Goals of the Group Legal Services Program:

The foremost goal of Group Legal Services (GLS) is to provide University students with free access to competent legal advice from practicing attorneys. In addition to providing University students with this vital service, GLS provides training in basic techniques of legal research for students interested in the law. These student researchers research, compose and publish informative articles, packets and pamphlets relevant to the University community. GLS researchers also assist attorneys in legal research and assist Student Defenders, who advise University students facing disciplinary sanction before the University's Student-Wide Judiciary. GLS conducts an average of three free seminars per semester on popular topics concerning University students, including: Landlord-Tenant issues, traffic court and student's rights. All of these activities reflect GLS' ongoing commitment to serving students' legal needs, increasing awareness of pertinent legal issues and providing a service to make the legal system more comfortable and accessible to University students.

What is Group Legal Services?

Group Legal Services was developed from a pilot program of a student-run Legal Aid Clinic. This pilot program was a loosely organized legal aid clinic that was funded by the Student Association and was staffed by student volunteers. A practicing attorney visited the office for several hours each week advising students and offering direction and suggestions to the direction of the program. The success of the Legal Aid Clinic facilitated the formation of GLS as a consolidated, permanent service. The Student Association appointed a committee to assist in the development of a broader system, with increased economic and administrative viability. Out of this committee process the current GLS program was finally created. In 1977, administrative control of GLS was shifted from the Student Association to Sub-Board I, Inc., which was previously formed in 1970. Sub-Board I, Inc., through mandatory student fees, currently manages and funds GLS.

Services Offered by GLS:

GLS is a service-oriented organization that provides students with an array of free legal services, which tend to be costly and confusing outside of the University. GLS' services are best divided into three distinct arms:

Practicing Attorneys

Legal Advice

GLS provides free legal consultation, without an appointment, to all University students. SBI's staff of attorneys is retained from the law firms of Allen and Lippes, and Bloom, Shonn and Neubeck. These attorneys maintain an office on the Amherst Campus at 377 Student Union and are present Monday through Friday during normal business hours. GLS also provides extended hours to accommodate students who attend classes during the late hours (after 5PM). The staff attorneys have ample experience and continually demonstrate a genuine interest in serving our student body. They are easily accessible and are sensitive to the concerns of the students, thus making any legal experiences as comfortable and understandable as possible.

The reasons that University students seek legal advice run the gamut from landlord-tenant issues to advice concerning name changes. The majority of attorneys' time is committed to consultation and issues arising from problems between landlords and tenants.

Landlord-Tenant Issues

GLS has developed, with consultation from attorneys, a number of "plain language" leases and sublet leases to aid students that are unclear in the terms of a lease. Attorneys also provide advice to students who have questions about their rights as tenants. From 1994-2001, GLS had an estimated 2000 students seek advice concerning a landlord-tenant issue – nearly 40% of the total clientele! Given the frequency of landlord-tenant issues, all of the staff attorneys are well versed in generally accepted landlord-tenant laws, in addition to the laws specifically governing New York State.

GLS strongly recommends that all students have their lease reviewed by an attorney PRIOR to signing the agreement. It is of paramount importance that the student fully understands the terms of the lease to ensure that there are no deceptive or confusing aspects to the contract.

Vehicle and Traffic Issues

GLS attorneys are also experienced in advising students concerning the liability, procedure and consequences of traffic violations. Generally, the attorney's knowledge of the process can ease the concerns of students facing speeding tickets, or more serious traffic violations. Information can be obtained at the GLS office about car insurance, New York State's Lemon Law, what to do at an accident, and the ramifications of traffic violations. GLS attorneys frequently advise students as to what they can expect, and what their possible courses of action are. On average, an estimated 12% of the students seeking legal advice are concerned with vehicle and traffic issues.

Court Procedures

Students can receive information concerning the proper legal procedures to be used in court, and what procedure is used in proceedings commenced against them, as applied to the particular circumstances. In addition to individual advice, pamphlets are available detailing the procedures of Small Claims Court in New York. Generally, advice concerning a student's involvement in the criminal justice system is tailored to an individual's situation. Approximately 800 students (16% of the total clientele) sought counseling concerning court procedures between 1994–2001.

