Our History

The Center for Student Legal Services: A Brief History

In 1996, the Ohio University Student Senate was successful in getting approval to start an affordable legal assistance program for students. With the help of local attorney Susan Gwinn, The Center for Student Advocacy became a non-profit corporation that opened its doors on February 14, 1997. Located at 8 North Court Street, the Center provided legal assistance to upperclassmen with housing legal issues. As the organization grew, they began to take on a variety of legal issues. In 2000, the attorneys began representing students in criminal misdemeanors. In 2005 the Center for Student Advocacy changed its name to Center for Student Legal Services to make their purpose more clear. The office was moved to 50 South Court St. Suite D, above The College Book Store, where they currently reside.

From 1997 to 2003, local attorney David Baer was the Managing Attorney. In 2000, Patrick McGee was hired as the first Staff Attorney. When Baer left in 2003, McGee was appointed interim Managing Attorney, and then elected permanently in 2004. From 2004 to 2011, the Center has benefitted from the expertise of several Staff Attorneys, all from impressive backgrounds and experience in many areas of law:

 

Maggie Sallah: Staff Attorney 2004-2005

Melissa Luna: Staff Attorney 2005-2010

Kristine Hayes: Staff Attorney 2008-2011

Melissa GreenIee Staff Attorney: 2010-present

 

From 1997-2003, Mayla Puckett served as the Office Manager, and was replaced by Heidi Sochia in 2004. Heidi became the Program Coordinator in 2007.

The Board of Directors for CSLS is comprised of graduate and undergraduate students. A member of the university faculty/staff and a member of the CSLS office staff also sit on the board as non-voting members. Ex-officio positions include the Chair of Students Defending Students , a Student Trustee, and the Off-Campus Life Commissioner and the CSLS Program Coordinator.

Today, the Center for Student Legal Services sees clients for a variety of criminal and civil issues. On average, about 1,200 students use the service a year and about three-fourths of the Ohio University student body pay the legal fee to be eligible for legal services. The mission of The Center for Student Legal Services is to provide Ohio University students with quality, low cost legal services and to educate them of their legal rights and responsibilities as citizens of their city, state and country.

This information does not constitute legal advice, nor is it intended as a substitute for legal advice.