Contact
Office / (517) 994-1776
liz@education-rights.com
LIZ ABDNOUR, ESQ.
Liz Abdnour is an experienced and client-centered attorney and advocate who has committed her career to working towards justice and equality for students. Liz's legal expertise includes a vast array of education-focused cases, with claims asserted against schools and institutions in the areas of Title IX, educator rights and employment, special education, k12 school discipline, college code of conduct, disability rights, and childhood sexual assault.
For the first eight years of her career, Liz worked as a legal services attorney, representing low-income individuals in Ohio and Michigan in a variety of civil legal matters. Liz spent two years as the supervising attorney of a domestic violence and protection order clinic jointly operated by a legal aid organization and a law school. Liz then transitioned to working as an institutional equity coordinator and senior investigator at Michigan State University, handling investigations and training the campus community on civil rights and Title IX matters.
In 2018, Liz launched an education-focused law firm in Lansing, Michigan to fight for justice on behalf of student and educator clients. During this time, Liz assisted hundreds of clients with seeking justice for violations of their rights by their school, their university, or their employer. In 2023, Liz joined forces with AW to expand the impact of her experience and advocacy, now leading the firm’s Title IX and Education Litigation teams in Ohio and Michigan, and in federal courts nationwide.
Liz also provides investigative, consulting, and training services and is an experienced trainer, writer, and public speaker. The combination of Liz's legal experience and her years as an internal university investigator and administrator at Michigan State University during the height of the Larry Nassar investigation give her unparalleled expertise regarding educational institutions' obligations with respect to civil rights and Title IX response.
Liz is experienced and especially well-versed in institutional equity and Title IX best practices, investigation processes, party advising, and appeals procedures. Liz can easily identify flaws in institutional systems and policies and can assist with navigating the ever-changing waters of Title IX for students, educators and institutions.
Education
J.D., New York University School of Law
B.A., Michigan State University (James Madison College and the Honors College)
Bar Admissions
Ohio, Michigan
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio; U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; The Supreme Court of the United States
Pro Hac Vice Admissions
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana; U.S. District Court, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana; U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
Practice Areas
Title IX, Education Litigation, k12 Student Rights, Educator Representation, College Code of Conduct, Academic Misconduct, Childhood Sexual Assault
Representative Cases: HERE
Pro Bono, Professional, and Community Service
Current
Board of Directors, Michigan Disability Rights Coalition
Representative Assembly, State Bar of Michigan
Board of Advisors, The Firecracker Foundation
Board of Directors, MI AECRES (Advocating for Every Child's Right to Educational Success)
Board Secretary, February 2021 to present
Member, Michigan Parent Advocate & Attorney Coalition (MiPAAC)
Past
Board of Directors, The Firecracker Foundation
2019 Dubey-Zerka Award of Volunteer Excellence
Board Secretary, January 2019 to December 2019
Board President, March 2016 to December 2017
Member, Michigan 8th Congressional District Title IX Advisory Board to U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin
Member, Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services
Volunteer Attorney, We The Action
Cooperating Attorney, ACLU of Michigan
State Bar of Michigan
Young Lawyers Section Executive Council
Standing Committee on Domestic Violence
Access to Justice Initiative
Representative Assembly, Member (Appointment for 2024)
Pro Bono Attorney, Michigan Women's Justice and Clemency Project
Mentor, MSU Women's Networking Association
Member, Michigan Education Association
Barrister, American Inns of Court
Thomas M. Cooley American Inn of Court
Potter Stewart American Inn of Court
Member, Ingham County Equal Opportunity Committee
National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW 2320) - Legal Services Workers of South Central Michigan
Executive Committee
Bargaining Committee
Mentor, Supreme Court of Ohio Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program
Ambassador Board, 4C for Children
Red Shoe Crew, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati
Volunteer, Save the Animals Foundation
Volunteer Mediator, Manhattan Small Claims Court
Crisis Intervention Volunteer, MSU Safe Place
Volunteer, Cuban and Haitian Program at the former International and Refugee Services of Lansing (now St. Vincent Catholic Charities)
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Presentations & Trainings
“Title IX Coordinator Virtual Training." Co-facilitator: Tawny Alonzo. Live webinar with Title IX Solutions, LLC; February 2024.
"Defining Title IX: Where does it fit within the Sexual Violence Response Framework?" Co-facilitator: Patrick Mathis, Esq. Live webinar with EVAWI, December 2023.
