People's Law School
February 10, 2024CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
The 2024 People's Law School will take place in-person at Baylor Law School.
Baylor Law will host the People's Law School on February 10, 2024 from 9:00am - 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
Veterans Treatment Court and Specialty Courts Overview
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, a local judge 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.
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.
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.
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.
Misunderstandings, Myths, and Half-Truths about the U.S. Supreme Court
The United State Supreme Court plays a front and center place in many of the hot-button legal issues in our nation. Despite the heavy media coverage, many in our nation are not knowledgeable about the nature of the case docket of the Court, about how the Court processes and decides upon issues presented to it, about its relationship to the President and the Congress, and about the judicial philosophy of its justices. This session will focus upon these issues, including the dispelling of various misunderstandings, myths, and half-truths about the Court.
Family Law: Parental Alienation
Parental alienation is when one parent intentionally displays to the child unjustified negativity aimed at the other parent. A family law attorney will provide an overview of parental alienation in Texas family law cases.
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Law & Order – The Real DA’s Office
Is it really like it is on TV? What does your District Attorney’s office do on a daily basis? How many prosecutors work in McLennan County, what types of cases to they handle, what’s a real plea bargain, and many other burning questions will be answered!
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.
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.
Landlord/Tenant Law
This course will provide valuable information for both Texas landlords and tenants on 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.
Special Education Law
This instructor in this course will provide an overview of the important laws and procedures regarding children with disabilities and their education, including a look at the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, the Individual Education Plan (IEP) process, discipline of students with disabilities under the IDEA and Section 504, and other topics of interest to those who care for or work with children with disabilities.
11:45 AM to 12:45 PM
Insurance Law: What Coverage You Thought You Had but Didn’t Get
This course will cover basics questions about insurance policies (including typical coverage in auto, home and general liability insurance policies), as well as claims, and your rights as an insured.
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.
Navigating the Legal System from the Date of Offense to Prosecution
A local judge will guide you through the legal system from the date of the alleged offense to prosecution with emphasis on dealing with lawyers, judges, and law enforcement.
Texas Marital Property: What is it and How to Protect ItThis course is for individuals who want to learn about marital property law and how it relates to the assets and debts and spouses. 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.
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.
Blockchain and Digital Assets 101: Breaking Down the Basics
Blockchain, Metaverse, Cryptocurrency, NFTs ... what does it all mean, and why should you care? In this presentation, we will cover the basics of Web3 technology, including fundamental concepts around blockchain technology and the many use cases that have developed since the world's first ever cryptocurrency and blockchain network, Bitcoin, launched over a decade ago. As the landscape for digital assets continues to grow in popularity, join this presentation to learn of the latest applications and opportunities, as well as the risks surrounding it.