About Students' Legal Assistance

We serve the NIU community by providing students with advice, legal advocacy and court representation. Current NIU students can use our legal services free of charge. However, our clients are responsible for their court fees, litigation expenses, fines and judgments.

Our staff includes two full-time licensed attorneys, an office manager and undergraduate student workers. We also employ graduate assistants from the NIU College of Law who serve as law clerks.

Mission

The mission of Students' Legal Assistance is to provide the best legal assistance possible to NIU students. We believe it is important to provide information and advice to NIU students who would not otherwise receive legal assistance. Our services include advice and consultation, legal advocacy and, when appropriate, court representation.

History

Students' Legal Assistance opened in the fall of 1972, the result of efforts between the NIU Student Association leadership and the progressive support of the NIU administration. The program is rooted in our belief that providing legal assistance to NIU students who, because of economic inability, would otherwise be unable to participate in the due process system, is essential to their academic and personal success.

Students' Legal Assistance is funded entirely by student activity fees as allocated by the Student Association. It is part of the Division of Student Affairs.