Student Legal Services is here for students when they experience legal trouble, so we specialize in housing, consumer, and criminal law. We are here for students when the law is creating a barrier to personal well-being, so we help with name changes, gender corrections, and criminal expungements. We can also review contracts (or draft them in some situations) prior to signing to protect students or student organizations in subleases, employment or with vendors. Our priority is to help students when they most need us, so we do not assist with any entrepreneurial matters (which includes renting property; i.e. students who are seeking assistance from the landlord role).
Practice Areas
- Landlord-Tenant
- Lease review before signing
- Disputes with Landlord
- Evictions
- Repair and maintenance issues
- Security Deposits
- Sublease drafting
- Criminal & Traffic
- Minor criminal felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic misdemeanors like reckless driving and DUI
- Expungement of criminal charges
- Consumer
- Contracts
- Car accidents
- Personal & Family Changes
- Name change
- Gender Correction
- Employment wages
For the following matters, we may be able to provide a referral to a local attorney but no other services:
- Personal Injury
- Worker's compensation
- Personal Property Tax
For students representing themselves in civil matters (like in small claims court), we can assist with court document preparation.
Geographic Area
For any matters arising out of a Virginia locality not listed below, SLS can potentially provide a consultation and referral.
- Charlottesville
- Albemarle
- Fluvanna*
- Madison*
- Greene*
- Orange*
- Nelson*
- Waynesboro*
*Criminal/traffic only - mileage reimbursement fees will be charged
SLS cannot represent or advise on the following:
1) Issues against another student, the University of Virginia, or the Commonwealth of Virginia (this does not include criminal matters, which are not considered to be against UVA or the Commonwealth because neither are the defendant in criminal matters);
2) UVA policies or procedures;
3) UJC, Honor Council, or Dean of Students inquiries;
4) Matters outside of the state of Virginia.
Who is Eligible for Our Services?
Any STUDENT who pays the student activities fee (most students) is eligible for legal help from Student Legal Services. Students who have withdrawn or who have graduated are eligible for services if their issue arose while they were a student and they left the school within the last 6 months. Students who have been expelled are not eligible. *Please note that post doctorate fellows are not students and are not eligible for our services.*
Students who do not pay the student activities fee, such as those in SCPS, may receive assistance but will be charged $50 for services. This fee includes the consultation and any court representation if warranted.
Cases We Cannot Assist With
- Divorce or Separation from spouse
- Wills, Trusts, & Estates
- Civil Tax (other than personal property tax)
- Student Entrepreneurship
- Real Estate
- Copyright, Patent, or Trademark
- Honor or UJC related issues
- Immigration or student visas, but we do offer some information on our Immigration page.
Fee Schedule
Starting July 1, 2024, SLS will be waiving all representations fees for students who have paid the student-activities fee. Students enrolled in SCPS (School of Continuing & Professional Studies) must pay a $50 for both a consultation and any resulting legal representation. See to the right for court filing fee information.
Common Court Filing Fees
Below is a list of common court fees in the Charlottesville and Albemarle courts. These numbers may vary depending on which court you file in.
| Expungement | $82 per charge + $12 service of process per charge |
| Warrant in Debt (GDC) | $60-63 (depending on court) |
| Tenant's Assertion (GDC) | $60-63 (depending on court) |
| Name Change | $37 |