"Title IX Planning Training." Co-facilitator: Tawny Alonzo. Live webinar with Title IX Solutions, LLC, for Coastal Bend College, Beeville, Texas, October 2023.
"Title IX Investigator Training." Co-facilitator: Tawny Alonzo. Presented by Title IX Solutions, LLC, for Ligonier Valley School District, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, August 2023.
"Title IX Investigator Training." Co-facilitator: Tawny Alonzo. Title IX Solutions, LLC's Title IX Regional Event hosted by Southern Adventist University, Keene, Texas, August 2023.
"Current Title IX Legal, Social, and Policy Issues in the U.S. and at Michigan State University." Guest lecture for Dr. Susan Stein-Roggenbuck's Sexual Politics class at Michigan State University, April 2023.
"Title IX Investigator Training." Co-facilitator: Tawny Alonzo. Presented by Title IX Solutions, LLC for St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York, March 2023.
"Role of the Title IX Investigator." Recorded webinar for Title IX Solutions, LLC's Foundational Investigator certification course, September 2022.
"Plotting the Course: Investigation Preparation." Live webinar for Title IX Solutions, LLC's Title IX in Motion virtual conference, August 2022.
"Title IX and Sex Discrimination in Schools." Live webinar for Oakland County Bar Association Employment Law Committee, May 2022.
"Title IX - It’s Not Just About Athletics. What You Need to Know." Co-facilitator: Karen Truszkowski, Esq. Live webinar for the Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter, April 2022.
"Michigan Special Education Law." Co-facilitator: Jacquelyn Babinski, Esq. Live and recorded webinar with National Business Institute, February 2022.
"The Role of a Title IX Investigator." Live webinar with Title IX Solutions, LLC for Twin Rivers Unified School District, McClellan Park, California, January 2022.
"Title IX Investigator Training: Investigation Planning & Design." Live and recorded webinar with Title IX Solutions, LLC, November 2021.
"Current Title IX Legal, Social, and Policy Issues in the U.S. and at Michigan State University." Remote guest lecture for Dr. Susan Stein-Roggenbuck's Sexual Politics class at Michigan State University, April 2021.
"FAQ with Professional Title IX Advisors." Co-facilitator: Susanna Murphy, Esq. Recorded webinar for Title IX Solutions, LLC's Stepping Up: Become an Effective Title IX Advisor course, March 2021.
"Sex Discrimination in Educational Settings: Title IX, Clery, and Other Civil Rights Remedies." Live webinar for Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence and YWCA of Kalamazoo staff, Lansing, Michigan, August 2020.
"Title IX Investigations in the K-8 Setting." Co-facilitator: Amanda McLain Barratt, LMSW. Live webinar for Honey Creek Community School staff, Lansing, Michigan, March 2020.
"Title IX Advocacy." Co-facilitator: Amanda McLain Barratt, LMSW. The Firecracker Foundation New Advocate Training, Holt, Michigan, October 2019.
"Cultivating a Culture of Equity." Panel discussion with Emily Dievendorf, Lejla Bajgoric, Anthony Lewis, and Charity Dean, Esq. Michigan Municipal League Annual Convention, Detroit, Michigan, September 2019.
"Diversity, Equity, and Unconscious Bias: How We Create an Inclusive Environment and Employ People Who Represent the Community We Serve in Higher Education and Other Public Entities." Co-facilitator: Mwanaisha Sims, Esq. American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity (AAAED) National Conference and Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, June 2019.
"Sexual Violence and Institutions (Prevention, Policy, and Procedure)." Recorded guest lecture for Dessie Clark's Sexual Violence Against Women and Children: Theory and Response class at Michigan State University, June 2019.
"Current Title IX Legal, Social, and Policy Issues in the U.S. and at Michigan State University." Guest lecture for Dr. Susan Stein-Roggenbuck's Sexual Politics class at Michigan State University, April 2019.
"Know Your Title IX Rights." 26th Annual Dia De La Mujer Conference, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, April 2019.
"Title IX Advocacy." Co-facilitators: Amanda McLain Barratt, LMSW and Leah Short. The Firecracker Foundation New Advocate Training, Holt, Michigan, March 2019.
"Special Education and Title IX: Addressing the Needs of Students With Disabilities Who Have Also Experienced Sex-Based Harassment or Assault." Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 2019.
"Special Education: Advocacy Strategies and Best Practices." Michigan Poverty Law Program Roadshow Training, Okemos, Michigan, October 2018.
"JMC Policy in Practice." Panel discussion with Sharon Ladenson and Emily Dievendorf. Michigan State University, James Madison College incoming freshmen, East Lansing, Michigan, August 2018.
