MARION – Each month at local public libraries in the First Judicial Circuit, volunteer attorneys are working to help self-represented litigants through the Lawyer in the Library program. With eight locations across the Southern Illinois region, and three additional locations coming soon, free legal advice is available nearby.
The Lawyer in the Library program provides patrons needing help with a legal issue the opportunity to sit down with an attorney for a private, one-on-one, approximately 20-minute session, to receive advice or help with legal documents. There is no fee and pre-registration is required at most locations. On the date of your session, check in at the library registration desk and bring paperwork pertaining to your legal question or situation, if applicable. This program may be limited to one visit per patron.
For more information about the program, or to pre-register to speak to an attorney, you may call one of the following participating libraries:
- Carbondale, IL – Carbondale Public Library, 618-457-0354
- Attorney Christine Heins – Oct. 10, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
- Attorney Gene Turk – Oct. 16, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Carterville, IL – Anne West Lindsey District Library, 618-985-3298
- Attorney Winter Campanella – Oct. 21, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. and Oct. 28, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Galatia, IL – Galatia Public Library, 618-268-9200
- Attorney Todd D. Lambert – Oct. 11, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. and Oct. 25, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Harrisburg, IL – Harrisburg District Library, 618-253-7455
- Attorney Nina Brown – Oct. 3, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- Herrin, IL – Herrin City Library, 618-942-6109
- Attorney Julian Valdes – Oct. 11, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and Oct. 25, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
- Marion, IL – Marion Carnegie Library, 618-993-5935
- Attorney Elisha Sanders – Oct. 15, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Metropolis, IL – Metropolis Public Library, 618-524-4312 (quarterly sessions)
- Attorney Julian Valdes – Next quarterly session scheduled soon!
- Mounds, IL – Mounds Public Library, 618-745-6610 (quarterly sessions)
- Attorney Julian Valdes – Next quarterly session scheduled soon!
- Olive Branch, IL – Dodge Memorial Public Library, 618-776-9200
- Attorney Julian Valdes – Oct. 10 and Oct. 24, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
- Vienna, IL – Vienna Carnegie Public Library, 618-658-5051 (quarterly sessions)
- Attorney Julian Valdes – Next quarterly session scheduled soon!
Thank you to the following for their support of this program: Chief Circuit Judge William J. Thurston, First Circuit Judges and Circuit Clerks, Volunteer Attorneys, Library Directors, Library Program Coordinators, and other library staff members.
Each Lawyer in the Library program is initially launched with an Access to Justice Improvement Grant (ATJ Grant) funding through the Access to Justice Division, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. The programs continue with each Volunteer Attorney coordinating with the Library and Brenda Sprague, Executive Assistant to the Chief Circuit Judge/ATJ Grant Coordinator. www.firstcircuitil.org