Other Issues

GLS attorneys are required to be prepared to discuss and advise on a varied list of topics, including:

Bankruptcy, class actions, consumer fraud issues, the enforceability of contracts, employment disputes, domestic and family-related law (divorces, etc.), immigration regulations, insurance, student loans, discrimination, name changes, power of attorney, copyright and publishing issues, and other, less common issues.

Exclusions

  1. Student vs. Student Conflicts

    Attorneys cannot advise any University student involved in an altercation or conflict with another University student. Each party has an equal claim to the service that GLS provides through mandatory student fees, thus GLS cannot offer one student service and deny a second student from access to the attorneys. The attorneys' ethical obligations also preclude attorneys of the same law firm (or person) from advising opposing parties of potential litigation. In a case of student conflicts, GLS and Sub-Board I, Inc. may provide an independent attorney for advisement on the matter.

  2. Student vs. GLS Attorneys' Clients

    Group Legal Services and Sub-Board I, Inc, do not exclusively employ GLS attorneys. Staff attorneys maintain law practices outside of the GLS office and consequently have clientele independent of their clientele at GLS. It is unethical for an attorney to advise University students in conflict with one of their non-University clients.

  3. Individual Legal Representation (In Formal Court Proceedings)

    GLS attorneys are prohibited from representing students in formal court proceedings. The SUNY Trustees, Sub-Board I, Inc., and GLS have determined that individual representation of students in court proceedings by GLS attorneys (in their capacity as GLS attorneys) is beyond the purpose of this service. University students are frequently advised or referred to an independent attorney for individual representation.

Notary Public Service

GLS attorneys will notarize documents that require authentication free of charge. Students can easily avoid the hassle of going to the bank by requesting notary service at the GLS office.

Student Defenders (Student-Wide Judiciary – SWJ)

The University at Buffalo's Student-Wide Judiciary System offers University students the opportunity to include an independent advisor to council the student through the SWJ process. GLS provides Student Defenders, free of charge, to advise and inform students of the full scope of the system and their options within the system. These Defenders are University law students who volunteer their services and knowledge of the system at a student's request. Defenders are trained in the rules of procedure and have hands-on experience in adjudication with SWJ. Defenders are most experienced in the negotiation of a fair disciplinary sanction, however trial specialists are available if an SWJ trial is required to dispose of possible sanction.

Outreach Into the University Community

In addition to offering free legal consultation and free student defenders, GLS works to provide information concerning relevant legal issues to the University community.

Legal Research Training

GLS employs volunteer student researchers to research and compose information pamphlets and packets. GLS provides basic training in the use of statutes, case law, the Law Library along with legal research techniques. Upon completion of training, student researchers write articles, pamphlets and packets that are revised and edited by GLS attorneys and later published by GLS.

Information Pamphlets and Packets

Information pamphlets and packets, researched by GLS and independent government agencies are available, free of charge, at the GLS office.

Current Packets and Pamphlets include:

Seminars

GLS sponsors seminars based upon the most popular topics that bring students to consult with the staff attorneys. Each semester, GLS routinely conducts seminars on Landlord-Tenant Issues, Student Rights, and Taxes in conjunction with off-campus organizations and guest speakers. GLS has held seminars on Journalism and the Law, Animal Rights, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Employment Law. For more information on the seminar schedule or to suggest topics for seminars, stop by the GLS office at 377 Student Union on the Amherst Campus.

Conclusion

The success of GLS is wholly dependent upon student participation. We hope that this booklet has informed you about the various aspects of GLS, the historical background of the organization, the free legal services it provides, as well as our continued dedication to become involved in outside projects, which affect the University community.

The organization and information is readily available; it is up to you to take advantage of the services. GLS offers free consultation of a variety of issues, but also acts a means to expand upon the community's dedication to education. If you have an interest in learning about laws in general or any service GLS offers in particular, we at GLS invite you to stop by our office at 377 Student Union on the Amherst Campus for additional information.

Packet Published 1994, 1996, 1999, 2001

Researched and Composed by Michelle A. Hager

Revised by Betty Snyder 1999, John Menard 2001

SBI Legal Assistance Director: Alex Melville

Student Owned and Operated by Sub-Board I, Inc. E-mail us | Terms of use