Currently enrolled West Chester University students can make an appointment on RamConnect to meet with a lawyer for free. Students are encouraged to bring documents to the designated appointment related
to the legal issue (i.e., lease, citation). Please keep in mind that students are
strongly encouraged to use this service BEFORE legal complications arise.
The lawyer will provide a 15-minute consultation on a variety of civil and criminal issues - landlord/tenant,
leases, citations, etc. This free service is offered by appointment only. The consultation
does not extend into a courtroom. If further legal aid is needed, the lawyer can suggest professionals
for consideration, or refer students to the Lawyer Referral Service of the Chester
County Bar Association. Please note that the lawyer is prohibited from taking any
student cases as this may pose a conflict of interest.
Appointments are scheduled for the full year and listed on RamConnect. Students must use their WCU email to sign up for appointments. If no appointments are available on a preferred date, please sign up for a forthcoming
date.
Any information, materials, or advice provided by an attorney as part of the "Student
Legal Aid" shall not be attributable to or in any way reflect the views of West Chester
University and/or Student Services, Inc.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Student Legal Aid appointment, or legal consult, could be for any legal question
or concern you have, even if it is unrelated to student life. Common themes that student
legal aid appointments are used to discuss include citations (noise, underage alcohol,
trash, etc.), lease review, landlord/tenant question or issues, and roommate/neighbor
disputes.
Why Choose a Legal Consult?:
Appointments are typically available every other Friday while classes are in session,
though exact dates may vary each semester. To view this semester's appointment dates,
and to sign up for appointments, check out the Student Legal Aid RamConnect.
Students will meet with Carla Goewert, Esq., who has been the legal aid attorney at
WCU for the last 5 years. Appointments are each 15-minutes, which most student find
a sufficient amount of time! You are not limited to one appointment though, and are
encouraged to sign up for more appointments should you feel you need more.
Check Out Carla's Overview of a Student Legal Aid Appointment:
It is highly recommended to sign up for a Legal Aid Appointment BEFORE legal complications
arise. Before you sign any legal document, such as a lease for an apartment, make
sure to schedule an appointment! If you have any paperwork you want the attorney to
review, it is recommended you email the paperwork ahead of your appointment to make
the most of your appointment time.
Check Out Carla's Tips to Prepare For an Appointment:
Students will receive a reminder about their appointment one day prior. If you need
to reschedule or cancel your appointment you may do so on RamConnect.
