Morgan M. Masters, Esq.

Morgan focuses her advocacy on teacher, administrator, coach, and professor representation in disciplinary investigations and hearings, Title IX investigations and hearings,  misconduct proceedings, and contract disputes; student representation in sexual abuse litigation and k-12 disciplinary matters; and employee representation in discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims.

Prior to utilizing her litigation skills for education and employment clientele, Morgan spent a combined 12 years litigating serious criminal cases as defense counsel and then as a prosecutor, representing multiple municipalities through her position with a large national law firm, and advising law enforcement on legal matters.  Her trial experience is invaluable in the education and employment settings.

    • Licensed by the Supreme Court of Ohio, 2006

    • Licensed in United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

    • Licensed in United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

    • University Appointed Title IX Advisor for Faculty, Employees, & Students for a Division I Public Institution, 2023-Current

    • Magistrate, Reynoldsburg Mayor’s Court, Mayoral Appointment, 2015-Current

    • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, 2024 and 2025, Education Law

    • Columbus CEO’s Top Lawyer: Labor & Employment Law, 2023

    • Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2022

    • Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2021

    • Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2020

    • Won appeal of Ohio Department of Education’s permanent revocation of teacher credentials in Perry County Court of Common Pleas.

    • Successfully negotiated a non-disciplinary warning letter in Ohio Department of Education investigation of coach for allegations of inappropriate communications and unprofessional conduct.

    • Won jury verdict of Not Guilty for coach wrongly accused of domestic violence for parental discipline, and subsequently succeeded in closing out related disciplinary investigation with Ohio Department of Education with no discipline.

    • Won tenure hearing for professor charged with gross incompetence for exercising his right to academic freedom.

    • On day of trial, argued motion and won dismissal of criminal charges for Endangering Children falsely levied against teachers and a principal.

    • Secured $100,000 pre-litigation severance agreement for nurse wrongly terminated for exercising protected right to medical leave.

    • Negotiated high value pre-litigation severance agreement for executive level at-will employee terminated after taking approved medical leave.

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    • October 2023, “An Evaluation of Strategy to Support Successful Community Re-Entry” - The Ohio Black Judges Association, Inc.

    • January - December 2022; “College Kid Primer: What Every College Kid (and Parent) Needs to Know” - Columbus Bar Association

    • December 2022; “Criminal Rights: Issues in Representing Students & Educators”; Virtual Student Rights Conference

    • June 2022, School Law Symposium - Political Speech in the Classroom & On Social Media

    • June 2021; “First Amendment Rights of Students & Teachers; School Law Symposium

      September 2020; College Student or College Bound? Know Your Rights (and Wrongs!);  Webinar; At the Core

      July 2020; College Bound? How to Keep Your Kid Out of Trouble, Tips for Students and Parents; Webinar; In College Planning

       September 2019; Sex, Texts, and Bathroom Breaks; Webinar; At the Core

      February 2019; Need to Know Before You Go; How to Protect Yourself in College; Bexley Public Library

      October 2018; Accused? Sex Considerations for College Students; Fraternity Guest Speaker, The Ohio State University

      April 2018; Sex, Texts, and Bathroom Breaks; Webinar; At the Core

      2009-2017; Numerous Legal Update Presentations to Law Enforcement

      2008; “Criminal Responsibility Seminar”; Guest Speaker, Capital University Law School

    • September 2024; College Student or College Bound? Know Your Rights (and Wrongs!); Webinar; At the Core

    • September 2023; College Student or College Bound? Know Your Rights (and Wrongs!); Webinar; At the Core

    • March 2023, OASSA Conference - Administrator Investigations

    • September 2022; College Student or College Bound? Know Your Rights (and Wrongs!); Webinar; At the Core

    • September 2021; College Student or College Bound? Know Your Rights (and Wrongs!); Webinar; At the Core

    • February 2021; “Political Speech in the Classroom & On Social Media”; OASSA Virtual Legal Seminar

    • October 2024; Avoiding the Whiplash Effect from Student Discipline Cases”; Columbus Bar Lawyers Quarterly

    • October 2022; “ODE is Investigating Me: Now What?”; The Dominy Dispatch

    •  August 2021; “Educators Should Carefully Consider School Policies Regarding Masking”; Blog

    • 2008; “Crack Cocaine v. Powder Cocaine: Changing Sentencing Schemes”; The Communicator, Central Ohio Association for Justice

  • Morgan and her husband have two daughters, whom Morgan is coaching in their various sports.  She is a graduate of River Valley High School in Marion, Ohio, THE Ohio State University where she played club volleyball, and Capital University Law School.  She loves to golf and play volleyball, design and build various carpentry projects, enjoys cooking and all things involving her family.