Our Purpose — The Purpose of Student Legal Services
The Student Legal Services Program was initiated in 1995 by University of Toledo students who felt a need to provide quality legal counsel to students. Student Legal Services, Inc. is a not-for-profit private corporation with offices on the University of Toledo campus. The operation is governed by a 14 member board of trustees, which includes eight students as voting members. Employees of Student Legal Services, Inc. are not employees or agents of the University of Toledo. The purpose of Student Legal Services, Inc. is to provide prompt, efficient and high quality legal service to University of Toledo students who enroll in the legal services program. Legal assistance includes providing students access to information concerning their legal rights, private consultation and representation in their individual legal matters.

Services — THE LEGAL SERVICE PROGRAM

Student Legal Services, Inc. offers UT students four (4) major services: advice, representation, referral, and education. No attorney’s fees are charged for the basic services rendered by Student Legal Services which is funded solely from the Student Legal Services fee.
Students, are however, responsible for all court costs, filing fees, etc. associated with their respective case. The Attorney – client privilege is strictly enforced. All student files are the private property of the Attorney and are never viewed by anyone outside the Student Legal Services, Inc. Office.

SERVICES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

• ADVICE
  Student seeking legal information and advice can get answers at the Student Legal Services office.
• REPRESENTATION
  The Student Legal Services’ attorney will represent students in any judicial or administrative proceeding covered by the service in which the appearance could make a substantial difference in the outcome of the student’s case. Representation is limited to Lucas County, Ohio.
• EDUCATION
  Student Legal Services, Inc. will sponsor a variety of lectures, workshops and seminars concerning relevant legal issues throughout the year. Through these programs, students will become acquainted with their legal rights and responsibilities as citizens. As an educational tool, the legal services will strive for a legal educated and more responsible student body.
• REFERRAL
  Student Legal Services will provide referrals to other agencies to eligible participants in legal matters not covered by the legal services plan.
  Additionally, if eligible University of Toledo students have legal matters pending in the Bowling Green Municipal Court, they may be eligible for referral to and representation from the Bowling Green Student Legal Services Program, at no additional cost. Affected students should contact us to see if they qualify for this additional benefit.

LEGAL MATTERS COVERED

• LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES
  The program handles a wide range of landlord/tenant conflicts, including, but not limited to, security deposit refund problems, repairs, drafting of sublease agreements and defending actions for rental payments and evictions.
• MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL/TRAFFIC MATTERS
  This area includes representation for misdemeanor cases such as driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, petty theft, disorderly conduct and false identification, traffic violations, underage consumption, etc.
• CONSUMER PROBLEMS
  This area includes matters pertaining to warranties, defective products and service, review of consumer and employment contracts, and arrangements for payments to creditors.
• MISCELLANEOUS LEGAL MATTERS
  This area includes Wills, Expungments, Employment and Unemployment matters, uncontested Divorces/Dissolutions (no children/no property), Name Changes, Property Damage Claims and Step-parent Adoptions.

LIMITATION OF THE PROGRAM
Student Legal Services, Inc., WILL NOT provide advice or representation in the following areas:

1. Actions between students and the University.
2. Actions between students.
3. Actions against a member of the Board of Regents, Board of Trustees, faculty or staff of the University.
4. Actions against a state officers or agency arising out of the performance of the officer or the agency official duties.
5. Actions against a law enforcement officers arising out of the performance of the office

Because of the potential time demands and specific expertise required STUDENTS WITH THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF LEGAL MATTERS WILL ONLY BE ENTITLED TO INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES:

1. Matters involving Administrative Agencies, such as Social Security, Worker’s Compensations, Veteran’s Benefits, Welfare Benefits, etc.
2. Contested Domestic Relations matters – Divorce, Child Support, Child Custody, Parentage, etc.
3. Guardianships (Minor and/or Adult)
4. Parking Tickets
5. Felony Criminal/Traffic Offenses
6. Copyright, Patent and Trademark matters
7. Immigration Matters
8. Medical and/or Legal Malpractice matters
9. Probate of Estates
10. Matters in which a student is acting as the proprietor of a business.
11. Taxes

1. Bankruptcies
2. Personal Injury
3. Real Estate Purchase/Sale
4. Discrimination
5. Victim Rights

Eligibility —
Eligible Persons: Students are automatically assessed the $8.00 per semester legal service activity fee at the time they register for classes. All registered U.T. Students who have paid the legal service activity fee are eligible for services. For the Basic fee of $8.00 per semester eligible students are entitled to open three (3) files each semester. Additional fees will be assessed for the 4th and any successive cases opened each semester.

Students may elect not to pay the fee and therefore waive their right to participate in the Program by indicating this preference in the registration process. Students who do not pay the fee are not eligible for services. Upon graduation, an individual will continue to receive services for a period of no more than six (6) months after graduation, if his or her case was opened prior to said student’s graduation from the University.

The following persons are not eligible for services from Student Legal Services, Inc.
a) Students who have not paid their student legal services fee;
b) Spouses and Dependents of eligible students;
c) Friends of eligible students;
d) Non-enrolled Faculty or Staff of the University;
e) Student and/or Community Organizations; and, Individuals who have withdrawn from the University and/or lost Student Status except as noted above.