Title IX procedures are not presented as traditional legal proceedings, and indeed, there is no requirement for the accused to have legal representation. Nor, if they do hire an attorney, will the attorney be able to take on the same role they might in a courtroom. But they are allowed an “advisor,” and that advisor can be, and should always be, a specialized Title IX defense attorney.nnWhen you are first called in and given notification that you can bring an advisor, your school might advise you to bring an uncle, a counselor, or even a pastor to hold your hand. But if you are being accused of sexual misconduct, you do not need a hand-holder. You need an advocate. You need an attorney.nnYou need someone who will help you in the investigation. Someone to guide you through the process, help you understand what is at stake, how to represent yourself, and what happened to you in the context of the Title IX hearing.nnWhat an advisor attorney can do depends on the school and their procedure, but their advice is invaluable. It should be mandatory and clear from the start that every kid accused of Title IX misconduct in California should have a criminal defense attorney at their side.nnEspecially because without one, neither the accused nor the alleged victim, nor either set of parents, might understand that other options are available.