Lento Law Firm’s reviews showcase their strong presence in educational institutions of all sizes across the country. The firm represents students and faculty at more than a thousand colleges and universities throughout the United States. Joseph D. Lento, a 20-year old practice veteran, brings his passionate client advocacy to educational law matters.

Students and faculty members who face Title IX investigations or disciplinary proceedings describe their experience as life-changing. “Mr. Lento and his team have truly changed my life,” shares one client who needed help during a Title IX investigation that coincided with finals week. Many clients view Joseph Lento as “a dedicated lawyer who stands by his commitments and ethics”. Some clients have reported communication challenges after their original consultation. This detailed review of Lento Law Firm’s student defense services will help future clients learn about what to expect from this specialized legal team in 2025.

Who is Joseph Lento and the Lento Law Firm?

Joseph D. Lento is a powerful legal champion whose experience to becoming a respected attorney shows pure perseverance and determination. His path to success came through sheer grit rather than privilege or connections, unlike most prominent legal professionals.

Background of Joseph D. Lento

Joseph Lento, the first in his family to become an attorney, has spent 20 years promoting clients in some of the nation’s highest-stakes court systems. His legal education at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law demonstrates his remarkable work ethic. He attended night classes and worked full-time to support his dream.

Before his legal career began, Lento earned his Political Science degree from Villanova University and gained acceptance into the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School. His foundation of discipline and service orientation still shapes his approach to legal representation.

During his time at Temple Law, he dove into trial advocacy at the Defender Association of Philadelphia. The Honorable Nicholas A. Cipriani Scholarship recognized his excellence. These original experiences molded Lento into the fearless negotiator and steadfast advocate his clients trust today.

Overview of Lento Law Group and its mission

Lento built his own law firm from scratch and later founded Lento Law Group, P.C., which has handled thousands of cases nationwide successfully. The firm grew from Joseph’s vision to build a highly qualified team that shared his passion to defend the defenseless with unmatched results.

Lento Law Group’s principles stand out in today’s legal industry: hard work, outstanding customer service, respect, perseverance, and steadfast dedication to true justice. The firm puts its clients’ long-term well-being first instead of taking easy outcomes.

The firm’s commitment to excellence states, “Fighting the good fight – and our proven track record of success on behalf of thousands of clients across the United States – this is what indeed defines attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Group”.

Practice areas and national reach

Lento Law Group handles high-stakes litigation in many legal domains, including:

• Personal Injury and Civil Rights
• Municipal and Governmental Law
• Criminal Defense and Family Law
• Student Defense and Title IX Representation
• Mass Torts and Class Actions

Other law firms often ask Lento Law Group attorneys to help with cases heading to trial, thanks to their exceptional courtroom expertise. Joseph maintains active membership in several notable legal associations, including the American Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.

The firm’s widespread presence includes offices and licensed attorneys in multiple states, along with a network of nationwide affiliates. This extensive reach helps Lento Law Group promote clients effectively whatever their location, making them a true national legal resource for people facing challenging legal situations.

What Types of Cases Does Lento Law Handle?

The Lento Law Firm excels in multiple legal specialties. Joseph Lento and his team have spent nearly 20 years mastering complex cases that span several practice areas. They help clients with diverse legal challenges.

Student defense and Title IX representation

The Lento Law Firm leads the field in student defense work. They protect students who face disciplinary actions at educational institutions. The team defends students against accusations of academic misconduct, such as plagiarism, cheating, and other violations that could harm their academic future. The firm also helps students fight code of conduct violations like assault, bullying, and hazing allegations.

Title IX defense makes up much of the firm’s work. Joseph Lento started winning Title IX cases in the late 2000s, before these cases caught media attention. His deep knowledge of Title IX law dates back to its 1972 federal implementation. The firm now represents students and school employees nationwide in Title IX cases involving sexual misconduct, assault, rape, and harassment [20, 22].

Criminal defense and family law

The Lento Law Group creates custom defense strategies that aim for each client’s desired outcome in criminal matters. Their attorneys handle cases ranging from domestic violence to insurance fraud, including restraining order violations, criminal trespassing, assault crimes, domestic battery, and firearms violations.

