Jonathan Helwink focuses his practice on education policy and institutional compliance with U.S. Department of Education regulations, including Title IV student aid; accreditation; change of ownership transactions; borrower defense to repayment issues; and Title IX, Clery Act and campus safety.
Mr. Helwink’s unique perspective comes from his time spent in government, in private practice and as a teacher. He began his career in higher education as a tenured history instructor at a community college in Chicago. After attending law school while continuing to teach, Mr. Helwink joined a higher education practice focusing on Title IV, Title IX and institutional staff training. Most recently, he served as the Attorney Advisor to the Under Secretary of Education and Special Counsel at the U.S. Department of Education, where he focused on advising senior leadership on accreditation matters; driving policy positions on Title IV issues; writing the Department’s 2020 Clery Act Appendix for the FSA Handbook; and co-authoring the 2019 Gainful Employment Rule rescission and the 2019 Borrower Defense to Repayment Regulations.
Not admitted to practice in the District of Columbia. Admitted to practice in Illinois and is currently supervised by a D.C. Licensed Attorney.
Admissions
- Illinois
Not admitted to practice in the District of Columbia. Admitted to practice in Illinois and is currently supervised by a D.C. Licensed Attorney.
Education
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 2015
- DePaul University, M.A., 2003
- Elmhurst College, B.A., 2001
Experience
- Duane Morris LLP
- Associate, 2021-present - U.S. Department of Education
- Special Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, 2020-2021
- Attorney Advisor, Office of the Under Secretary, 2019-2020
- Special Assistant, Office of Postsecondary Education, 2019 - Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose Ltd.
- Of Counsel, 2017-2018 - Wilbur Wright College
- Tenured History Instructor, 2007-2018
Selected Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, "Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF): The Latest Guidance for Schools," Duane Morris LLP, Webinar, April 9, 2021