by Jewel Hand, J.D. ’15, Harvard Law School
Recently, I was able to contribute to the Legal Services Center’s second annual People’s Law School. It is a unique day-long community outreach program designed to teach people their basic rights as borrowers, tenants, disabled citizens, and veterans, among many other things. Workshops throughout the day informed and empowered approximately 100 local citizens, while one-on-one counseling allowed the staff and students to give more individualized legal advice. The day ended with intake interviews for individuals with legal issues that make them candidates for the Center’s services. As a student advocate at the Center, I was able to take part in the program at all levels: from planning and setup, to teaching a workshop, to individual counseling and conducting an intake interview. I feel fortunate to have contributed to a program that clearly helped so many individuals while also practicing valuable skills as a counselor and advocate. I hope the People’s Law School continues to grow and that I can contribute again next year!