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DESCRIPTION

Student Legal Services (SLS) is a pre-paid legal service available to all Virginia Tech students free of charge.   (Sorry, but students of the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine aren't eligible for the service.)   This service is sponsored by the Virginia Tech Student Government Association and Graduate Student Assembly and it is overseen by the SLS Board, a student budget board consisting of students, faculty, and staff.   The Board contracts with an independent attorney on an annual basis to provide legal advice and services to VT students.

SERVICES PROVIDED

The SLS Attorney provides legal advice on a variety of matters such as, but not limited to, leasing issues, traffic tickets, consumer problems, and criminal charges.   Also, the Attorney can prepare basic legal documents such as simple Wills, powers of attorney, and contracts.   The office provides free notary services as well.   Only very limited advice and assistance is provided in tax, business, immigration, and divorce matters. If the SLS Attorney is unable to help you, he can usually provide the names of local attorneys who can; however, the use of an outside attorney would be at the student's own expense.

Another thing we do is maintain this web site, which provides helpful information on a number of legal topics.  The information contained herein is based on Virginia and US law in effect at the time of each page's publication.   It is general information only and is not legal advice.   If you have a legal problem, consult an attorney.   If you're a Virginia Tech student, make an appointment with the SLS Attorney.

Finally, the SLS Attorney is available to speak at student organization meetings about legal topics such as renter's rights and alcohol laws. If interested, call the office for more information.

SERVICES NOT PROVIDED

Because there is only one attorney for 25,000 students, court representation usually isn't provided.   We also don't assist in matters involving Student vs Student, Student vs University, or Student vs Parent disputes.   Note that we can mediate Student vs Student disputes where both students agree to the mediation and meet with the Attorney together.

COST

Attorney and notary services are provided free of charge because you've already paid for the services through your student activity fee.   In the rare case of the SLS Attorney representing a student in court, the student would be required to pay any costs and court fees, but the attorney's services would still be free.

HOW TO USE THE SERVICE

Call 231-4720 to make an appointment.   The office is located in 143 Squires Student Center.

Our normal Fall and Spring Semester hours are:
      Mon-Thu: 9-5     Fri: 9-1.

Our normal Summer hours are:
      Mon-Wed: 9-5.

Hours are subject to change without notice (especially in the summer)!

The office is normally closed during school breaks but is sometimes open a day or two at the beginning and/or end of a break. Call the office or check back here to be sure.

NEWS

05May2008:
Because of final exams this week, there are no clerks to answer your phone calls, but you can still leave a message on the voicemail system. Leave your name, phone number, and an idea of when you'd like to make the appointment for. Speak slowly and clearly so that the decrepit old lawyer who works here can write down your information and call you back. The office should be open for normal Spring semester office hours this week except that we'll be closing at 12:00 on Friday. There might be a couple of short (1 hour) closings during the week as well. The office will be closed all of the following week, but will re-open on Monday, May 19th at normal summer hours.

14Apr2008:
The civil remedial fees that were enacted last year for certain traffic offenses have been repealed.

Virginia Tech VT legal aid campus free lawyer

DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this website may not be current or valid. You must not rely on the information contained here without first speaking to a licensed attorney. Always speak to a licensed attorney regarding any legal issue you may have.