Students seeking free legal advice or services can see attorney Andrew Wise when he stops by the Student Government Association office tomorrow at noon to 2 p.m.
The local attorney is a 1987 University graduate who received his law degree from Louisiana State University. He began his career in private practice with his father for 17 years, with the practice now being solely under his name. He is also a public defender for Lafourche Parish, representing those who cannot afford their own attorney in criminal cases.
Mariam Matteuzzi, SGA director of public relations, said the organization pays Wise to offer his services to University students free of charge. Wise said he has been coming to the University since August 2003 and offers advice to students on a variety of legal topics ranging from family matters to criminal matters.
“A lot of people come in and have questions about a lease for their apartment, or they may have gotten a ticket somewhere or something like that,” Wise said. “Any kind of legal questions, I try to help them with.”
Wise also notarizes documents for students. Documents that have to be sent back to an attorney, financial aid paperwork, or any other legal document can be brought to Wise.
Matteuzzi said he sees students in whichever SGA executive board member’s office is available at the time and always has students coming to see him.
“Every time he comes in, he has students. They use him for every type of legal issue you could think of.”
Wise said he sees on average two to six students each time he visits, and Matteuzi said spots usually fill up fast so students should make an appointment with the SGA office.
“He does take walk-ins, but there’s a chance, if you don’t call, that you won’t get an appointment,” Matteuzi said.
The job was a natural progression, Wise said. Having filled in for attorneys John Weimer and Danny Cavell who previously offered the service to students, Wise learned what it took to do the job and eventually took over.
“They were looking for someone and I, having done it on occasion before, took it on.” Wise said. “It’s a way for me, as a Nicholls graduate, to keep in touch with the school and give back.”
Students are asked to contact the SGA office at 985-448-4557 to schedule an appointment with Wise on one of the dates he is available, a list of which can be found at www.nicholls.edu/sga/services/legal-aid.
