Agreed. Most attorneys, even back then, usually give you your first consultation free. Attorneys are also supposed to take several cases per year on a pro bono basis. I think this would have been great for both parties.

Attorney gets plenty of press for taking on the studio (and most likely enough business afterwards to pay for the costs and work he did), student gets free legal representation, and the big studio looks horrible attempting to quash a students film he needs to graduate.