For those taking Edgar “Jay” Garrett’s Business Law class, they know at the end of every class session he will stay and give free legal advice to help them take care of their concerns on their own.
But he also advises any full-time students who need it, too.
“Sticking their head in the sand and ignoring the problem is not going to make it go away,” Garrett said. “It’s better to take care of it sooner rather than later.”
Garrett spends part of his week in the University’s Counseling Center, coaching students on how to tackle their various problems.
“We primarily deal with people with family law issues and landlord and tenant issues, criminal cases, auto accidents, probation …” he said.
Garrett comes across as an easy-going country lawyer?-?more in the vein of Faulkner’s Gavin Stevens than Ben Matlock. He wears boots every day and explains cases in his classes in plain language.
Each semester, Garrett has an intern helping him while learning at the same time. Joseph Young, a sociology and criminal justice major, is filling the position this fall.
“My philosophy is that on a lot of these issues students can solve their own legal issues with advice and counsel on the process to do so,” Garrett said.
“No legal question is a dumb question,” Young said.
Garrett, a practicing lawyer in Commerce and Cooper, offers his advice free in initial consultations at the center and is open to calls and e-mails.
Among the other typical cases students need advice about are marriage, divorce, and child custody or support as well as employee rights.
Garret is able to help students with the informal resolution of any problems the students may have legally, though Garrett is unable to draft long legal documents due to heavy caseloads.
Any cases that are unable to be solved by his office will be referred to a local attorney for more direct legal representation.
When students go in for the consultation they need to bring with them any documents that pertain to what the visit is about.
Garrett is also available to speak to any academic or social organization about issues such as conflict resolution, consumer credit, financial management, and anything concerning landlord/tenant issues.
Another purpose is to act as a mediator between two students when a conflict arises to get a resolution.
Garrett is an A&M-Commerce alumnus and graduated from the SMU School of Law. He also has 25 years of experience of law practice and is a member of The State Bar of Texas and of the College of State Bar.
“We exist and we’re here to help,” Garrett said.
Those interested in contacting Garrett for advice can call 903-886-5145 or e-mail him at Edgar_Garrett@tamu-commerce.edu.
His office is located in the McDowell Administration Building, Room 319. He is at the Counseling Center from 2-5 p.m. on Tuesdays