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USU is expanding free legal help for Utahns facing eviction and debt collection
Defendants represent themselves in 96% of eviction cases and 98% of debt cases
Source: KVNU
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Eviction cases | 96% |
| Debt collection cases | 98% |
If you're facing an eviction or a debt collection suit, Utah State University has help. Its Community Justice Advocate program is expanding to certify social workers and other human service professionals to give limited legal help in landlord-tenant disputes, adding to its March 2025 authorization for debt matters.
The need is lopsided. Utah State Courts data show defendants represent themselves in 96% of eviction cases and 98% of debt collection cases, while nearly all landlords and debt collectors have attorneys.
Advocates can explain procedures, help with court documents, negotiate and assist in court, with Utah-licensed attorneys mentoring. Training is a 16-week course that ends in a final exam.
- Housing course: new in January, covers getting and keeping housing
- Who can join: USU upperclassmen; underclassmen may apply
- Non-students: social work bachelor's, license or six months' experience
A $148,000 grant from the Utah Bar Foundation will pay for advocate hours, so people not already linked to a social service agency can get help. It comes as the state prepares to consolidate approximately 88,000 cases into a new statewide court division in 2027.
The Community Justice Advocate expansion by the numbers
- $148,000
- Utah Bar Foundation grant for advocate hours
- 88,000
- approximate cases headed to a new statewide court division in 2027
- 16 weeks
- of coursework before the final exam
Sources: The Herald Journal, KVNU
