation, charitable giving, immigration, governmental regulatory compliance, health law, policy development, student disability issues, staff training regarding risk management and prevention, Title IX issues, constitutional issues and taxation. We regularly represent our college and university clients in federal and state court in employment litigation, including claims brought under Title VII and IX of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, Section 1983, and other civil rights statutes. Our attorneys frequently provide training to our clients in areas relating to employee discipline and termination, sexual harassment, student disability issues, tenure denial and revocation, campus safety, and other issues affecting college campuses.

Our Higher Education practice area is lead by Ian Cooper, a founding shareholder and member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys. Ian has nearly twenty years of experience handling complex trials and appeals, including higher education cases, in state and federal courts throughout the Midwest. Ian is lead counsel for both private and public colleges and universities in Missouri and Illinois on a wide range of issues, including student disability claims, sexual harassment claims, faculty contract disputes, staff discrimination claims, first amendment/academic freedom claims, and a variety of tort claims. Ian has also represented higher education institutions in matters involving college athletics, EEO compliance, and a variety of academic issues. Ian is a frequent lecturer and author on higher education issues and is active in the National Association of College and University Attorneys. Melanie Keeney leads our Immigration practice area and provides immigration services to numerous colleges and universities throughout the Midwest. Additional information about the Firm's immigration practice may be found in the immigration practice area description in this website.

In addition, our higher education attorneys include:

• Lisa Berns (Real Estate, Lending, & Finance)
• Amy L. Clendennen (Education, Higher Education, Litigation, Labor and Employment)
• Ian P. Cooper (Employment, Higher Education Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Tort Litigation)
• Laura E. Hemmer (Education, Higher Education, Labor and Employment)
• Margaret Hesse (Employment & Litigation)
• Rob Jackstadt (Construction & Litigation)
• D. Shane Jones (Labor & Employment)
• Melanie G. Keeney (Immigration, Education, Higher Education, Labor and Employment)
• Katherine L. Nash (Labor & Employment)
• Tom Tueth (Taxation & Employment)

The Firm's extensive experience in education law generally, and in representing colleges and universities, sets us apart from most other law firms. The Firm has represented the following colleges and universities in a variety of matters:

• Columbia College of Missouri
• Culver-Stockton College
• East Central College
• Forest Institute of Professional Psychology
• Lincoln College
• Maryville University of Saint Louis
• Metropolitan Community College (Kansas City)
• Missouri Baptist University
• Missouri State University
• Moberly Area Community College
• Park University
• Rend Lake Community College
• St. Charles Community College
• St. Louis Community College
• Saint Louis University
• State Fair Community College
• Stephens College
• Southeast Missouri State University 
• Southern Illinois University Carbondale
• Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
• University of Missouri
• University of Central Missouri
• Washington University
• Westminister College
• William Woods University

Paralegals