![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2011\/02\/300px-courtgavel1.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\nAs I sat at my table staring at the do-it-yourself will kit I had purchased at the bookstore, a thought went through my mind, \u201cthere has to be an easier way\u201d. I don\u2019t have the extra coin to pay a lawyer to draft up my will and I lack the motivation to create\u00a0a will on my own.\n\nIt occured to me that in the mile-long list of student fees I paid in September, there might be a legal services fee. Through cross referencing the list and googling a little more, I found Downtown Legal Services<\/a>. This is a free law clinic operated by students from the U of T Faculty of Law. Students and the general public are encouraged to use this free service.\n\nThat\u2019s right Pro bono publico <\/em>! Unbeknownst to me, this actually doesn\u2019t mean free. Directly translated it reads \u201cfor good of public\u201d. There\u2019s your daily trivia quota met.\n\nUnfortunately for me, they don\u2019t draft wills, but they do offer free services that might come in handy if you need a lawyer.\n\nHere\u2019s a list of the services<\/a> they offer:\n\nCriminal Law\nFamily Law\nRefugee Law\nTenant Housing Law\nUniversity Affairs\n\nHopefully you will not need the services of a lawyer during your academic career, but if you do then look no further!\n\nOf particular interest is the University Affairs section of the services. If you are charged with an academic offence and you have been wrongly accused, these people will represent you. Again, let\u2019s hope that you don\u2019t need these services anytime soon.\u00a0Here's an analogy, it's similar to\u00a0knowing where the closest dentist is to your house, even though you really don\u2019t want a get root canal.\n\nI was\u00a0told this clinic can be very Busy. With a capital B. In my attempts to contact the clinic, this was evident. They really did not have time to talk to me. I was referred to their website, which has all the information you would need to determine if they can handle your case and how to contact their offices. You need to make an appointment; they absolutely do NOT take walk-ins. You will also need to prove to them that you are financially incapable of paying for a lawyer.\n\nIf you can do this, then presto\u2026free legal services!\n\nLet me re-iterate that it would be great if you never, ever needed these services. However, if you do find yourself in a \u201csituation\u201d at least, you now know who to call.\n\n<\/em>\n\nValete<\/em>!\n-Lori\n\nPhoto by wikipedia user\u00a0Jonathunder, used under creative commons licence.<\/em>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"