News & Events: Harrisburg Campus

Students Provide Debtors Rights Information to Aid Harrisburg Clinic Clients

Anna Hemingway and Web Editor - Published: March 11, 2011

On February 26th, students from the fall semester’s Writing for General Practice class presented copies of their finished “Know Your Debtor’s Rights” brochures to Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic staff. Three different brochures selected by the staff at the Law Clinic will be used to educate clinic clients who are seeking help on debtor-creditor issues.

At the request of the Law Clinic, Professor Alexandra Makosky’s Writing for General Practice class researched the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692c, and translated the law into plain English for clinic clients. Students met with a graphic designer to learn some professional layout tips, but primarily spent their time focusing on the language in the documents.

“We see this project as a win-win situation,” said acting clinic director Monica Cliatt. “The Clinic now has some great informational material to give to our clients who need to know about their rights under the law. The students learned how to write effective and eye-catching material addressing a current, real-world issue plaguing many households. We are thrilled with the end products and are grateful for Widener’s Legal Methods leadership.”

Director of Legal Methods Anna Hemingway commended students Aaron Vogt and Edward Wilson for their professional work, and she hopes that additional joint projects can be arranged in the future. “The students loved having the opportunity to solve a real-world matter. They learned that choosing the right words to explain the law is a powerful tool in our profession.”

Both Vogt and Wilson acknowledged that the project taught them practical legal skills and helped them realize the positive impact the legal profession can have in the community.

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