Services, Eligibility and Fees

Student Legal Services (SLS) provides consultations in a variety of legal areas. Representation is also available for many issues. While information on the most common types of legal matters we see in our office is available below, we offer many services in addition to what is listed.

If a student’s legal problem falls outside the areas noted below, we may still be able to help. We’ve probably dealt with the issue before and even if we haven’t, we’ll be happy to help if we can.

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Criminal

Student Legal Services handles almost all types of criminal cases seen by students; in the past year alone we’ve seen charges for everything ranging from MIP to theft to assault to felony drug distribution.

Criminal defense issues we can help with include:

  • Arson
  • Assault
  • Bias motivated crimes
  • Brawling
  • Burglary
  • Criminal mischief (property damage)
  • Disorderly conduct
  • Domestic violence
  • Driving while license revoked or suspended
  • DUI/DWAI – alcohol (drunk driving)
  • DUI/DWAI – drugs
  • Fraud
  • Harassment
  • Interference with staff, faculty or students of educational institutions
  • Intimidation of or retaliation against a witness
  • Littering
  • Menacing
  • MIP-alcohol (minor in possession of alcohol or underage drinking)
  • MIP-marijuana
  • Noise violation
  • Nuisance party
  • Obstructing a peace officer
  • Open container
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Possession or distribution of prescription or recreational drugs
  • Public consumption of alcohol (drinking in public)
  • Public consumption of marijuana
  • Resisting arrest
  • Rioting
  • Shoplifting or theft
  • Stalking
  • Trespass
  • Underage drinking and driving
  • Unlawful conduct on public property
  • Urinating in public

Colorado law allows a person to hide many criminal records from the public under state law through expungement or sealing, if certain requirements are met.

Expunging or sealing records can be a very detailed process and may or may not be effective to meet a person’s goals. This is especially true with the major changes made to the state expungement and sealing laws effective August 2019. We can help students understand the process and effect of expunging or sealing their records. We also can often be hired to represent students in making expungement or sealing requests.

Expungement

Expungement is available in Colorado for many types of juvenile – generally meaning under the age of 18 – justice records. Even juvenile "convictions" (actually called adjudications) can be expunged if the criteria are met. Expungement can also apply to underage drinking and driving convictions, even if a person was between 18 and 21 years old at the time of the offense. Some cases cannot be expunged, like those where juveniles were adjudicated for felony sex offenses or very violent crimes.

Sealing

Sealing is the adult method of hiding criminal records in Colorado. It is generally available for criminal records that are not associated with a conviction, such as when all charges filed in a case were dismissed or when a defendant is acquitted of all charges at trial.

There are a few exceptions to this rule. Some cases can never be sealed even if no convictions are associated with them, such as cases in which the only charges were traffic infractions or cases which were dismissed after deferred judgments and sentences to certain charges.

Many cases can also qualify for sealing even though there are convictions associated with them, including convictions for: 

  • Most minor in possession charges
  • Most municipal offenses
  • Some petty offenses and misdemeanors
  • Some lower level felonies

Typically, a person must wait a long period of time before asking the court to seal qualifying conviction records. The length of the waiting period depends on the type of case. A person must also sometimes wait to seal records related to dismissed cases or investigations that did not result in charges.

Process of expungement or sealing

There are many requirements for both expungements and sealings and they are strictly enforced. If a request to hide records is denied for some reason, the person will likely have to wait a long period of time before being allowed to make the request again. 

It can take anywhere from several days to several months to go through the process of asking the court to seal records. The timeline depends on the type of records and the court that has jurisdiction over those records.

Effect of expungement or sealing

Expungement or sealing of criminal records in Colorado generally hides those records from public view and authorizes a limited right to make certain statements about the records.

Expungement or sealing under Colorado law is not effective as to certain government and private entities, and neither procedure makes the records disappear. In addition, expunged and sealed records can still be used in court.

Be aware that, under certain circumstances, sealed records may later be “unsealed.”

