About People’s Law School

The Legal Services Center offers ongoing legal education opportunities through our People’s Law School program. The People’s Law School is a community workshop series that educates and empowers the public on a variety of legal issues. Our workshops are free, open to the public and accessible to diverse audiences. We host our workshops at the Legal Services Center in Jamaica Plain and in other community-centered locations.

The Legal Services Center is currently partnering with the Boston Public Library to offer two People’s Law School workshops per month at the Boston Public Library’s Central Library in Copley Square. These workshops are centered on SNAP and Food Stamp Benefits and Social Security and Disability Benefits, and are held on from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. on the first and second Thursday of the month, respectively. For more information, please visit the People’s Law School Community Workshops page.

People’s Law School: Annual Event

In addition to offering year-round workshops, the Legal Services Center hosts an annual open-house event featuring a series of 1-hour workshops on legal issues that affect community members.

This year’s event will be held on April 8, 2017 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Legal Services Center in Jamaica Plain. The event will offer “Know Your Rights” workshops in more than a dozen legal areas, and will provide participants with the resources they need to address the issues that concern them. The event is child-friendly and refreshments will be provided.

Registration is not required, except for those interested in receiving tax assistance. For more information, please visit our People’s Law School Annual Event page or contact peopleslawschool@law.harvard.edu.

Schedule of Workshops for People’s Law School 2017

Please note that participants are welcome to attend any workshops of interest and are not confined to either track.  Starred * workshops are offered in both English and Spanish and we will have volunteers to provide Spanish interpreting in other workshops as requested.

“KNOW YOUR RIGHTS” TRACK 1
10:00 – 11:00 AM Family Law 101
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Safety Net Programs: Social Security Disability, MassHealth and SNAP Benefits
12:00 – 1:00 PM Understanding State Veterans Benefits
1:00 – 2:00 PM VA Disability Benefits Basics
2:00 – 3:00 PM Disability & Self-employment: What you need to know if you want to start a business
3:00 – 4:00 PM Paying Taxes
4:00 – 5:00 PM Managing Your Student Loans
5:00 – 6:00 PM Debt & Bankruptcy
“KNOW YOUR RIGHTS” TRACK 2
10:00 – 11:00 AM Tenant Rights in Massachusetts
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Immigration Rights* Part 1: Your Constitutional Rights and Rights when being Questioned or Detained by Immigration Officers (MIRA)
12:00 – 1:00 PM Naturalizing in the United States* (Project Citizenship)
1:00 – 2:00 PM Immigration Rights* Part 2: Immigration Court, Detention, & forms of Immigration Relief (PAIR)
2:00 – 3:00 PM Making Your Voice Heard in the Massachusetts State House and Beyond
3:00 – 4:00 PM Peaceful Protesting*
4:00 – 5:00 PM Getting the Right Health Insurance for You
5:00 – 6:00 PM Working with Court Services

At the event, we will provide you with:

  • Resources packet
  • Family-friendly spaces and activities
  • Snacks and beverages
  • Free parking

We can also help you:

  • Prepare your taxes (To sign up for free tax assistance, visit tinyurl.com/JPTaxHelp.)
  • Get a library card
  • Open an email account
  • Register to vote
  • Receive additional resources

To request additional services or accommodations, email peopleslawschool@law.harvard.edu.

For Community Partners

We welcome requests on any topics within our practice areas of expertise. If you are part of an organization, community group or service provider and would like to request a People’s Law School workshop, please call the Legal Services Center at (617) 522-3003 and ask for the People’s Law School Coordinator or email peopleslawschool@law.harvard.edu. Previous workshops have addressed a wide range of issues, including: Social Security benefits, Massachusetts Veterans’ Services Benefits, military discharge upgrades, debt collection, bankruptcy, tenant rights, and estate planning and probate court.

We welcome the opportunity to leverage new and existing partnerships to better serve our community’s needs. If you would like to partner with the Legal Services Center to offer a workshop outside our practice areas, please call the Legal Services Center at (617) 522-3003 and ask for the People’s Law School Coordinator or email peopleslawschool@law.harvard.edu.

Learn More About People’s Law School

To learn more about the People’s Law School community workshops, visit our People’s Law School Community Workshops page. To learn more about the People’s Law School event, visit our People’s Law School Annual Event page, or email peopleslawschool@law.harvard.edu.

Still not getting the answers you need? Call the Legal Services Center at (617) 522-3003 and ask for the People’s Law School coordinator.

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