What We Do

Our Mission

ASOSU Office of Legal Advocacy aspires:

• To utilize effective decision-making and problem-solving skills to empower students to meet life's challenges.
• To promote students' capacity to take responsibility for their own well being while being respectful of others.
• To further the success and growth of each individual and the community at large.

About Us:

The Office of Legal Advocacy is one of the services offered by the Associated Students of Oregon State University.

Our office provides legal advice and representation to OSU students when they have a dispute with the University or its administrative units.

Please take a look at Areas of Dispute, and if you are OSU student who has a problem which falls under the areas the offices focuses on, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Areas of Dispute

The Office of Legal Advocacy provides legal advice and representation to OSU students when the other party to the dispute is the university or one of its administrative units, in the following subject areas:

• Discrimination
• Sexual Harassment
• Faculty Misconduct Toward Students
• Grade Disputes
• Residency Appeals
• Fees and Business Affairs
• Financial Aid
• Privacy & Access to Student Records
• University Housing and Dining
• Disputes with Security Officers, Oregon State Police or Corvallis Police
• Student Conduct Code Cases
• Any other OSU administrative unit

If your dispute is not listed here and the other party is not part of the university or one of its administrative units, please see The Office of Legal Advising.

Conflict of Interests

The service of this office is provided by ASOSU and supported by student fees. Consequently, we have the potential to represent any OSU student. For this reason, we are unable to represent one student in an issue in which the opposing party is another student. Doing so would constitute a conflict of interest for the office.

How to Make an Appointment

If your problem falls within the areas of dispute with which our office deals, please make an appointment with Patricia Lacy, the Legal Advocate for Student. We strongly encourage you to make the appointment as early as possible. Occasionally, we might have to ask you to wait for more than a week because of scheduling, so please allow some time.

To make an appointment, call us at 541.737.9200.

Please specify that you wish to schedule an appointment with the Legal Advocate.

Cost and Fees

Because the office is supported by student fees, our services are free of charge to OSU students. However, any costs incurred outside the office are the student's responsibility.

Confidentiality

The Office of Legal Advocacy strictly upholds client confidentiality. Anything said in the office will not leave the office. If you want more privacy when meeting with the attorney, please feel free to request it. Your confidence and comfort is of the utmost importance to us.

Internship Opportunities

Paid student interns are hired annually to staff the Office of Legal Advocacy. The responsibilities of these interns vary, but include daily management and file organization, as well as researching the many issues facing students on campus. It is a great opportunity to familiarize oneself with the workings of a legal office as well as to gain experience in grassroots organizing.

If you are intersted in one of these positions, please contact the Office of Legal Advocacy at 541.737.9200.