If you are in need of legal counseling or have an interest in pursuing a legal career, Elgin Community College has the service for you. ECC is hosting Free Legal Clinics throughout the Fall 2022 semester for students who want to receive guidance from a professional attorney. 

The clinics take place in Student Life, room B173, and are held every other week on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:15p.m. to 5:00p.m. 

Appointments are with ECC’s Free Legal Clinics attorney, Wanchay Itmis. The clinics operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students will check in at the front desk of Student Life with their student ID. If there is already a meeting in session, students will be put on a waitlist. 

Itmis earned her Juris Doctor in 2000 from Depaul Law. After graduating, she worked in the telecommunications industry before eventually opening her own practice, Lora, Chanthadouangsy, & Castellanos Law, with two of her friends from law school.

“The three of us were in our mid twenties and we were all minority women,” said Itmis. “Some of our friends who went to school with us thought we were crazy to do it, but at the time we had little risk because we were still starting out.” 

After taking a break from working, because of the birth of her daughter and the pandemic, Itmis got involved with the Free Legal Clinics.

Megan Highland, ECC’s Student Life Coordinator, explains that the Free Legal Clinics were originally established in 2002 by Student Government. This initiative was inspired by a demonstrated need and desire from the student body.

In the summer of 2021, Student Life reached out to Itmis for a referral for a new attorney to help with the Free Legal Clinics. Itmis decided to take the position. 

“I figured this would be a good way to re-engage myself with legal work, but in a different spirit,” Itmis said. “I’ve always been somewhat of a mentor and been interested in the educational aspect of the position. It was a good fit.”

Itmis began working with the Free Legal Clinics in the Fall 2021 semester. Engagement with the service has gone up since she first started, with an average of six to eight students attending a week in this Fall 2022 semester.

Meetings are confidential, one-on-one consultations that last an average of 30 minutes. Students can seek advice on legal issues they are facing or ask questions about law school and the legal industry.

Examining paperwork, making phone calls, and performing research are all examples of activities that can be completed during a session. 

“I don’t represent the students nor do I represent the school,” Itmis said. “I basically act as a conduit to obtain answers.” 

Sometimes issues require further legal advocacy then is offered by the Free Legal Clinics. If that is the case, Itmis will help students determine what the next steps are, which may involve referring the students to an attorney she has worked with. 

“My goal is to get the students closer to whatever it is that they want to resolve by the time they leave me,” Itmis said.

Megan Highland explains why having free legal services is important for student success.

“Having access to free legal counseling at the Legal Clinics lowers the potential overall financial burden, provides support to the student and clarity on their options and how they can approach the challenge at hand,” Highland said. 

Itmis also believes that free legal advising is a valuable asset for students. She expresses that a range of obstacles can inhibit academic growth, and legal struggles are no exception.

“When you’re facing something legal, it can feel very isolating and traumatic when you don’t know how to navigate,” Itmis said. “I think when we can break down the steps a bit it then becomes less of a stressful event.”

Itmis highlights the fact that the clinics are free, so students who have concerns over financial challenges still have the opportunity to seek legal advice without worrying about any payment. 

“This is one extra way ECC can invest in and support the overall wellbeing of its students,” Highland said.