Janet Vanderwerf is a character on the series Harpers Falls: New Beginnings. She is played on a contract basis by actress Annie Potts, who is perhaps best known for her roles in Ghostbusters and Designing Women.
Southern born, but Yankee bred and educated, Janet is a sharp and powerful woman born of breeding and with a knowledge of all various forms of law. She prefers to be a civil lawyer, often a defense attorney and works mostly with the poor, which is something a lot of her wealthy friends would look askance at.
Janet's arrival in Boston was at the bequest of Anyssa Harper Forson. As Anyssa is a former prosecutor, the two women respect one another. However, what people don't know is that Janet is a former law school instructor of both Anyssa and her foster sister, Susannah Lucas, from their days at Northwestern University in Chicago.
In a stunning turn of events, Janet comes to town to help Anyssa and the rest of the Harper family through some legal issues. Her family is also very connected with the Harpers, and she was recently named the new family's lawyer. She works often with Bryan and Anyssa.