By LYNDSAY MACH, NEWS3 Reporter
MACOMB, Illinois (NEWS3) – Western Illinois University has brought back the office of student legal advocacy after the service had been inactive for the last five years.
“I think that the idea was that the legal piece was sort of a missing piece, and it’s an opportunity for me to join this exceptional team of student supporters,” advocate Victoria Smith said.
Smith received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University and earned her juris doctorate from Harvard Law School. She previously taught in WIU’s Department of Political Science and practiced law at Burton Law Office in Macomb.
Smith can help with anything having to do with the law. Some examples of help the office will provide students includes landlord questions, contracts, ordinance violations, criminal law, family law and immigration questions. The office also advises students interested in law school.
“I am a representative to the law school admissions council, so that’s the way that you apply to law school,” Smith said.
The student legal advocacy office is located on the first floor of the University Union in the far west hallway across from the WIU Cardinal/Oak Room.The legal services are free and available to all WIU students. You can make an appointment by calling 309-298-1319 or emailing Smith at vr-smith@wiu.edu.
