Welcome to the Graduate Student Legal Aid Office located in room 1235A of the Stamp Student Union.

Who We Are:

The Graduate Student Legal Aid Office (GLAO)is a part-time program sponsored by the Graduate Student Government and funded solely by student activity fees. The Office provides information, resources, referrals and brief advice and assistance to graduate students with legal questions, problems or disputes involving both University and off-campus matters in Maryland. The Office is staffed by a part-time attorney, part-time paralegal, intake specialists and student interns.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR LEGAL AID SERVICES

Services are provided free of charge to currently registered graduate students who attend the College Park campus. We cannot assist undergraduate students, graduate or professional students who attend other UM campuses, University College students, or faculty or staff. We are required to confirm your student status before you use our services. Please have your student ID handy whenever you call or come in to see us.

WHAT WE DO

The Office provides general information, resources, referrals and brief legal advice/assistance to graduate students with legal questions or problems related to both University and off-campus issues. Our attorney acts in an advisory capacity only and cannot represent students in court or negotiate on their behalf with third parties. We cannot provide information or advice involving conflicts or potential conflicts between two or more graduate services. We cannot provide emergency legal services.

SERVICES PROVIDED

University Related Issues:

Represent graduate students charged by University Judicial Programs with academic or disciplinary violations.

 

Representation is ordinarily provided by trained peer advocates as provided for by the University codes.

Advise students on campus grievance and appeals procedures in areas such as residency classification, arbitrary and capricious grading, and illegal discrimination claims.

 

Answer student questions about legality of University rules, procedures, actions or decisions; advise students on how to pursue valid legal claims; provide referrals to outside attorneys or organizations for students seeking representation.

We cannot evaluate the merits of purely academic issues and cannot intervene with professors, advisors, or departments on academic matters.

Off-Campus Matters We Handle Include:

• LANDLORD-TENANT
• CONSUMER RIGHTS AND SMALL CLAIMS ACTIONS
• SEPARATION AND DIVORCE
• NAME CHANGE PETITIONS
• TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS AND AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT LAW
• HEALTH INSURANCE DENIALS AND DISPUTES
• SIMPLE CONTRACT AND EMPLOYMENT ISSUES

SERVICES THAT ARE NOT COVERED:

The Office does not provide legal advice or detailed information in the following areas, but can provide referrals to outside attorneys and organizations specializing in these matters:

• bankruptcy filings,
• real estate transactions
• tax advice and filings
• immigration filings
• business law
• criminal law advice - we can help clients understand the nature of the charges, whether the student is entitled to public defender services, and options for private representation

EMERGENCIES: The Office cannot provide emergency legal services. If you need immediate help when the Office is closed, please go to emergency information.

The Office cannot provide information or handle disputes involving conflicts or potential conflicts between two or more graduate students.

Please feel free to call x55807 during open intake hours if you have questions about whether the Center can assist you with your particular legal questions or matter. Email inquiries are not accepted.

Confidentiality Statement: Communications betweenGLAO staff and students who use our services are confidential. Information is not released to anyone, including the University Administration, without the student's consent.