Student Legal Services can provide answers to questions on traffic cases ranging from minor traffic infractions to reckless driving to DUI.

For minor infractions, we often advise that students do not need to hire a lawyer to handle their case. We will walk a student through what traffic court looks like and give advice on how to best navigate the system.

Students with more serious traffic matters may be able to hire a Student Legal Services attorney to represent them.

DMV consequences

If a student pays a ticket or is otherwise convicted on a traffic matter, there are usually DMV consequences that result from the conviction, like driver's license points. Too many driver's license points will cause a license suspension.

A person's license can also be taken away for other reasons, like driving with a high blood alcohol content, missing a court date, getting more than one Minor in Possession (MIP) conviction or getting a DUI conviction.

Students who think they might be in danger of losing their licenses should contact Student Legal Services about their situations. We can help prepare students for their driver's license hearings. Students may also be able to hire us to represent them at their hearings.

Civil

LANDLORD/TENANT CONSULTATION FEES ARE FREE.

SLS can counsel students on many types of landlord/tenant matters and, in some situations, can be hired to represent students on those matters.

Some of the landlord/tenant issues we can help with include:

  • Apartment repairs
  • Warranty of Habitability
  • Lease review
  • Eviction proceedings
  • Security deposit disputes

Note that we cannot always give advice to or represent students on their landlord/tenant issues. See our limitations on services for more information.

Landlord/tenant consultations with Student Legal Services are free. Student Legal Services can also help students by communicating with your landlord or by litigating in court on your behalf for a modest fee. Off-Campus Housing and Neighborhood Relations also has a part-time attorney on staff who can review leases before you sign.

Student Legal Services' contract immigration attorney, Jon Sirkis, can address all immigration matters, including:

  • Student visa issues
  • F-1 reinstatement
  • Green cards
  • National interest waivers
  • Effects of a criminal case on immigration status
  • Employment-based immigration

Immigration appointments through SLS are 50 minutes in length with no follow-ups available. Because this service is available on a limited basis, each student is allowed one immigration appointment while attending CU Boulder.

You should be aware that International Student and Scholar Services maintains a list of other affordable immigration legal services in Colorado. In addition, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website contains information you may find to be helpful.

Student Legal Services can counsel students on many types of civil (non-criminal) cases.

Some of the civil issues we can help with include:

  • Contract review
  • Credit report or credit card disputes
  • Debt collection demands
  • Divorce or child support
  • Insurance claims
  • Lemon laws
  • Powers of attorney
  • Restraining orders
  • Small claims court
  • Wage disputes

Note that, in certain situations, we will be unable to assist students on matters such as these. See our limitations on services policy for more information. 

Administrative

Students can be disciplined by CU Boulder if they are found to have violated any university policies, like: 

Students who have been contacted by Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, a hall director or OIEC should make an appointment with Student Legal Services (SLS) as soon as possible. In most situations, SLS can help prepare students for their hearings. Students may also be able to hire us to go with them to their hearings.

If a case qualifies, SLS can also likely assist with an appeal; note, however, that we cannot sue the university.

Please remember that communications with SLS are confidential as required by attorney/client privilege.

If a student pays a ticket or is otherwise convicted on a traffic matter, there are usually DMV consequences that result from the conviction, like driver's license points. Too many driver's license points will cause a license suspension.

A person's license can also be taken away for other reasons, like driving with a high blood alcohol content, missing a court date, getting more than one Minor in Possession (MIP) conviction or getting a DUI conviction.

Students who think they might be in danger of losing their licenses should contact SLS about their situations. We can help prepare students for their driver's license hearings. Students may also be able to hire us to represent them at their hearings.

Student Legal Services may also be able to help with other types of administrative hearings for qualifying students, such as Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) disciplinary boards.

Services we do not provide

SLS does not provide any advice on questions regarding taxes, bankruptcy, business, patent, trademark, copyright, wills, real estate or legal claims against a government entity, including the police and CU Boulder.

