Now that the fall semester is in full swing, Kent State University students are discovering a wealth of resources available both on and off campus that can help them navigate their studies and daily lives.
Kent State Today is highlighting resources that demonstrate the university’s longstanding commitment to helping students succeed.
Kent State has been nationally recognized for its student support, recently earning two Gold Excellence Awards and two top grand prizes from NASPA, the nation’s leading student affairs organization.
One such resource dedicated to helping students thrive is Student Legal Services. The non-profit law office contracts with the university and offers affordable legal help, from quick advice and tips to representing students for misdemeanors and civil suits in Portage County.
“You get a fully licensed attorney for $10 a semester – which is about the best legal deal you can get,” said Jennifer Cunningham-Minnick, supervising attorney at Student Legal Services. “So, you should definitely take advantage of it.”
The office has two licensed attorneys available for services like court representation, landlord-tenant disputes or contesting speeding tickets, she said.
“We really have a broad range of services that I don’t think some students really [have] picked up on their radar, they just think they have to do it themselves,” Cunningham-Minnick said. “We’re here, and we’re here to help.”
Students may not think they will ever need legal help, but it can be crucial when they least expect it, Cunningham-Minnick said.
“If you're sued by a collections company, we can represent you in that,” she said. “If you have an issue with the purchase of your car, the title, if you were involved in a car accident and there's some insurance issues, we do things like that, too."
Olivia Thomas, who graduated in December 2025 with degrees in criminology and psychology, now works for Student Legal Services helping with outreach. As an undergraduate student at Kent State, she sought the office's help for an apartment sublease payment dispute.
Staff went above and beyond to answer questions and keep Thomas informed of the status of the dispute, she said.
“They were very communicative. They called me back, kept me updated, answered any questions that I had,” Thomas said. “They were very clear in keeping me updated, which was very nice and helped calm me down a little bit because it was a stressful situation.”
Thomas recommends students contact Student Legal Services if they are dealing with an issue.
“Even if you don't know if it's a legal issue, it doesn't hurt to make an appointment, talk it through with somebody, because sometimes you just need that reassurance,” she said. “It's nice that we have those professionals available.”
Students are eligible for Student Legal Services if they attend the Kent Campus, are enrolled in a degree-seeking program and pay the $10 fee, which they are automatically opted into, and it is included in their bill, Cunningham-Minnick said.
Students don’t have to go far to access Student Legal Services. Its offices are located just off campus in downtown Kent in Acorn Alley.
Setting up an appointment is easy, Cunningham-Minnick added.
“You can call us, text us, email us and schedule an appointment on our website,” she said.
Student Legal Services is just one of the many resources conveniently available on- and off-campus for Kent State students.
The office is located at 164 E. Main St., Suite 203, Kent, Ohio 44240. Contact the office at 330-672-9550 or studentls@kent.edu.
