A licensed attorney is employed by the University and available to advise and consult with all currently enrolled students who have paid the Student Service Fee. The attorney may advise the student regarding personal legal problems and concerns.

Areas frequently discussed with the attorney include landlord-tenant disputes, family law matters, contractual controversies, consumer protection questions, traffic accidents, and minor criminal matters. Concerns regarding other legal matters may require additional research or referral, at the discretion of the attorney. Academic matters and other problems or concerns involving UTA are addressed in various policies and procedures. Therefore, the attorney may not represent the student in any legal or administrative proceedings or offer advice pertaining to any legal topic involving the University or another enrolled student.

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The Student Legal Services' Office is located in suite B160  on the Lower Level of the E.H. Hereford University Center.
Normal office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on week days.

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The Student Service Fee funds UTA Legal Services and, therefore, makes it possible for the attorney to exclusively serve students. Members of the faculty and staff are not eligible for consultation services unless they are also enrolled as students and have paid the Student Service Fee. Face-to-face appointments are required and may be scheduled by calling 817-272-3771. UTA students paying the fee are protected by the prohibition of telephone consultations since there is no way to confirm that a caller is a student. To further assure that others may not take the time and resources that are set aside for students, each client must present his or her MavExpress Card upon arrival for an appointment; this permits verification of current enrollment. To get the maximum value from the consultation, students are advised to bring all documentation relating to the matter to be discussed.

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Most consumer problems can be settled by contacting the business directly. The salesman, manager or customer service representative may be able to resolve the problem. If the solution offered is not satisfactory, contact the owner or the company's headquarters. Formal letters detailing what, when, how and the remedy sought generally receive a response.

Many consumers overlook the fact that there are several agencies that may provide assistance with a controversy or dispute with a company or organization.

The Attorney General of Texas maintains the Consumer Protection Division with offices throughout the state. Because state law prohibits the Attorney General's office from serving as a personal attorney, most complaints are either mediated or referred to other agencies with special expertise.

The Better Business Bureau is another resource for consideration. Offices are located in most major cities. A consumer may find out if complaints are on record about a specific business or businesses, or a consumer may wish to file a complaint against a business. Upon request, a complaint form is sent to a consumer and then processed upon its return. A copy of the complaint form is forwarded to the business, and an attempt is made to resolve the controversy. If not resolved, the complaint usually remains on record against that business.

Many larger communities offer mediation service agencies for dispute resolution. While these services may be available throughout the private sector, frequently the community agency is more accommodating in scheduling the mediation session and more cost-effective for the consumer. Alternative dispute resolution services are generally listed in the blue pages of telephone books.

Many large organizations such as insurance companies, public utilities, and commercial banks are regulated by federal and/or state governmental agencies. Sometimes a complaint may be filed with these agencies or a telephone call made to determine the legality of a practice. Most of the state regulatory agencies are located in Austin while the federal agencies usually have local or regional offices in Dallas or Fort Worth.

In some areas the local bar association sponsors legal clinics. Clinics are presented periodically at a variety of locations; they may provide general legal information or may be tailored to address specific topics such as bankruptcy, wills, and family violence.

Additionally, consumer protection information, including scam alerts, is available on the Internet.

If a consumer believes that he/she has a legitimate problem and has not been able to resolve it with any or all of the above techniques, consultation with an attorney should be considered.

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Commonly, consumers fail to protect themselves in dealing with businesses because they fail to have documentation. What this really means is a consumer should insist on having the agreement between the parties in writing. The entire agreement, including all provisions, should be in writing and signed by both parties. Any warranties, guarantees, service or repair statements, etc., should be in writing and made a part of the agreement. A merchant's representation or promise cannot be verified otherwise. If a business or salesman is hesitant about writing down any of the above-described representations, a consumer should be careful about entering into the transaction.

A consumer should remember that he or she does have bargaining power, and this power can and should be exercised if necessary.

Consumers are advised to keep copies of all rental agreements and property condition inventories. This is an area that frequently comes back to haunt tenants.

Many consumers fail to read or understand agreements they sign. This is unfortunate and tragic in some situations. Failing to correctly understand an agreement may make it impossible to challenge its validity if it is contrary to the consumer's understanding. The legal system assumes that consumers read all agreements before they sign them. An agreement should not be signed unless its meaning is clear; and a consumer should never sign an agreement on the spur of the moment. An attorney should be consulted if there are any doubts about all or a portion of an agreement. A check with the Better Business Bureau regarding a company's past record is also recommended.

A consumer should also be careful of signing an agreement if it calls for monthly or regular payments. An unpaid balance, if not paid as agreed, may adversely affect the consumer's future credit rating.

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Caution should be exercised in disclosing personal information such as date of birth, social security and driver's license numbers, marital status, and credit card/banking account numbers. It is important to know who will have access to this information and for what purpose. Credit card and telemarketing frauds affect numerous students annually, and identity theft incidents are increasing.

The University of Texas at Arlington
Student Legal Services
E.H. Hereford University Center
817-272-3771

 © 2004 The University of Texas at Arlington |Website designed by:Nikky Chhabra