There is only one attorney who advises and sometimes represents students in court through Student Legal Services. Due to the nature of the legal practice, when one student is being advised or represented by our attorney and there is another University of Maine undergraduate student on the other side of the legal dispute, the attorney is conflicted out of helping both of them simultaneously. The University of Maine Student Government and our partners at the University of Maine understand that this can be a hardship for the student who seeks legal representation or advice second. The Student Government believes however that denying representation to all students who have legal issues with other students is counter-productive, reduces access to competent legal advice and representation, and is not supported by the long experience of our office in dealing with such cases.
In line with that priority of ensuring fairness, equity, and access to justice, when there is a conflict the attorney will promptly inform the student they are not representing of the conflict if/when they reach out for help, the attorney will not endeavor to negotiate for their client student in that meeting, and will refer to available services (which sometimes can include free legal representation) and local legal representation that can be hired privately. The attorney will also make the student aware of funds that may be available through the Student Government to pay for advice from a private attorney.