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When Sondra Shepherd embarked on her first book three years ago, she had little idea what she was getting into. Shepherd wanted to right what she saw as a great wrong and to free a man from life in prison.

In 1995 in Lewiston, Idaho, Ken Arrasmith, a former sheriff, gunned down Ron and Luella Bingham. Arrasmith was sentenced to life without parole, but many people who followed the case maintain the couple he killed were sexual predators who had drugged and raped Arrasmith's daughter and others.

Arrasmith said the local authorities knew of the Binghams' activities but failed to intervene. His lawyer argued the shooting was in self-defense because Arrasmith feared for the safety of his daughter and other women. The trial was covered nationally as a controversial case of frontier justice.

Shepherd, a massage therapist and holistic life coach in Richfield, says her book, In the Defense of Others: The Ken Arrasmith Story, will be out this year. But she never would have gotten this far if it hadn't been for guidance and advice she received from Salt Lake attorney Bill Evans, a member of Utah Lawyers for the Arts.

Evans vetted Shepherd's book for potential legal pitfalls including copyright infringement, defamation and invasion of privacy. "Bill has hung in with me and he wants to see the book through to completion," Shepherd says. "He's been incredible — I can't say enough praise."

Evans, who didn't charge for his many phone and email consultations with Shepherd, has been working with Utah Lawyers for the Arts for 20 years because he finds problems of artists intriguing. Working with them is a rewarding way to support the arts community.

"Artists, writers, filmmakers and musicians have a serious need for legal assistance," Evans says. "And very many of them don't have the funds to hire legal counsel for their problems."

Attorney Heather Sneddon, president of Lawyers for the Arts, says the group offers assistance to qualified poor artists pro bono. They charge reduced rates for others, including struggling nonprofit arts groups. "This is a chance for us to offer our expertise to support the creative community," she says.

Sneddon adds: "Artists are obviously creative types, but don't have a lot of experience in business or even life experience. We are trying to provide that experience and give them more ability to focus on the creative aspects of their career."

As part of Lawyers for the Arts outreach program, the group is offering free legal workshops at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art. The first workshop, presented by attorney Tom Leavens for musicians, will be Saturday, March 24. A publishing workshop for writers with attorney Nicholas Wells will be held at UMOCA April 14, 1-4 p.m., and Evans will lead a session on law for documentary filmmakers on May 26.

Shepherd says the workshops are helpful to artists beyond the legal information and tips. "It's nice to go to these events and see there are other people out there plugging away," she says. "Sometimes you feel like you are being sucked under, and meeting other people helps build the enthusiasm to finish."

Leavens says the workshops are helpful to lawyers, too. "This is an opportunity for attorneys to learn and gain relationships with creative people and to do some interesting work they've never had the opportunity to do before."

gwarchol@sltrib.com; facebook.com/nowsaltlake —

Lawyering up for art

Utah Lawyers for the Arts are holding a series of legal workshops for artists at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, 20 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City.

Publishing • Publishing law with attorney Nike Wells, April 14, 1-4 p.m.

Filmmaking • Documentary filmmaking law with Bill Evans, May 26, 1-4 p.m.

For more information • http://www.utahlawyersforthearts.com