Liz Abdnour, Esq.

Contact

liz@education-rights.com

Liz Abdnour is an experienced investigator, attorney, and consultant dedicated to helping organizations navigate sensitive matters with fairness, integrity, and professionalism. She conducts independent investigations, provides compliance guidance, and delivers training for educational institutions, nonprofits, and other organizations on Title IX, civil rights, workplace misconduct, discrimination, retaliation, employee misconduct, student conduct, disability accommodations, and related matters.

Before entering private practice, Liz spent eight years representing clients in civil legal matters before serving as an Institutional Equity Coordinator and Senior Investigator at Michigan State University. There, she conducted complex civil rights and Title IX investigations and trained faculty, staff, and students on institutional compliance and best practices.

In 2018, Liz founded an education-focused law firm in Lansing, Michigan, advocating for students and educators in education and employment matters. She later joined Abdnour Weiker, LLP, where she leads the firm's Title IX and Education Litigation practice while also providing independent investigations, consulting, and training through On Campus Clarity.

Liz's experience as both an internal investigator and attorney gives her a unique understanding of the legal, operational, and human considerations involved in complex investigations. Organizations value her ability to conduct thorough, impartial investigations while providing practical recommendations that strengthen compliance, promote accountability, and build trust.

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 Sixth Circuit
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
Superior Court of New Jersey

Presentations + Trainings

“Summer Webinar Series - The Appellate Decision Maker and Appeal Process.” Co-facilitator: Hon. Patricia Riehl. Live webinar with Title IX Solutions, June 2025.

“Re-Implementing the 2020 Title IX Regulations.” Co-facilitators: Patrick Mathis, Esq., and Susanna Murphy, Esq. Live webinar with Title IX Solutions, January 2025.

“Title IX at MSU: From Larry Nassar to Mel Tucker.” Guest lecture for James Madison College at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, November 2024.

"Michigan Special Education and Title IX Law and Practice." Guest lecture for Prof. Elly Jordan's Family Law: Child, Family, and the State class at MSU College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan, October 2024.

“Title IX Sex-Based Harassment; School Obligations.” Co-facilitator: Mark Weiker, Esq. AW Student Rights Conference, Southfield, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio, July 2024.

“Navigating the New Title IX Rule With Confidence: A Two Day Virtual Training Intensive for Higher Education.” Live webinar with Title IX Solutions, July, 2024.

“Title IX Coordinator Virtual Training." Co-facilitator: Tawny Alonzo. Live webinar with Title IX Solutions, 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 for Coastal Bend College, Beeville, Texas, October 2023.

"Title IX Investigator Training." Co-facilitator: Tawny Alonzo. Presented by Title IX Solutions for Ligonier Valley School District, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, August 2023.

"Title IX Investigator Training." Co-facilitator: Tawny Alonzo. Title IX Solutions, 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, East Lansing, Michigan, April 2023.

"Title IX Investigator Training." Co-facilitator: Tawny Alonzo. Presented by Title IX Solutions for St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York, March 2023.

"Role of the Title IX Investigator." Recorded webinar for Title IX Solutions, Foundational Investigator certification course, September 2022.

"Plotting the Course: Investigation Preparation." Live webinar for Title IX Solutions, 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.

"The Role of a Title IX Investigator." Live webinar with Title IX Solutions 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, 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, East Lansing, Michigan, April 2021.

"FAQ with Professional Title IX Advisors." Co-facilitator: Susanna Murphy, Esq. Recorded webinar for Title IX Solutions, 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, Ann Arbor, Michigan, March 2020.

"Title IX Advocacy." Co-facilitator: Amanda McLain Barratt, LMSW. The Firecracker Foundation New Advocate Training, Holt, Michigan, October 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.

"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.

"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, East Lansing, Michigan, April 2017.

"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, East Lansing, Michigan, October 2016.

"Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, Bias, Relationship Violence, and Sexual Misconduct Training." Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

"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, East Lansing, Michigan, April 2016.

Publications

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).