Areas of Law
Student Legal Services (SLS) can help with many legal matters. If you are not sure whether SLS can help, please fill out an intake form anyway. If it's not a matter that we can advise you on, we can provide referrals and resources both on and off campus. Make our office your first stop for your legal needs.
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Below are some of the areas with which we help students:
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Examples: Misdemeanors, ordinance violations, traffic tickets
If you are arrested or charged with an offense, SLS can help you understand the charges and possible outcomes. We can help you exercise your rights and help you find a lawyer to represent you in court.
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We can help you clear your criminal record through expungement or sealing.
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Examples: Contract review, job applications, unemployment benefits, discrimination, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes.
We can only provide referrals and resources for students who have questions about running a business or non-profit organization, including questions about incorporation and intellectual property.
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Examples: Uncontested divorces and child custody matters, child support, domestic violence, crime victim assistance
We can only provide referrals and resources in contested divorces and child custody cases.
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Examples: Lease reviews, tenant rights, building conditions, security deposits, move-out fees, evictions, utilities, roommate agreements, subleasing
We can assist you with almost any off-campus housing issue. However, we can only provide referrals and resources for complex real estate issues.
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Examples: Family-based green card applications, visas, humanitarian relief, naturalization services, DACA renewal, obtaining a U.S. driver’s license
We can only provide referrals and resources for employment-based immigration.
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Examples: Debt collection, identity theft, scam prevention, credit problems, contracts, insurance coverage, consumer rights, automobile purchases and repairs, small claims, bankruptcy
We can only provide referrals and resources for the preparation of taxes, wills, and trusts.
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SLS can help you file a petition to change your name in Illinois. We can also guide you in the process of changing your name and gender marker on identifying documents.
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We are available by appointment to notarize documents.
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Examples: Auto accidents, insurance problems, property damage
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A power of attorney is a legal document that you can use to name a person to make decisions for you. We can assist you with drafting powers of attorney for both health care and property.
We can also assist you with preparing advance directives, such as living wills. Advance directives are written statements about how you want medical decisions to be made in the future.