"Hot Topic: Successfully Navigating #MeToo Under Title IX and ELCRA." Co-facilitators: Sylvia Elliott, Esq., and Kristina Bilowus, Esq. State Bar of Michigan Young Lawyers Section Annual Summit, Harbor Springs, Michigan, June 2018.
"Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct, Anti-Discrimination Policy, and Mandatory Reporting Training." Michigan State University.
Department of Religious Studies faculty and staff, February 2018
Department of Supply Chain Management faculty and staff, February 2018
Department of Physiology faculty and staff, January 2018
MSU Extension faculty and staff, January 2018
Department of Physics and Astronomy faculty and staff, October 2017
Department of Community Sustainability faculty and staff, October 2017
Department of Chemistry faculty and staff, October 2017
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty and staff, October 2017
Department of Integrative Biology faculty and staff, September 2017
MSU Health Team faculty and staff, September 2017. Co-facilitator: Lynn Kriser, Esq.
School of Packaging faculty and staff, September 2017
Department of Statistics and Probability faculty and staff, September 2017
Neuroscience Program faculty and staff, August 2017
Residential and Hospitality Services Culinary Services student supervisors, August 2017
Academic Orientation Program staff and student employees, June 2017 (two sessions)
James Madison College Inclusion Committee faculty and students, April 2017
College of Human Medicine academic administrators, October 2016
James Madison College academic administrators, September 2016
MSU Union staff, September 2016. Co-facilitator: Jessica Norris.
Honors College academic administrators and staff, August 2016
"Quick Start: Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct, Anti-Discrimination Policy, and Mandatory Reporting Training." Michigan State University, Graduate School new faculty, instructors, and graduate assistants.
January 2018
August 2017
August 2015
"The Rules of the Game: MSU Athletes and the RVSM Policy." Michigan State University.
Student athletes from multiple teams, September 2017
Women's volleyball team athletes, October 2016
Men's ice hockey team athletes, October 2016
Track and field and cross country team athletes, September 2016. Co-facilitator: Dr. Ande Durojaiye.
Women's gymnastics team athletes, September 2016
Varsity rowing team athletes, August 2016
Men's golf team athletes, August 2016
"Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct and Anti-Discrimination Policy Training." Michigan State University, Dow STEM and Neighborhood Student Success Scholars (NSSC) Spartan Success Mentors, August 2017.
"Title IX and Civil Rights Legal, Social, and Policy Issues at Michigan State University." Co-facilitator: Lauren Spencer, Esq. Guest lecture for Dr. Susan Stein-Roggenbuck's Sexual Politics: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives class at Michigan State University, April 2017.
"MSU Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct and Anti-Discrimination Policy Training."
East Lansing Islamic Center community members, March 2017
Spartan Village Community Inclusion Forum, East Lansing, Michigan, November 2016. Co-facilitator: Mwanaisha Sims, Esq.
"Careers in Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education." Michigan State University, Kappa Alpha Phi Pre-Law Co-Ed Fraternity, February 2017.
"Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct, Anti-Discrimination Policy, Mandatory Reporting, and Sexual Assault Response and Resources Training." Co-facilitator: Tana Fedewa, LMSW. Michigan State University, Honors College faculty and students, November 2016.
"Title IX and Civil Rights Legal, Social, and Policy Issues at Michigan State University." Co-facilitator: Lauren Spencer, Esq. Guest lecture for Dr. Julia Grant's Senior Seminar in Social Relations: Issues in Higher Education class at Michigan State University, October 2016.
"Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, Bias, Relationship Violence, and Sexual Misconduct Training." Michigan State University.
Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention (SACI) volunteers
September 2017
June 2016
Residential and Housing Services Resident Assistants and Intercultural Aides, August 2016
Dow STEM and Neighborhood Student Success Scholars (NSSC) Spartan Success Mentors, August 2016
Residential and Housing Services Assistant Community Directors and Community Directors, August 2016. Co-facilitator: Mwanaisha Sims, Esq.
Residential and Housing Services Culinary Services staff, June 2016
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and MSU Extension Michigan Mobile Boat Wash Project staff, June 2016
College of Veterinary Medicine support staff, March 2016 (two sessions)
Residential and Housing Services staff, January 2016
Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence (SARV) Prevention Program student facilitators, September 2015
MSU Greenline staff and student employees, September 2015
Dow STEM and Neighborhood Student Success Scholars (NSSC) Spartan Success Mentors, September 2015
"Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance in the Higher Education Context." Co-facilitator: Lazarius Miller. Presented to Mr. Miller's Student Culture and Higher Education class at Michigan State University, April 2016.