Also, we generally do not provide advice on questions regarding legal claims against another CU Boulder student. Note that we do not necessarily consider it problematic to advise or represent a student on a criminal case because a second student is either listed as a co-defendant in the case or has been wronged by the first student. See our limitations on services policy for more information.

In the event we cannot help with a legal situation, we’ll do our best to refer to someone who can.

Notary Services

SLS does not provide notary services. Notary services may be available at the following nearby locations.

On campus

Off campus

Eligibility

SLS is available only to CU Boulder students paying student activity fees. A CU Boulder student is generally paying student activity fees when taking

  • Six or more credit hours of on-campus classes (undergraduate)
  • Five or more credit hours of on-campus classes (graduate)

Student activity fees are paid to the CU Student Government (CUSG) and are separate from tuition. 

We may also be able to help if a student contacts us within three months of the last academic term for which student activity fees were paid.

We cannot provide legal services for a student’s friends or relatives, or for student groups. We are, however, available to make educational presentations to student groups and campus organizations on request. Our outreach efforts focus on individual constitutional rights, how to deal with the police, the Student Code of Conduct, knowing what to look for in an apartment lease and other similar topics. Call SLS at 303-492-6813 or visit us in UMC 311 if interested in having us give a group presentation.

Fees

SLS is required to charge for most consultation and all representation services. Payments to SLS may be made by credit card, debit card, check, money order or cash. SLS cannot bill student accounts.

Consultation

Consultation fees for eligible students:

  • $30 if the full student activity fee for the current term has been paid.
  • $35 if the base student activity fee for the current term has been paid.
  • $35 if the consultation takes place within three months of the last term for which a student activity fee was paid.

SLS charges consultation fees per student per legal issue; however, the fee structure is slightly different when criminal co-defendants or tenants with the same legal issue come in together to meet with us. Note that consultations on landlord/tenant matters are free.

For most legal issues, the consultation fee includes up to a one-hour meeting with an SLS lawyer and, if needed, up to a one-hour follow-up meeting with the same lawyer. Some types of consultations do not include a follow-up appointment.

Representation

To be represented by a SLS attorney, a student must consult with SLS about the legal issue, sign our fee agreement and pay to us an additional amount called a services retainer. The services retainer covers SLS’s services work and will be either in the form of a flat fee or an hourly rate. The amount of the services retainer will depend on several factors, including:

  • The type, seriousness and number of legal issues. 
  • The amount of work the attorney needs to do to help with the issue(s).
  • The locations of any courts where cases have been or may be filed.

Most SLS services retainers are flat fee, meaning that there is a set amount paid to SLS for attorney representation. Flat fees generally range from $100 to $2,850, depending on a student’s circumstances. Students with documentation of certain Federal financial aid may qualify for a partial fee waiver.

On certain types of cases, SLS attorneys must be hired by the hour. In these situations, a student must pay an initial services retainer, and then supplement the services retainer with additional money as needed to cover SLS’s hourly rate. Students with documentation of certain Federal financial aid may qualify for a partial rate adjustment.

Depending on the situation, a cost retainer may also be required by SLS. A cost retainer is used to pay for expenses associated with SLS’s representation, such as fees for filing documents, requesting juries, blood retests and expert witnesses, as well as things like case investigation and subpoena service. We do not collect cost retainers unless such expenses are anticipated. Because student clients are responsible for all expenses associated with SLS’s representation, they may have to supplement their cost retainer accounts one or more times.

If a student’s case is one that the SLS attorney is willing to take on and the student wants to hire SLS, the attorney will discuss the services and costs retainers at a consultation. Services and cost retainer information would also be outlined in our fee agreement.

Please note that even if a student meets the eligibility requirements, there is no guarantee that an SLS attorney will take the student on as a client or continue to represent the student until the legal situation is resolved. For example, some legal issues require resources the office does not have and sometimes limitations on our services or other issues prevent representation. In the event we cannot provide legal services, we will do our best to refer to another lawyer who can.

