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Overview

Scott advises companies and educational institutions nationwide on a variety of complex legal issues with a focus on particularly sensitive matters like institutional response to sexual misconduct.

He is a prominent litigator as well as a sought-after advisor on Title IX, labor and employment law issues, and various risk management concerns. He has led numerous investigations of serial sex abuse allegations, allegations of misconduct involving senior leadership and other acts of institutional misconduct. He has also handled various high-profile program reviews of institutional response to sexual misconduct, racial discrimination, handling at-risk employees and students, etc.

Over the last decade, Scott has provided training nationally to thousands of personnel on a variety of issues, including Title IX; labor and employment law; faculty hiring, promotion and tenure processes; and Greek Life risk management. Scott also provides expert witness testimony on matters dealing with institutional response to allegations of sexual misconduct.

Scott regularly presents to national organizations, including the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA) Gehring Academy, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I), EDUCAUSE and various associations of independent schools.

Additionally, Scott is an award-winning professor at Tulane University, where he teaches on higher education and labor and employment law and created the Tulane University Law School’s Title IX certification program. Scott has been retained by the National Center for Campus Public Safety to serve as a faculty member for its Trauma-Informed Sexual Assault Investigation and Adjudication training program for campus officials. Scott also serves on the faculty for the State University of New York’s Student Conduct Institute where he provides training on informal resolution and restorative justice. 

He is nationally recognized for his contributions to news media, including NPR, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, CBS News and The Wall Street Journal.

Scott is rated by Martindale-Hubbell as AV Preeminent and has been selected for Best Lawyers in America© in Education Law and Labor and Employment Law. He has also been recognized by The Legal 500 for his work in education law. 

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • BL Rankings’ The Best Lawyers in America®Education Law, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, 2016-2023; Austin Education Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2023
  • Austin Monthly magazine, Top Austin Attorney, Education, 2019-2021, 2022

Education

  • J.D., Washington and Lee University School of Law
  • B.S., University of New Orleans
    • 1994

Admissions

  • Louisiana
  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Magna Publications Leadership in Higher Education Conference, Conference Advisory Board
  • NACUA Journal of College & University Law, Editorial Board Member
  • NACUA Annual Conference, Committee Member
  • NACUA Committee on Continuing Education, Committee Member
  • Louisiana Legislature Sex Assault Task Force Appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal to Represent First Congressional District on Louisiana Board of Ethics
Experience

Civil Litigation Experience

  • Successfully handled multi-million-dollar labor arbitrations stemming from public school board's alleged breaches of union contracts connected to natural disaster.
  • Obtained motion to dismiss on behalf of university in Title IX claim brought by disciplined student.
  • Achieved motion for summary judgment for private university when former student sued for breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation following dismissal from university.
  • Achieved denial of preliminary certification in national Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action on behalf of large, multi-state employer alleged to have not paid employees for required overtime.
  • Obtained summary judgment in Section 1983 case on behalf of city government accused of discriminating against employees on the basis of race.
  • Secured successful defense jury verdict in sexual harassment case involving employee allegations against national retailer.
  • Secured successful defense jury verdict in age discrimination case involving multiple employees impacted by reduction in force.
  • Achieved summary judgment in disparate impact Title VII case against multinational corporation.
  • Achieved summary judgment on behalf of national health services provider in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) denials of benefits case.
  • Successfully argued unfair labor practice charges in Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal stemming from shutdown of plant [Dorsey Trailers Incorporated v. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), 233 F.3d 831].
  • Secured successful defense jury trial verdict in age discrimination/retaliation case involving local aircraft services company.

