Legal Clinics, School Events Highlight Law Day in May

Idaho’s courts and bar associations will celebrate Law Day on May 1 by offering educational events designed to make the judicial system more accessible to the public.

Law Day is a nationwide observance recognizing the rule of law and its role in American life. Each year, courts and legal partners use the day to share how the justice system works and why it matters.

This year, marking Law Day is particularly apt in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. The national theme selected for this Law Day is “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.”

Activities planned across Idaho include:

  • Legal clinics:

    • At the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, attorneys will help prepare wills and powers of attorney, and answer questions and fill out legal forms related to family law, property and debt issues. Hours for these clinics are available on Kootenai County’s website.

    • Lawyers in the Boise area will volunteer their time to provide legal advice over the phone to members of the public. If you would like to participate in this clinic, please submit your question in advance through the Idaho Law Foundation. You will need to be available to receive a call between noon and 2 p.m. MT.

    • Attorneys will be available from 2-4 p.m. MT at the annex conference room of the County West building, 630 Addison Ave. in Twin Falls, for a Landlord-Tenant legal clinic. Get help with eviction issues and notices, repair and maintenance requests, and security deposit disputes. You may register in advance but registration is not required.

  • Student visits:

    • As many as 500 high school students from across the Second Judicial District (north-central Idaho) are expected to visit courtrooms or be visited by judges and attorneys to learn more about the court system in the next couple of weeks. Already, students from Nezperce and Craigmont watched a variety of legal proceedings in Lewis County on April 7.

    • High school students in Canyon County will visit its courthouse to experience a day in the life of the legal system, hearing from a judge and several attorneys.

    • Attorneys and judges in eastern Idaho are also working to visit classrooms around Law Day.

  • Other events:

    • The Seventh District Bar Association will present its annual Liberty Bell Award to a non-lawyer whose contributions strengthen the rule of law and the justice system.

News media interested in learning more about events in their area should contact Nate Poppino, npoppino@idcourts.net.