Free legal counsel available to students
When thinking of lawyers, astronomical legal fees may come to mind. However, a local attorney is available to give free legal advice to all current USU students every Thursday from 5 to 7:40 p.m. in TSC 340.
“The vast majority of students come in to see me because of landlord and tenant disputes,” Attorney Barbara Lachmar said. “However, I see a smattering of just about everything.”
Lachmar said other common concerns students bring to her concern criminal cases or divorce and separation.
She said she cannot represent students in court; rather, she can only offer counsel. Students seeking advice on topics she is not qualified to give counsel for – such as immigration, taxes and corporate law – may still make an appointment with her and she can refer them to a specialist in that field.
She frequently consults with other attorneys and conducts other forms of research to answer most of students’ questions, Lachmar said.
Students interested in utilizing Lachmar’s legal counsel can make a 20-minute appointment with her by visiting the Student Involvement and Leadership Office located on the third floor of the Taggart Student Center.
Students can arrange for longer appointments if they have more complex concerns, said Kristin Johnson, staff assistant in the Student Involvement and Leadership Office. Johnson said students whose legal concerns cannot wait until the regular Thursday appointment slots can make arrangements to contact Lachmar sooner by visiting the Student Involvement and Leadership Office.
Johnson said Lachmar’s on-campus schedule contains several open appointment slots most weeks. Lachmar said she see about three students a week.
“I think it’s sad,” Johnson said. “We provide this service, but not many students know about or utilize it.”
Though the service is free to students, Lachmar is paid $80 an hour using student fees, Johnson said.
Spencer Beard, a junior majoring in finance and economics, said he saw Lachmar shortly before Spring Break.
“The meeting was really beneficial,” he said. “It was really informative and professional.”
Beard said Lachmar asked him to describe his situation in detail, and she was able to answer most of his questions. He said there was one area of expertise she recommended he contact a referred specialist for. He said he highly recommends other students utilize her services.
“I can imagine I saved a bit of money,” Beard said. “To spend an hour off campus with an experienced, well-educated lawyer would have probably cost me at least $100.”
When not on campus, Lachmar works as a prosecutor for Cache County. She worked for Cache County as a public defender for 15 years and has been a prosecutor since 2005.
Lachmar specializes in criminal law and graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., in 1983 and has practiced in Washington, Colorado and Utah since then. She said she has worked for USU for approximately four years.
According to the Student Legal Service Proposal – available through the ASUSU student advocate – the legal services program began at USU during the 1982-83 school year.
– rouchelle.brockman@aggiemail.usu.edu