Wednesday, October 24, 2001

Legal counsel available to students at no charge
By Kristin Delorantis
Staff Reporter

When Amanda Borowczak’s sister received a ticket for violating open container laws, Borowczak said she wished she could have spoken with someone to tell her about her sister’s rights.

Borowczak, a freshman graphic design major, was unaware of attorney services provided to the student body by the Student Government Association.

According to an online survey conducted by the House of Student Representatives on Constituency Day, many other students are also oblivious to the service. Of the 600 students who filled out the survey, 8.3 percent of students said they knew SGA provided free legal counsel, House Vice President Amy Render said.SGA has paid attorneys about $3,000 per semester to provide legal services to students for 10 to 12 years, said SGA advisor Larry Markley. Attorney James Munford offers students free legal advice Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the SGA office.

SGA President Brian Wood said House does not greatly publicize Munford because they want to maximize his time with students.

“We don’t want him to be flooded with students,” Wood said. “He deals with more serious issues than traffic tickets.”

Students with legal concerns are often referred to the Campus Life office, where they are notified of the attorney services available, Wood said.

Munford said he has been offering advice to TCU students since 1995, after he inherited the position when attorney Tom Lowe became a district judge in 1994.

Munford specializes in family law, but was hired by SGA to provide services to students needing legal guidance, Markley said.

“The intent was to allow students to have some legal consult on campus if they were running into problems they needed to deal with,” Markley said. “He can do a lot of things to assist students if they are in a legal bind and it makes it an easier situation for students to have access to it.”

Markley said Munford is often busy for the full hour and a half he is available.

Munford said he deals primarily with issues involving rent, traffic violations, minors in possession and the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission.

“I will spend whatever time a student needs to explain whatever problems they have or what their rights may be,” Munford said. “It gives students the opportunity to talk to a lawyer and understand the legal system.”

Munford said he will also meet with students in his east Fort Worth office.“This environment (SGA office) is not as conducive to the one-on-one conference that you can get at the office, although it is just as confidential and private,” Munford said.

Munford said students can also hire him for legal purposes.

Freshman speech communication major Kristin Wallner fully supports the service.

“It allows students to get advice from a professional that they would normally have to pay for,” Wallner said. “Also, you can receive the service without having to tell your parents.”

Kristin Delorantis
k.a.delorantis@student.tcu.edu