Risk Prevention Case Study

Agents of a higher education institution may be held legally accountable for failing to meet or violating legal responsibilities. Legal counsel provides services to postsecondary institutions to both address current legal issues and minimize or deter legal disputes. Student affairs professionals should understand the sources of laws that apply to colleges and universities, including federal, state, and local governments and how they affect their job. Counsel will expect university employees to practice the concepts of preventive law and liability risk. Additionally, student affairs professionals should have an awareness of litigation in the courts and alternative dispute resolutions.

Review the case of Orin v. Barclay.

• What were the different sources of law that were relevant to the case?
• Would dispute resolution have been a viable option? Why or why not?
• As a student affairs professional, which college staff members would you have notified prior to the event? What information would you have provided to them and why?
• What preventive laws would apply and how would these laws be applied to the college?
• Were there other areas of risk that were not addressed in the case? Explain.

Support your review with 3-5 scholarly resources.