Program Review and Investigative Experience

  • Conducted external investigation involving allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against Division 1 college basketball coach.
  • Led several Title IX compliance reviews on behalf of large public universities.
  • Conducted review of private university's policies and practices regarding racial discrimination following multiple reports of discrimination.
  • Provided comprehensive audit of threat-to-self protocols on behalf of private university following student suicides.
  • Handled numerous investigations into allegations of sexual and other misconduct on behalf of private and public educational institutions.
Webinar | August 2, 2022
What To Do Right When Things Go Wrong
Webinar | January 27, 2022
Issues in Higher Education | Navigating the Changing NCAA and Legal Landscape of College Athletics

Issues in Higher Education Webinar Series

Webinar | August 17, 2021
Informal Resolution Training for Student Misconduct and Title IX Incidents on your Campus

Registration for this training has closed. For additional information, please contact Emily Schumacher.

Webinar | December 15, 2020
Labor & Employment in Higher Education Year-in-Review 2020

Issues in Higher Education Webinar Series

Webinar | November 16, 2020
First Amendment Issues in Public Schools
Webinar | January 28, 2020
Restorative Justice as a Response to Campus Misconduct

Issues in Higher Education Webinar Series

Webinar | December 5, 2019
Annual Higher Education Labor and Employment Law Update

Issues in Higher Education Webinar Series

Webinar | September 25, 2019
The Landscape for Higher Education: Greek Life Issues

Issues in Higher Education Webinar Series

Speaking Engagements | July 29-30, 2019
Speaker, "Title IX Training," University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Seminars | June 12 - 13, 2019
Title IX Workshop - Austin
Webinar | October 29, 2018
Labor & Employment Law Update, October 29, 2018

Issues in Higher Education Webinar Series

Media Mentions | July 28, 2020
Austin Monthly: Austin's Top Attorneys 2020
News Releases | August 15, 2019
Husch Blackwell Places 143 Lawyers in 2020 BL Rankings' Best Lawyers in America®

The firm has eight "Lawyers of the Year" and 11 attorneys appearing on the list for the first time.

News Releases | August 06, 2019
Austin Monthly Names 12 From Husch Blackwell as Top Austin Attorneys

The Top Austin Attorney listing was compiled through an online peer-voting process.

Media Mentions | April 19, 2019
Daily Kos: Black Kos Week in Review
Media Mentions | November 27, 2018
Inside Higher Ed: What the DeVos Title IX Rule Means for Misconduct Off Campus

Colleges are likely to continue investigating off-campus sexual misconduct with implications for classroom environment despite changes advanced in proposed Title IX rule, higher ed lawyers say. 

Media Mentions | October 22, 2018
Chronicle of Higher Education: Federal Proposal to Redefine Gender Throws College Policies Into Uncertainty

Scott Schneider is quoted in an article about a Trump administration proposal to redefine gender and how it would affect Title IX protections at colleges and universities.

Media Mentions | August 30, 2018
Politico: Justice Department sides with group suing Harvard over use of race in admissions

Scott Schneider is quoted in an article about a U.S. Department of Justice court filing in a case involving Harvard's consideration of race in admissions.

Media Mentions | August 30, 2018
The Atlantic: A Step-by-Step Guide to Trump's New College Sexual Assault Policy

Scott Schneider is quoted in an article about the Trump administration's draft of proposed rule changes regarding college sexual misconduct.

News Releases | August 15, 2018
Husch Blackwell Places 143 Lawyers in 2019 BL Rankings' Best Lawyers in America®

The Best Lawyers in America® has listed 143 Husch Blackwell attorneys in its 2019 directory. The firm has eight "Lawyers of the Year" and five attorneys appearing on the list for the first time.

News Releases | 07/13/2018
Husch Blackwell's Higher Ed Practice Adds Scott Schneider in Austin

Scott Schneider is a nationally recognized attorney who focuses on higher education legal issues and institutional responses to sexual misconduct allegations.

Community Leadership
  • Lake Terrace Neighborhood Association, President
  • Loyola University Institute of Politics, Fellow
  • Louisiana CASA, Board Member
  • Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training Program, San Diego and San Francisco Marathons
  • UNO Metropolitan College Stand-Up Comedy Seminar, Graduate
  • Employment Law Mediator Training, ILR Scheinman Institute, Cornell University