West Valley City is a suburb of Salt Lake City in Utah. It has over 137,000 inhabitants and is the second largest city in the state. According to the city’s Historical Preservation Commission, the city was home to the Ute and Shoshoni Native American tribes before the first Mormon settlers arrived in 1848.
In 1900, much of the city area was farmlands. Gradually, with water sewerage and a road system connecting it to Salt Lake City, residential areas sprouted to accommodate the growing industry of the bigger city. In 1980, it was incorporated as a city.
Affordable housing options contributed to the population growth of the city, with many immigrants coming from Asia (notably Vietnamese) and the Pacific Islands. The city today is considered the most ethnically diverse city in Utah. In recent years, the city also experienced an upward economic turn and subsequent influx of new residents to work in its corporate and industrial entities.
Literacy is high in West Valley City. Twenty-two percent of the adult population has finished a bachelor’s degree, while thirty-five percent (35%) completed a graduate degree. If you are looking to study for a law degree, most of the lawyers in West Valley City obtained theirs from the following universities:
- University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in Salt Lake City; and the
- Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School in Provo, Utah.
Like many economically emerging cities, crime rates have also surged in the last decade. According to statistics, the most common crimes in West Valley City are property crime (19% higher than the national average), particularly larceny, motor vehicle theft, and burglary. Violent crime comes in second, which involve aggravated assault and murder.
For non-criminal cases such as those involving civil rights, divorce, elderly care, and employment, free legal advice is available from the Utah Legal Services, a nonprofit law office offering pro-bono services to low income Utah residents. Their nearest office is in Salt Lake City but you need to apply online for an appointment. The Utah State Bar Association Pro Bono Project conducts the Tuesday Night Bar at the Utah Law & Justice Center from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Walk-ins are not allowed, so advance appointments must be made via phone call at least 8 days prior to the event. Their numbers are 801-531-9077. This free clinic specializes in military law and habeas corpus.
If you need legal information that is more specific to your particular needs, perhaps you require the services of one of the many excellent lawyers in West Valley City. Legalmatch will help you find one that you can be on the same page with. Just post your case at LegalMatch.com and you will be instantly matched with the right lawyer for you. Our expansive Online Law Library also provides a wealth of free legal information for your perusal.