Joseph Lento’s 20-year journey through various roles in the criminal justice system adds unique perspective to each case. The firm’s attorneys have amassed 100 years of combined experience. They challenge prosecution effectively by finding case weaknesses, filing evidence dismissal motions, and going to trial when needed.

The family law practice helps clients with child support, divorce proceedings, and domestic violence cases. Their attorneys understand these cases’ emotional weight and use their expertise to get favorable results.

Professional license defense

Professional license defense stands as the firm’s life-blood. Joseph Lento protects doctors, nurses, financial professionals, teachers, and others who face licensing problems. These cases need deep knowledge of legal principles and each profession’s specific rules.

These cases can affect financial stability and family security. The firm helps clients who face accusations of:

• Professional misconduct
• Ethics violations
• Alleged incompetence
• Regulatory infractions

Administrative and civil rights cases

The Lento Law Firm represents clients at administrative hearings and helps them through complex government processes. Their civil rights practice strengthens their education law work, particularly in Title IX and ADA litigation.

Joseph Lento guides professionals through board investigations with time-sensitive proceedings that often have significant procedural challenges. His expertise in these systems helps clients protect their professional standing and career paths.

Client Reviews: What People Are Saying in 2025

Client reviews on various platforms give a detailed picture of how the Lento Law Firm handles legal representation. Their 2025 reviews consistently show several strengths that set them apart from competitors in specialized legal matters.

Positive outcomes in student misconduct cases

The Lento team’s expertise and results earn high praise from students facing disciplinary proceedings. One client expressed deep gratitude after working with Thomas Terrill: “Thanks to his guidance and persistence, I was not only able to receive my degree, but my record was also cleared”. These academic misconduct cases can significantly impact students’ futures.

Parents recognize the firm’s strategic handling of academic institutions. One family said about attorney Tom Terrill, “He knew the school system inside and out, and his expertise was clear from the beginning”. The firm has helped graduate students achieve remarkable results, with one client stating Terrill “helped me to get an outcome from my graduate school that I didn’t think was going to be possible”.

Support during family and custody disputes

The Lento team’s persistence stands out in family law cases. A client described the firm as “the shining star that gave me hope” after nearly six years of custody litigation. Another client won full custody and received ongoing support: “Joe was there each time supporting us every step of the way… In the end we got full custody and Joe is still emailing to see how things are going”.

Clients describe the firm’s approach to custody matters as determined and dedicated. One client noted they “work tirelessly as a family member for the case they handle”. The firm’s ability to direct complex family situations has created many loyal clients.

Responsiveness and communication praised

Reviews consistently highlight exceptional communication. Joseph Lento “calls and actually follows up with you”, while others praise his “prompt, thorough responses” that help reduce anxiety during stressful times.

Clients value the firm’s accessibility:

• “He was very good about responding to e-mails within 24 hours at the latest and would even speak with me on weekends”
• “He answers any calls, texts, or emails immediately. Works on the weekends”
• “His communication skills are impeccable. There was never a time he did not respond to a call, text or email”

Clients highlight emotional support and empathy

The Lento Law Firm attorneys show both technical legal expertise and emotional intelligence. Many reviews describe Joseph Lento as having “a heart of gold” who “puts himself right into your situation”.

This empathetic approach brings relief to clients with professional license issues: “Mr. Lento and my personal attorney, Pierre Simonvil not only saved my nursing license from disciplinary action but saved me from losing the career and life I had worked hard to build”. Their combination of expertise and emotional support proves valuable during challenging legal battles.

The firm has built a strong reputation for understanding clients from all backgrounds. One review captures this perfectly, noting they are “not only kind, empathetic, respectful, humble, patient, courteous, but also determined”.

Case Studies and Real Results

Ground case results tell the story of a law firm’s capabilities. Lento Law Firm’s outcomes help clients learn about what they might expect when facing legal challenges like theirs.

