By Linda Wilkins
Staff Writer

Social Security disability laws, homeowners associations, the McDonald’s hot coffee case, privacy laws and the health care reform act will be new additions to the previously featured courses at the Seventh Annual People’s Law School on Saturday.

The free program will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Baylor Law School.

Hosted by the Baylor Law School and sponsored by various contributors, the program includes 18 hour-long law courses, Patricia Wilson, Baylor professor of law, said.

Wilson has had primary responsibility for the program since it began.

“This program is meant to provide information to the community about law-related topics that they might be interested in,” she said.

One course that will be useful for anyone renting their residence focuses on the Fair Housing Act, security deposits, eviction and repair requirements.

Baylor faculty and other local attorneys will teach the programs.

Jim Underwood, professor of law, will teach the session about the McDonald’s hot coffee case. He said it will be his first time teaching a session at the program, but said he thinks the program is a great idea.

“It gives people in the community a chance to have a better appreciation for the law,” he said. “People hear reports on the news about lawsuits, but that is very superficial. The program is helpful and informative.”

He also said those with real-life questions about law-related topics, such as mortgages or debt collectors, can get their questions answered at the sessions.

The Baylor Law School website lists several courses that are recurring from past years.

These introductory courses include Introduction to the Constitution, Law School: How to Get In and Finding the Law, which is a segment about using the Internet and other resources to look up law-related items.

Other available courses listed on the website cover debt collectors, e-commerce, elder law, employment law, two different family law courses, small business law, veterans’ rights, and wills and estates planning.

“The program is free, walk-ins are accepted, and most people find that the courses are informative,” Wilson said.

People interested in participating in the program can register online. Registration ends at 9 a.m. when the first course begins.

Participants can attend three of the one-hour sessions on Saturday. Class selection occurs at registration, which will begin at 8:30 a.m.

The Baylor Law School is located at 1114 South University Parks Drive.