Law school isn’t the only place for Kansas University students to learn about the legal system.

About 3,000 students per year use KU’s Legal Services for Students, and they get an education in the process.

“There’s a definite education component to what we do,” said Michele Kessler, associate director for KU’s Legal Services for Students. “We try to arm students with information. If you are armed with information, a person who is trying to take advantage of you is much more likely to stop if they know that you know what you’re talking about.”

The department’s services are available to all university students. The department is funded through fees all students pay as part of their tuition each semester. In fall and spring semesters, the fee is $7 per student. For summer semester, it is $3.50.

Once those one-time fees are paid, students don’t pay anything else for the service. Kessler said the service has the potential to be a big money saver for students who run into legal issues while at KU. She estimated other attorneys in the area charge $80 to $120 an hour for similar services.

“They’re easily saving hundreds of dollars on something like a diversion agreement,” Kessler said.

There are some types of cases the department can’t help with. It won’t help students in cases that involve a complaint against another KU student. It also can’t provide courtroom representation to students except in cases involving landlord tenant issues or consumer protection.

For other cases, like alcohol or traffic offenses, the department can provide advice or help the student negotiate a plea agreement. If courtroom representation is needed, the department can help the students find a private attorney.

Kessler said in cases where the department can’t provide courtroom representation, it still was able to provide students with valuable assistance and information.

Bill Larzalere, KU Legal services for students attorney, and Joni Bontrager, administrative assistant, help provide legal assistance to students.

“A lot of times these students have always had their parents to help them,” Kessler said. “But now they’re involved in something that they don’t want their parents to know about, or sometimes their parents just tell them that they’re on their own.

“They come into my office saying they don’t know what to do. I tell them they can do it, and I will show them how.”

Landlord-tenant issues continue to be the No. 1 issue the office deals with every year. Kessler said the complaints often involve issues regarding promised repairs that aren’t made or security deposits that aren’t returned. She said the office also helps students deal with eviction notices that result from the tenant falling behind on rent payments.

The department helps students confront alcohol and traffic offenses. Providing assistance with financial problems also is fairly common, Kessler said.

“There are always students who don’t understand that if they bounce a $3 check and don’t take care of it, that it will cost them $300 or $400 to get it resolved,” Kessler said.

The department also helps students with their tax returns and can provide free electronic filing services. It works in conjunction with the law school to staff tax preparation sites during tax season and provides special assistance to international students who need to file a tax return.

Kessler is hoping more students become aware of the department’s services. During the past year, the department, which has four attorneys and eight law students, moved from its office in the basement of Burge Union to a more visible office on the third floor of Burge.