Consultations
Free Legal Advice
Student Legal Services (SLS) provides eligible current UW-Seattle, UW-Tacoma, and UW-Bothell students with free 40-minute consultations on any matter of legal concern.
An individual student can receive an unlimited number of free consultations as long as the legal issues are unrelated. SLS strongly encourages students to contact us proactively, before their legal concern grows.
“I had several consultations regarding a landlord-tenant issue and a speeding ticket with [an SLS intern] and she was very patient in dealing with my shenanigans. She was very attentive when listening to my side of the story and provided me with the guidance and resources necessary to resolve my legal issues. Hands down the best legal service for students.“
Scheduling a Consultation
Please note that on Fridays, our office will operate remotely and all meetings will take place over Zoom. Please email us at slsuw@uw.edu if you have any questions.
To begin the scheduling process, fill out our Intake Form. You must be logged into your UW NetID to access the intake form. If you are not already logged onto your UW NetID on your browser, you will see an error page when you click on the link above. If you are not a current student, you will not be able to access the form.
The intake form provides us with information we can use to verify your student status with the University and to get more information about your specific issue. SLS cannot provide same-day consultations, nor can we provide legal advice by phone or email. If you are unable to access or complete the intake, please call our office at (206) 543-6486 or stop by our office in HUB 306.
After the intake form has been completed, SLS staff will screen your intake to confirm your eligibility and identify any conflicts of interest. Make sure you click “Submit” and not “Save progress and exit” to ensure that we receive your intake. If we identify any potential missing information, our office will contact you to request more details prior to sending you a scheduling link. If no conflicts arise, a separate link will be emailed to you to schedule your appointment. Due to the large number of requests we receive, appointments are typically scheduled 2-3 weeks in advance. If you have emergent circumstances, please indicate the reason in your intake and/or call and email us at (206) 543-6486 and slsuw@uw.edu.
What to Expect Before and After Your SLS Consultation
Before your Consultation:
1. You will receive an Appointment Confirmation Email.
You will first receive a confirmation email with the date, time, and location of your consultation. This email will include a link to the Documents and Questions Form.
The Documents and Questions form is a form where you can upload any documents and list any questions, or additional information that you feel are relevant to your case. You can fill it out online from your computer or smartphone. If you have an immigration, landlord/tenant, contract, or criminal/traffic/vehicular accident case, or any other relevant information helpful for research, please review the form and fill it out at least two days prior to your consultation.
When filling out this form :
Submit all relevant documents PRIOR to your consultation (at least two days in advance).
These may include:
– Leases (landlord-tenant laws, move-in checklists, and other documents related to your tenancy)
– All letters, emails, texts, etc., related to the dispute between you and the opposing party.
– Photos
– Signed or proposed contracts
– Documents showing ownership interest in real or personal property
– Court orders, hearing notices, and other pleadings
– Eviction notices
– Police reports
– Traffic tickets
– Insurance policies
2. When you arrive for your consultation, whether over Zoom or in-person, it is required that you bring your Husky Card in order for us to verify your identity. If over Zoom, we will ask you to hold your ID up to the camera. If we cannot verify your identity, we will not proceed with your consultation. For in-person consultations, note that our office doors are always locked. Please knock when you arrive for your appointment and have your Husky Card ready to show.
*SLS does NOT consent to nor allow the recording of our confidential consultations. Be prepared to take notes during the consultation. (SLS does NOT provide free follow-up meetings, phone calls, or email clarifications after your consultation has ended.)*
After your Consultation:
3. You will receive a Post-Consultation Email
This email includes a short survey. Completing this survey is essential to improving our office and understanding of how we can better support our clients. We appreciate your feedback!
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