More and more students are using ASMSU’s Legal Services, according to a recent survey by the undergraduate student government.
Last semester, 1,454 students used ASMSU’s Legal Services. The count, according to official reports, is the highest number of individuals to use the service since ASMSU began offering it in the 1960s.
The steady influx could be due to several factors, Wes MacIntosh, director of legal services said.
“I would say increased enrollment is a major contributor to the rising numbers,” he said. “But I haven’t really drawn any conclusions on it.”
ASMSU attorney Brian Jeffries said the buildup can in part be attributed to an upswing in off-campus housing issues.
“We had an increase in a lot of landlord-tenant representation,” Jeffries said. “We have represented kind of the whole gamut of landlord-tenant work.”
Jeffries has been a senior partner and full-time lawyer for the ASMSU law firm, along with James Newton, since 1984. Tim Baumann is a full-time associate attorney.
Students with alcohol violations make up a majority of the total university-represented cases.
“Certainly alcohol plays a significant role in what we do here,” Jeffries said. “I would say 97 percent of (the total cases) are probably alcohol-related.”
While considering cases, the law firm is focused on the long-term implications they could have on the student, Jeffries said.
“Our goal is trying to get the student out of here without a criminal record,” he said.
MSU students who request a refund of the $13 ASMSU tax do not receive free legal service privileges.
Jeffries said enforcement by the East Lansing police and the MSU police could also be a contributing factor to an expanded need for legal services.
“I think the enforcement has been constant over the years,” he said. “I think it is directly attributed to the mindset of residents.”
Although the law firm has participated in many cases in its years at ASMSU, Jeffries said no formal complaints have been made toward any of the attorneys’ actions.
“Some students complain that it takes too long to set up an appointment,” Jeffries said. “But in terms of complaints in our abilities, there (have) been no complaints.”
In fact, some former clients have sent thank-you letters to the firm to show their appreciation, MacIntosh said.
“They have helped me incredibly,” said Andrew Holman, a building construction management junior who sent one of those letters and was represented by the firm three times. “They did about as good as they possibly can in finding loopholes and turning a bad situation into a good one.”
