People#039;s Law School focuses on legal issues

Published 12:00 am Monday, October 14, 2002

School is in session at the Briggs Lawrence County Public Library.

The People's Law School program is designed to help answer legal questions people have on nine different legal issues.

"We wanted to offer something educational rather than for entertainment," Susan Wetter, adult services coordinator for the library, said. "People come to the library a lot looking for information like this. We can only show them where it is and not help them, so we decided to do this."

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Monday's session at the Southern branch deals with small claims and will be presented by attorney Warren N. Morford Jr. at 7 p.m.

The free programs rotate between the library's branches and are offered once a month. The series began in September and will end in May of 2003.

It was presented in a nine-month format to coincide with a school year, Wetter said.

"The goal is to educate people about their rights as consumers and as citizens," she said.

Wetter said she was inspired by similar

programs across the state and a successful program that was offered at Ohio University Southern.Each month's program is on a different legal topic that she feels is relevant to people in Southern Ohio. All are presented by members of the Lawrence County Bar Association, Wetter said.

She worked with Sharon Bradshaw, director of library services for the Lawrence County Bar Association and Law Library, to coordinate it.

Bradshaw said each attorney will speak about areas they are experienced in and were chosen because they have good people skills, can think on their feet and are a good representation of the bar association.

"I truly think people should be aware that what the law is and what is fair isn't necessarily the same," she said. "These are subjects that touch every one of us in some way. This is for our community, on our level and about things to benefit our people."