Title IX case resolved with no record

The Lento Law Firm’s successful Title IX cases show their strategic approach. To cite an instance, a graduate student faced potential expulsion over sexual misconduct allegations. The firm secured a complete dismissal without any disciplinary record through meticulous evidence gathering and procedural challenges. The student graduated without misconduct allegations’ stigma, which showed the firm’s grasp of institutional policies that often favor accusers.

Custody battle won after multiple hearings

Custody disputes rank among the most emotionally taxing legal battles. A parent sought Joseph Lento’s help after years of unsuccessful litigation in a complex case. Multiple jurisdictions and conflicting evidence complicated matters. The client ended up securing full custody rights after several strategic hearings and careful documentation of parental involvement. The firm’s persistent approach and readiness to challenge procedural irregularities led to this soaring win.

Criminal charges dismissed before trial

Criminal charge dismissals terminate legal action with no finding of guilt or conviction. Legal resources state that dismissals can happen at any stage—before trial, during proceedings, or even post-conviction if an appeal succeeds. Lento Law Firm’s dismissals often come from identifying constitutional violations, procedural errors, or evidence weaknesses. The firm has won dismissals based on expired statutes of limitations and violations of speedy trial rights.

Professional license reinstated after board hearing

Professional license defense stands among the most technically challenging cases. The Lento Law Firm takes a detailed approach to board hearing preparation. A nurse facing license revocation came to the firm after receiving a complaint. The legal team won license reinstatement without restrictions through detailed documentation review and expert testimony that showed compliance with professional standards.

Understanding the Controversies and Criticism

A thorough look at both achievements and controversies helps potential clients evaluate their legal representation options. The Lento Law Firm’s specialized expertise hasn’t protected it from several major challenges over the years.

Disciplinary history and public response

Public records show Joseph D. Lento has faced multiple disciplinary actions. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court suspended him for one year in 2013 and put him on probation for another year. He received a more severe five-year suspension in November 2024. The Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board also revoked his license to practice law in Virginia starting May 16, 2025.

The disciplinary board’s findings revealed serious issues. They concluded that Lento “used a predatory style of taking on client representation” and created “vague fee agreements with clients for legal work that he could not or did not perform”.

Client complaints and how they were addressed

The Lento Law Firm sued a former client who posted online about disagreeing with their fees. The judge threw out this suit under the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act and ordered the firm to pay $24,198 in fees plus $199 in costs. The case remains under appeal.

Lento faced another issue where someone filed a misconduct complaint, but it was dismissed in April.

Transparency and firm’s response to criticism

Lento’s legal team has stood firm in defending his reputation. His lawyer Paul Batista emphasized that Lento “has never been accused of depriving clients of funds” and called the five-year suspension “excessive and utterly disproportionate”. Batista described Lento as “a pioneer” in protecting clients from educational institutions.

The firm has raised concerns about AI-driven academic misconduct allegations and pushed institutions to add stronger procedural safeguards when they use these technologies.

Summing all up

The 15-year old Lento Law Firm has built a strong foothold in educational law and student defense. Joseph Lento’s experience from modest roots to running a nationwide legal practice shows his dedication to fighting for clients. All the same, future clients need to think about the firm’s strengths and controversies before choosing their representation.

The firm stands out in many areas without doubt. Their deep knowledge of academic institutions and Title IX proceedings has helped many students win their disciplinary cases. Clients also value the emotional backing and clear communication they get during tough legal battles. These traits make a big difference when dealing with complex legal issues that shape academic and career paths.

But people looking for legal help should weigh the official disciplinary actions taken against Joseph Lento and his firm. License problems in Pennsylvania and Virginia raise valid concerns about how they run their business. The firm claims these penalties were too harsh, but such official sanctions need careful thought.

Real-life cases in this review highlight the firm’s technical skills in solving legal challenges of all types. The Lento team’s strategic methods have won cases for clients, especially in Title IX matters, custody fights, criminal defense, and professional license issues.

Students facing academic misconduct, Title IX cases, or professional license problems might find great value in Lento Law Firm’s specialized expertise. Good research is vital before picking any legal team. Your choice of legal help should match both expertise and ethics with your values and case needs.