Chopra served as independent counsel to the University of Virginia's Board of Visitors in connection with the investigation into the school's handling of sexual assault allegations that were reported in Rolling Stone magazine. The allegations set off a firestorm of criticism before the story was retracted.
Chopra worked on a review of the university's response to the allegations, determining their compliance with Title IX and the Clery Act, and presenting recommendations to the board, which the university is implementing.
Most colleges have been paying a lot of attention to this topic, said Chopra, who is O'Melveny & Myers LLP's Title IX expert and has the background to help colleges "from soup to nuts" in developing compliant policies.
"In higher education, the landscape is very different, and you have to appreciate that and incorporate it into your work in every different level," Chopra said. Unlike a corporate client, where you can say "here's your policy, get it implemented," in higher education, there has to be buy-in, town halls, and training around the policy, Chopra said. "There are pitfalls if you don't understand the higher education space."
From the groundswell of awareness around campus sexual assault comes litigation from both sides: If a student has complained and is dissatisfied with the response, there will be Title IX lawsuits, and if the respondent is held responsible, they may bring claims to challenge the due process applied to them.
The work requires the utmost in sensitivity, because the plaintiffs are young and have been through exceedingly difficult circumstances. "Having to litigate these cases requires a very sensitive, informed approach," Chopra said. "The truth of the matter is, being a woman helps. I think I bring the sensitivity to the practice and a legitimacy to the positions asserted in a way that is more difficult for men. It may be we all look at the world through a different lens, and I think I can be a more effective counselor and litigator for my client in this space."
- L.J. Williamson
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