Lemon cars, landlord disputes and other legal tangles need not overly distress students bent on finding a campus resource to address their grievances.
With a staff of six attorneys and two legal assistants, the University Student Legal Service offers advice on a variety of matters. The legal service primarily counsels clients on tenant and consumer rights.
Students are not required to pay legal fees if they simply receive legal advice and consultation. However, if attorneys file correspondence or appear in court on their behalf, minimal legal fees are assessed.
If a student simply needs a legal document drafted, the cost is $15.
For a criminal matter handled in court, legal service clients are charged a flat fee of $75. Representation for divorce proceedings can range from $100 to $400.
Barbara Boysen, a staff legal assistant for the past 22 years, said the fees are a fraction of the cost students would incur if they retained a private attorney. Despite the modest fees, she said a student’s legal representation is not compromised.
“There is a perception that there are students on staff,” she said. “Most of our staff has been here for more than 10 years. They are licensed professionals.”
Students are required to make an appointment if they are interested in consulting with an attorney or legal assistant. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
— Sarah McKenzie