On Feb. 8 Al Walsh, the attorney for Student Legal Services (SLS), presented at the ASUW senate meeting about the important, though often unknown, services they offer students.
“As Student Legal Services, our purpose is to help students with legal problems,” Walsh said.
The most associated instances in which SLS are able to help a student out include misdemeanors such as “a minor in possession or drinking in the dorms” according to Walsh.
However, the most common issue that Walsh said he sees is one that may not be expected.
“The lion’s share of what I do is help students with landlord-tenant problems.”
Walsh said these types of issues account for nearly 80% of all cases he sees at the University.
Walsh notes that this is due to the fact that Laramie, being home to a university, has its share of “nefarious landlords” looking to take advantage of students.
This is where SLS comes in.
“For practical purposes, what our assistance is,” Walsh continued, “Is parenting and helping students solve problems for themselves.”
“They’ll come in and talk to us about their problem, and we will go over what their options are,” Walsh said.
These issues include students struggling to get deposits back or those stuck in an unjust lease.
Often the issue turns into a situation where a student will likely need to sue.
The student(s) will ultimately be the one who will file the paperwork. However, SLS can help locate and fill out the correct legal forms necessary and be a guide through the entire process.
“We can’t actually represent students in court,” Walsh said.
Any student experiencing trouble with a landlord, lease, deposit or anything else related is encouraged by Walsh to reach out via email or come to the SLS office located in Knight Hall.
The best advice Walsh has for those students who are worried about a lease, and do not want to or cannot come talk to him is “number one: read it,” and second make sure you know who you are dealing with.
Walsh, who took his current position in July 2021, said SLS is on the brink of a few “good wins” for students.
These ‘wins’ refer to a use of the legal process to garnish the landlord’s rent.
According to Walsh, after a landlord is sued for a deposit of a tenant, and still refuses to pay, the former tenant will be entitled to the rent of the current tenant.
“I am not saying the current tenant is going to pay any extra rent. It’s just changing the person who the rent goes to.” Walsh said.
The “garnishment trick,” Walsh said, will likely be specifically effective against landlords as it is hitting them where it hurts most; in their money.
Two sets of students (roommates) are on the cusp of these hard-fought litigations becoming official rulings.
Walsh said this could provide lasting implications to current and future student-renters in Laramie.
“I think we can send a pretty clear message to some pretty awful landlords.”
At this time, these cases are still ongoing.
For any students in need of assistance, SLS can be contacted at sls@uwyo.edu or found in Knight Hall, Room 128.
