People's Law School | 2022
People's Law School | 2022
Baylor Law will host the People's Law School on February 12, 2022 from 9:15am - 12:45pm. The People's Law School offers a half-day curriculum of courses designed to educate consumers about their legal rights and to make the law "user-friendly." The courses are taught by volunteer attorneys and legal experts.
The People's Law School has become an annual event sponsored by Baylor Law and other organizations for the benefit of the Central Texas community. It is absolutely free to attend and is your opportunity to learn some fundamentals that may help you in your day-to-day personal and business life or satisfy your curiosity about the law and how it works.
Full Course List
9:15 AM to 10:15 AM
Pulling Back the Curtain: Understanding How State Agencies Affect Your Life
State agencies affect the lives of all citizens, but many people do not understand how state agencies act, how they affect citizens' lives, or how citizens can benefit from the work that state agencies do. This class will provide an overview of Texas state agencies, how they work, and how citizens can learn to navigate agency regulations and websites for their benefit.
Don’t Learn Your Law from the Movies
Hollywood tends to take a great deal of creative license in portraying the law, which can result in misunderstandings about the law, as well as how trials actually work. Through a series of clips from movies and television shows, the instructor will illustrate what Hollywood gets wrong (and sometimes right) about the law.
Family Law I: Divorce
The instructor of this course will provide a brief overview of divorce, protective orders, and related issues under Texas law.
Landlord/Tenant Law
This course will provide valuable information for both Texas landlords and tenants on the Fair Housing Act; security deposits; the landlord’s responsibility for repairs; and eviction. The instructor will also address how the COVID pandemic has affected the rights of landlords and tenants.
Wills and Estate Planning
Everyone should have a will. Students in this course will learn the requirements of a valid will and basic estate planning considerations. The instructor will additionally cover the new SECURE Act as well as special needs children’s trusts.
The U.S. Supreme Court – How it Works
The decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court form much of the legal environment in which Americans live and work. This course will address the processes whereby a matter in litigation can reach the Court for argument and decision, whether the matter is high-profile (such as the recent cases involving COVID mandates, abortion rights, and gun laws), or of lesser interest to the media and the public. Given the retirement of Justice Breyer at the end of the current term, the course also will look at the confirmation process, which itself has often become a matter of intense interest given the high stakes of Supreme Court decision-making.
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
City Government 101
Open Records Act, Open Meetings Act, building permits, zoning notices—city government can be quite mind-boggling. In the course, attendees will have an inside look at city government with an opportunity to understand what your city government does for you, who does what in city government and how better to work with city officials.
Consumer Rights and Remedies in Building or Remodeling a Home
A consumer’s home is almost always their largest asset. Whether building from the ground up, adding on an addition, or simply updating a kitchen, not knowing your legal rights can result in unforeseen expenses, damages or even loss of the home. The instructor for this class will provide an overview of the consumer’s rights and remedies as they deal with contractors, lenders and other parties in these stressful transactions.
Family Law II: Issues related to children
In this course, participants will learn about Texas law regarding child custody and visitation duties and rights, child support, and grandparent's rights.
Your ‘Side Gig’: Tax Traps for the Unwary in the Digital Economy
The internet allows individuals to engage in business and investment transactions with ease. Whether trading stocks or cryptocurrency, selling homemade items on Etsy, or driving for Uber, these activities have income tax consequence that will be discussed in this course.
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.
Carry On: A basic primer of Texas gun law
Knowing and understanding the legalities of carrying a firearm in Texas is paramount to all Texas citizens. This presentation will explore a basic primer of Texas gun laws and right to carry/licensure with a special focus on the second amendment.
11:45 AM to 12:45 PM
Specialty Courts - How they work and why we need them?
Three specialty courts (Veterans Treatment Court, DWI/Drug Court, and Mental Health Treatment Court) were created in McLennan County to administer programs to address issues of mental illness, trauma, and substance abuse. In this course, local judges will describe the work of these courts to partner with local agencies and offer treatment as an alternative to incarceration within the criminal justice system for qualified defendants.
Mediation
Mediation is often a constructive and cost-effective method for resolving disputes. This course provides an introduction to the mediation process—what it is, how it works, and why it can provide an appealing alternative to litigation. The course will also discuss Dispute Resolution Centers and local resources for mediation and training.
Texas Community Property: What is it and How to Protect It
This course is for individuals who want to have a better understanding of Texas community property. What determines whether something is community property or separate property? Can a premarital agreement change the nature of the property? What about post-marital agreements? This course will provide a general overview of the law in this area.
Starting Your Business
This course provides information for those planning on starting a business, particularly Texas entrepreneurs, including the difference between sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations and tips to avoid legal pitfalls.
Top Scams During the COVID Pandemic
Invariably, scam artists around the country and the world look for new ways to take advantage of the disruption and uncertainty caused by a disaster. The presenter of this course will provide tips to avoid becoming a victim and address what to if one is scammed.
Know Your Rights
This course will provide valuable information on your constitutional rights as an activist or everyday person to build awareness of what to expect from interactions with law enforcement.