It is important that students be alerted to the need for legal counsel at an early stage of any controversy that he/she may be involved in. Thus, the Students' Legal Advisor counsels registered students about their legal problems twenty (30) hours each week. The office is located in the Counseling Center which is west of the Lee Drain Building and next to the Farrington Building. The advisor has scheduled hours that allow students with various schedules to easily obtain an appointment by calling (936) 294-1717.

     All matters between the Students' Legal Advisor and the student are confidential...even the fact that the student has been to see the advisor. No discussion is disclosed without the student's signed consent. Some areas of student concern are landlord/tenant, identity theft, consumer protection, insurance, criminal, family law, traffic tickets, automobile wrecks, and employee rights.

The advisor often helps students through legal problems by guiding them through self-help procedures plus the distribution of written materials concerning their legal issues. By guiding the student through the procedures required in administrative and judicial proceedings, it is anticipated that the student will be able to effectually deal with these problems currently and in the future. However, when the problem is of such a nature that legal representation is immediately needed, referral to a practicing attorney in that area of law is made.

Students' Legal Services also offers mediation services. This is a fast, economical and confidential way to resolve disputes. Students sit down with a trained neutral third party (a qualified mediator) who facilitates an agreement between the parties. Mediation allows Students' Legal Services to help in the area of student to community disputes, but more importantly in the area of student to student disputes. At the present time, we offer these services to students in the areas of greatest need, e.g., (1) landlord-tenant, (2) consumer protection, and other miscellaneous interpersonal disputes.

The advisor is also available to speak to student organizations, residence halls, and classes whose subject matter involves legal areas.