"Rethinking Communication Channels and Patterns to Promote Well-Being Among International and First-Generation Students and Their Major Support Units on Campus Seminar." Co-facilitator: Dr. Nancy DeJoy. Collaborative daylong student, faculty, and staff seminar facilitated at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, November 2015.
"Bias Incidents, Prohibited Harassment, and Sexual Assault Protocols." Michigan State University, Residential and Housing Services.
Resident Assistants and Intercultural Aides, August 2015
Assistant Community Directors and Community Directors, August 2015
Summer camp program staff, June 2015
"Immigration Remedies Available to Victims of Crime." Co-facilitator: Maggie Fibbe, Esq. National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA) Annual Conference, Columbus, Ohio, September 2013.
"Sobre las Visas para Víctimas de Violencia Doméstica." Co-facilitator: Lorena Mora-Mowry. Training webinar created for Mujer Latina Today, Cincinnati, Ohio, July 2013.
"Servicios de Ayuda Legal y Pruebas de Violencia Doméstica." Co-facilitator: Lorena Mora-Mowry. Training webinar created for Mujer Latina Today, Cincinnati, Ohio, June 2013.
"Legal Rights of Immigrants and Limited English Proficient Students." Sharonville Elementary School, Sharonville, Ohio, June 2013.
"Legal Obligations of Agencies Serving Victims with Limited English Proficiency." Alliance for Immigrant Women, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 2013.
"Education Disparities: Ensuring a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for Vulnerable Populations." Co-facilitator: Virginia Tallent, Esq. Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 2013.
"Special Education and School Discipline Law for Foster Parents." Lighthouse Youth Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, January 2013.
"Special Education and School Discipline Law for Parents, Foster Parents, and Children’s Advocates." Center for Family Solutions, Hamilton, Ohio, December 2012.
"Legal Rights of Immigrants and Limited English Proficient Students." Clermont County Mental Health Board, Batavia, Ohio, November 2012.
"Special Education and School Discipline Law for Guardians ad Litem." Center for Family Solutions, Hamilton, Ohio, May 2011.
“Special Education and School Discipline Law for Court Appointed Special Advocates and Guardians ad Litem.” University of Cincinnati – Clermont College, Batavia, Ohio, September 2010.
"Special Education and School Discipline Law for Children’s Advocates." Necco of Ohio, Springdale, Ohio.
May 2010
November 2008
"Legal Rights of Survivors of Domestic Violence." Women Helping Women, Cincinnati, Ohio, March 2010.
"Special Education and School Discipline Law for Foster Parents.” Child Focus, Cincinnati, Ohio, February 2010.
"Special Education Rights, IEPs, and 504 Plans." Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, February 2010.
"Special Education and School Discipline Law for Foster Care Case Managers." Hamilton Choices Independent Living Program, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 2008.
"Legal Rights of Immigrants." Academy of World Languages, Cincinnati, Ohio
February 2008
April 2007
Publications
Opinion | Extend right of Michigan child sex assault survivors to sue, Bridge Michigan, July 10, 2023.
Representing Employees of Educational Institutions In the #MeToo Era: What Employment Lawyers Need to Know about Title IX. Michigan Bar Journal, vol. 98, no. 6 (June 2019).
Viewpoint: It’s time for MSU to settle Title IX litigation with all survivors, Lansing State Journal, January 20, 2019.
Negotiating the Title IX Process: Practice Tips for Family Law Attorneys Representing Students. Michigan Family Law Journal, vol. 47, no. 2 (February 2017).
Remedies for Victims of School-Related Stalking: Title IX Lessons for Family Law Practitioners. Michigan Family Law Journal, vol. 46, no. 9 (November 2016).
Navigating Ethical Challenges: The Importance of Mentors for New Attorneys. Michigan Bar Journal, vol. 94, no. 11 (November 2015).
ABA YLD Annual Meeting in Chicago Seminar Report. Inter Alia: Among Other Things (Fall 2015).
Don’t Leave Them Behind: Education for Homeless, Immigrant, and Limited-English-Proficient Children. Clearinghouse Review: Journal of Poverty Law and Policy, vol. 48, nos. 5-6 (October 2014).
"Finding a Mentor: An Essential Tool for the New Attorney." Cincinnati Bar Association Report, June 2013.
"Immigrant's story mirrors others." Cincinnati Enquirer, September 5, 2012.