University of Toledo Student Legal Services

The Public Interest Law Association, in partnership with the College of Law, helps fund several public interest scholarships to support students working for public interest companies during the summer. The following downloadable documents are provided for your convenience if you wish to represent yourself. However, we recommend that you seek legal advice first. The Law College Legal Clinic The clinic is a one-semester, 4-credit, one-hour course in which articling students, under the supervision of the clinical faculty, directly represent community clients who cannot afford to hire a private lawyer. The Legal Clinic combines a structured curriculum with individualized instruction and collaborative learning opportunities to prepare articling students to competently represent clients, engage in complex ethical issues, critically examine the law and the legal profession, and advance the mission of the School of Social Justice. Current practice options at the legal clinic include civil rights, housing, immigration and asylum, family law, social security disability, real estate, contracts, tort defence, elder law, community service, and sexual orientation law. The Dispute Resolution Clinic The Dispute Resolution Clinic is a half-hour, two- or four-hour course open to upper-class law students. The Dispute Resolution Clinic offers students a unique blend of in-house clinic and outpatient rotation. Students serve as volunteer mediators in a variety of settings, including the Lucas County Juvenile Justice Center and the Toledo City Court. Students mediate cases involving recalcitrant and delinquent minors and minor issues such as consumer complaints, landlord-tenant disputes, car accidents, and minor criminal cases.

In addition, the clinic`s students now offer mediation services “in-house” to the University of Toledo community. To prepare for their fieldwork, students must complete a two-day, 16-hour mediation course approved by the Ohio Supreme Court prior to the start of the semester. Students in the Domestic Violence & Juvenile Law Clinic of the Domestic Violence & Juvenile Law Clinic represent clients under clinical faculty supervision in cases involving custody, protection orders, adoptions, and child abuse and neglect. The clinic tries to represent victims of domestic violence in all cases it accepts. The Criminal Law Practice Program is a semester-long course in which students work on criminal matters in local prosecutors` offices. The course builds skills and values in criminal law by exposing students to real-world practice in a prosecutor`s office. < top QUESTION: Do I have to pay a fee to use the Legal Aid Program? ANSWER: Yes, every semester, when you enroll in courses, there is automatically a legal advice fee of $10.00 per semester. This fee covers all services provided by our office.

However, you will still be responsible for fines, court fees or registration fees levied by the court or administrative authority. No-Show Policy: To ensure that Student Legal Services staff can serve their clients as quickly as possible, it is necessary that all students arrive on time for their appointments and notify the office in advance if they need to cancel. Students who do not show up or cancel their appointment are subject to the following no-show policy: A student who has made an appointment and does not show up, cancel or postpone will be marked as no-show. In the event of a second absence, the student cannot use Student Legal Services until the following semester. UT Student Legal Services provides four (4) main services: advice, advocacy, referral and education. Maara Fink Clinical Professor/Day School Director 419-530-4260 maara.fink@utoledo.edu < Back to top QUESTION: If I live on campus, I can Student Legal Services, Inc. Still to solve my legal problems? ANSWER: Yes, it doesn`t matter where a student lives. Any currently enrolled student who pays fees for legal services is eligible to use our services for a covered legal matter. We support students who live on campus or at home, or who live off-campus in a rented house or apartment, or who travel to Toledo from elsewhere. < Back to top QUESTION: My roommates and I don`t understand each other, can I just move? ANSWER: The general answer is no. This is one of the situations where you need to make sure you talk to a lawyer to make sure you don`t cause you even more legal problems. Contact Student Legal Services at (419) 530-7230 before taking any action to discuss your rights and obligations in this type of situation.

We are pleased to announce that Student Legal Services, Inc. has resumed regular operations and we remain available to assist, advise and represent students in resolving their personal legal issues. You can contact us Monday to Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at (419) 530-7230. If you call outside of these hours, please leave a detailed message on our voicemail, including your full name, rocket number and phone number. Your call will be answered as soon as possible. Students seeking legal information and advice can obtain answers from the Office of Student Rights Services.

ONLY ADVICE (no legal representation) is offered in the following types of litigation: bankruptcy, personal injury, purchase/sale of real estate, discrimination, victims` rightsRepresentation Student lawyers represent students in judicial or administrative proceedings where the presence of a lawyer has a significant impact. Legal representation is limited to cases filed in Lucas County, Ohio. If eligible UT students have legal cases pending in Bowling Green Municipal Court, they may be referred and represented to the Bowling Green Student Legal Services program at no additional cost. Affected students should contact us to find out if they are eligible for this additional benefit. EducationStudent Legal Services sponsors a variety of conferences, workshops and seminars on relevant legal issues throughout the year. Through these programs, students learn about their legal rights and duties as citizens. As an educational tool, legal services will strive to develop more responsible law students. RecommendationStudent Legal Services will refer eligible participants to other organizations in legal matters not covered by the Legal Services Plan. Below are answers to some of the questions students ask most often. These answers are not intended to replace legal advice, but to clarify why you need Student Legal Services to support you.

As each student`s legal issue is different and there may be additional facts or documents that could affect your rights in this type of case, we strongly recommend that you make an appointment with a lawyer to get legal advice regarding your specific legal case. You can reach us at 419.530.7230 or by stopping by our office at office 3504 Lancelot Thompson Student Union, University of Toledo. Please note that unless you plan to register during the summer, your only option to purchase legal services for the summer is at the time of registration in the spring. For the base fee of $10.00 per semester, eligible students are entitled to open three (3) files per semester. Additional fees are charged for the fourth file and all subsequent files opened each semester. After graduation, students whose pending cases were opened prior to graduation will continue to receive services in this legal matter for a maximum period of six (6) months after graduation from the University. No additional legal fees will be charged for basic services provided by Student Legal Services. However, students are responsible for all legal fees, filing fees, etc.

associated with their particular case. The information contained herein should be considered general information and not legal advice. It is recommended that you contact Student Legal Services, Inc. at 419.530.7230 to schedule a meeting with a lawyer to discuss the facts in your particular case. Services provided include review and preparation of leases; assistance in resolving disputes relating to the conditions and/or maintenance of leased premises; assistance in the collection of deposits; File and prosecute landlords for non-compliance with Ohio law, etc., Public Interest Law Association (PILA): The Public Interest Law Association (PILA) was founded by law students interested in careers and experiences in public law. The founding members shared a commitment to serving organizations in the areas of justice, legal aid and public service during law school and beyond.