About SLS
Welcome
Are you dealing with a landlord that won’t fix something in your rental, or have you gotten pulled over for going 20 miles over the speed limit? Or maybe you’ve run into someone not honoring their end of a contract. We are here to help! Our consultations are free and we can advise or represent students on a variety of legal issues, including housing, criminal, traffic, and consumer, among other matters.
The Student Legal Services was established in 1972 and has since been providing low-cost, confidential legal assistance to University of Virginia students, both in and outside of the courtroom.
Eligibility
The office is funded through the Student Activity Fee Fund and client fees. Only University of Virginia students who have paid the student activity fee, or partial fee University of Virginia students in degree granting programs who have not paid the student activity fee but who pay a $10 initial consultation fee, are eligible for legal services. We cannot represent students in "student against student" matters or represent students against the University of Virginia.
Confidentiality
We understand how important your legal matter is to you and that you need to discuss the matter with us privately without worrying about judgment or about others knowing about your legal issue. We will not discuss your case with your parents, friends, spouses, or the University of Virginia, without your written consent. You should feel free to discuss with us all aspects of your legal matter so that we can help you to the fullest extent.
Internships
Volunteer undergraduate interns and clerks work under the supervision of an attorney. Applications for the 2024-2025 school year will be available for interested second and third year students after spring break every year online. Check back in at that time for a link to the application. Physical copies will also be available for pick up from the office at that time.
Staff
Teresa Hepler
Teresa (she/her) is the sole attorney at Student Legal Services. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor’s Degree in Classical Languages and Literatures and a minor in German. She then earned her M.A. in Humanities from the University of Chicago before working as a paralegal for 2 years at a plaintiff’s litigation firm where she focused on medical products mass torts. Teresa earned her law degree in 2017 from the University of Virginia, which awarded her the Mortimer Caplin Public Service Award, and she has helped clients in housing, consumer and criminal matters, both during and after law school.
Rosemary Faircloth
Rosemary (she/her) is a recent graduate from the University of Virginia, where she earned her B.A. in Art History. Prior to joining the SLS team, she worked at the UVA Career Center throughout her undergrad. She is committed to her role as the Administrative Assistant for SLS by providing excellent customer service and support to the UVA community and is an aspiring lawyer herself.
Hours & Location
Hours
Mon-Thu: 9am-5pm
Fri: 9am-3:30pm
The office closes over the Thanksgiving holiday and the winter break between end of finals and the start of J-term.
Contact Us
P.O. Box 400810
Charlottesville, VA 22904
Office: (434) 924-7524
Fax: (434) 982-6336
Newcomb Hall, Room 460
Location
Student Legal Services
Room 460, Newcomb Hall P.O. Box 400810 Charlottesville, VA 22904
Phone: 434-924-7524 Fax: 434-243-0531