Non-SLS payments

Students often also have to pay money related to their legal issues to organizations or people other than SLS. Money paid to SLS is only for consultation fees and, as appropriate, retainers for services and costs; it never covers any other financial obligations of students. Such financial obligations often result from the resolution of a legal matter and may include those noted below.

  • Payments required by a court, such as those for:
    • Court fines, fees, costs, surcharges and restitution (paid to the court)
    • Probation supervision (paid to either the court or the probation office)
    • Community service (paid to either the court or the community service office)
    • Classes (paid to the class providers)
    • Drug testing (paid to the testing agency)
    • Money awarded to another party to a case (typically paid directly to the prevailing party)
  • Payments agreed to in settlement of a case

Our confidentiality promise

Students who visit SLS are entitled to the same confidentiality all lawyers in Colorado provide to their clients. We will not talk to anyone about a student's case (e.g., family members, the university or Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution) without the student's permission—except in a few situations authorized by the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limitations on services

Student Legal Services’ (SLS) mission of providing professional legal services to eligible CU Boulder students is limited. We try to help as many students as we can in as many situations as we can but sometimes we will be unable to do so because of the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys, university rules or other reasons. Some of the common problematic situations we encounter are detailed below.

In civil cases where one student has a legal claim against another, our office cannot represent and generally may not even advise either student. In civil cases that involve roommate disputes, however, we may see the first of the two students who contacts our office, but we will limit our assistance on the matter to a one-time, advice-only appointment. In these situations, we will also cover the difference in consultation cost for the second student to see a private attorney from our referral list for up to one hour. Please note that this is the only situation in which SLS can reimburse students for costs associated with private attorneys.

Sometimes two students are charged as co-defendants in a criminal case and one or both of the students says the situation is the other student’s fault. In those situations, there is an irreconcilable conflict and we cannot advise or represent more than one of the students.

When student co-defendants are not blaming each other, we can usually meet with all of them to explore the potential conflict and whether or not it can be waived. If it is possible to waive the potential conflict and the co-defendant students agree to do so, then we can generally advise and represent all of them.

Note that we do not necessarily consider it problematic to advise or represent a student on a criminal case because a second student is either listed as a co-defendant in the case or has been wronged by the first student. The main reason for this is because a criminal case is not structured as one person against another person like a civil case is; a criminal case is structured as the government against a person.

Also, students wronged by other students frequently have one or more agencies working in their interest or available for their support, such as the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC), Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution office, Office of Victim Assistance, the prosecutor’s office or a private attorney’s office.

SLS assesses its ability to represent students on criminal cases such as these according to the particular facts of each situation.

Our staff members are CU Boulder employees and we cannot assist students with legal claims against the university as it would be a conflict of interest. It is not, however, a problem for SLS to advise or represent a student with regard to hearings for alleged violations of the Student Conduct Code, Honor Code or dorm rules, or with regard to many alleged violations of Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) policies.

SLS does not represent students on certain serious cases. We encourage students with serious legal issues to call anyway so that we can assess their situations and do our best to provide referrals if we cannot represent them.

Conflicts of interest or problems with University rules or other issues can also arise "mid-case." If such a situation presents itself during our representation of one or more students and it either cannot be or is not resolved, we must immediately move to withdraw as counsel for all of the students involved.

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Disclaimers

  • An attorney/client relationship is not established just by reading information posted on this website and/or contacting Student Legal Services (SLS).
  • The sole purpose of this website is to provide potential SLS clients with general information about our office and services, as well as applicable state and local resources. The website is not intended as a substitute for legal analysis and/or advice provided by a properly licensed attorney. Users should seek legal counsel regarding their individual situations.
  • While all information on this website has been reviewed and is believed to be reasonably accurate, SLS cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. We ask users who find errors in or have complaints about the information on this website to please let us know as soon as possible.
  • The University of Colorado Boulder, including Student Legal Services, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation or political philosophy in admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, its educational programs and activities.