Baylor Law School Will Teach User Friendly Curriculum, Teaching the Public About Their Legal Rights

February 7, 2018

Media Contact: Eric M. Eckert, 254-710-1964
Follow Eric on Twitter at @EricBaylorU
Follow Baylor Media Communications on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia

WACO, Texas (Feb. 7, 2018) – For many, reading the law seems more like a foreign language than fundamental American literature. Words like “arbitration,” “certiorari” and “subpoena” often stop individuals from learning about their basic rights as a citizen.

When this happens, fundamental rights are placed in the hands of a select few attorneys and lawyers and the citizen is left confused, intimidated and often unable to understand their privileges and restrictions.

That is where the Baylor Law School steps in to help.

Baylor Law School will host its annual “People’s Law School” at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. Attorneys and legal experts will offer 19, free one-hour courses, of which guests can register for three. The event is hosted at the Law School, 1114 S. University Parks Drive, and will last until 12:45 p.m. In addition to the attorneys and experts, more than a dozen Baylor law students volunteer every year.

“The People’s Law School gives those attending a chance to learn more, from experts, about a range of legal issues, and about policy matters that are impacted by the law,” said Brad Toben, J.D., dean of Baylor Law School and The M.C. and Mattie Caston Chair of Law. “This program has had a remarkable growth in size and popularity over the years, becoming a perennial favorite. Baylor Law School is pleased to be able to offer such accessible, free and informative programming to the Central Texas community.”

The courses offered range from family law to consumer rights and many others. The event serves to teach the community about common legal rights and practices in “user friendly” courses. In addition to the courses, attendees receive a copy of the book “Know Your Rights,” written by consumer law expert Richard Alderman.

A few examples of courses offered
A full list with descriptions can be found on the Baylor Law School website.
• Debt Collectors and Identity Theft
• Landlord/Tenant Law
• Law School: How to Get In
• Privacy and Social Media
• Sexual Harassment and the Workplace
• The Immigration Travel Ban: What the President Can and Can’t Do and Why You Should Care
• The New Tax Bill and What It Means for the Ordinary Taxpayer
• Veterans’ Rights

The event was established and organized in 2005 by Baylor Law Professor Patricia Wilson. It is sponsored by Baylor Law and other organizations for the benefit of the Central Texas community. Attendees must register ahead of time through the law school website or before the event at 8:30 a.m.

Courses are free and open to the public. For more information and to register, visit the Baylor Law School website.

by Brooke Battersby, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

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 17,000 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 7,400 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 has, among its notable alumni, 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. In its law specialties rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Baylor Law’s trial advocacy program as No. 3 in the nation. Baylor Law School also is ranked No. 51 in the magazine’s 2018 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” The National Jurist ranks Baylor Law as one of the “Best School for Practical Training” and No. 4 in the nation in its most recent “Best Law School Facilities” listing. The Business Insider places Baylor Law among the top 50 law schools in the nation. Baylor Law School received the 2015 American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award, making it only the third law school in the nation to be honored with the award since the award's inception in 1984. Learn more at baylor.edu/law.