Baylor Law School To Host Annual People’s Law School Feb. 13
WACO, Texas (Feb. 11, 2016) – Baylor Law School presents its 11th annual People’s Law School, a free half-day curriculum of courses designed to educate the public about their legal rights and to make the law user-friendly.
Courses begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Baylor Law School and end before 1 p.m. Registration and a complete list of courses – from “Open Carry/Concealed Carry” and “Pitfalls for Nonprofits” to “Wills and Estate Planning” and “Keeping Your Church out of Court” – is available online via Baylor Law School’s website.
“People are yearning to have a better understanding of the law and are very appreciative of our efforts to expand their knowledge,” says Patricia Wilson, professor at Baylor Law School and organizer of the People’s Law School.
Over the past 11 years, the People’s Law School has seen an upward trend in both interest and attendance. Course matter has expanded to include not only practical subjects, but also the philosophy of the law and informational legal material, such as constitutional law.
Participants may choose to attend up to three of the 17 different courses. Each course will run for one hour, and each will teach the knowledge and theory of their respective legal subjects.
Below are a few examples of the offerings.
Buying and Selling Real Estate
A look at what buyers and sellers should know about real estate transactions, including the contract of sale, title insurance, the seller's disclosure obligations and related issues.
Open Carry/Concealed Carry
The new Open Carry law recently became effective. What does it provide? Where can one carry a gun openly or concealed? When can guns be prohibited? The instructor of this course will review the law as it currently stands and highlight the unanswered questions, particularly those regarding the Open Carry law.
Elder Law
This course provides an overview of issues important to senior citizens and those who care about them, including a review of long term care planning, including Medicaid eligibility.
Constitutional Law Review
First amendment rights, search and seizure, and same-sex marriage were all issues that the U.S. Supreme Court addressed in recent years. The instructor of this course will review some of those cases and their implications.
From Traffic Stop to Trial
What are one's rights when stopped by law enforcement? What are the consequences of that encounter? This course will address the rights and obligations one has when interacting with the police and the subsequent navigation of the criminal justice system
In addition to the program’s sponsors, the volunteer efforts of Baylor Law School students play a significant role in the success of the program. Understanding the importance of service to the community, the students assist with the organization and administration of the program.
“We’re very lucky so many people and local organizations believe in the mission of the People’s Law School and graciously sponsor or give their time to the program,” Wilson said.
Event sponsors include: Waco-McLennan County Bar Association; Center for Consumer Law; Sheehy, Lovelace & Mayfield, PC; State Farm - Terry Strickland Agency; the State Bar of Texas Consumer and Commercial Law Section; Screen-Tex Graphics; Shipley Do-Nuts (Waco Drive location); and Mars Chocolate, North America. Media sponsors include The Waco Tribune-Herald; KWTX; and Lamar Outdoor Advertising.
To register or for more information, please visit the official registration webpage: https://www.baylor.edu/law/pls.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
ABOUT BAYLOR LAW SCHOOL
Established in 1857, Baylor Law School was one of the first law schools in Texas and one of the first west of the Mississippi River. Today, the school has more than 7,200 living alumni. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Baylor Law School has a record of producing outstanding lawyers, many of whom decide upon a career in public service. The Law School boasts two governors, members or former members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, two former directors of the FBI, U.S. ambassadors, federal judges, justices of the Texas Supreme Court and members of the Texas Legislature, among its notable alumni. In its law specialties rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Baylor Law’s trial advocacy program as #3 in the nation. Baylor Law School is also ranked No. 51 in the magazine’s 2015 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” The National Jurist ranks Baylor Law in its top 10 law schools for practical training, and second best value in private legal education in the nation. The Business Insider places Baylor Law among the top 50 law schools in the nation. Learn more at www.baylor.edu/law.