SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – 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:

Anna, IL – Stinson Memorial Public Library, 618-833-2521
Attorney Gene Turk – November 20, 12-2 p.m.

Carbondale, IL – Carbondale Public Library, 618-457-0354
Attorney Christine Heins – November 14, 12-2 p.m.
Attorney Gene Turk – November 20, 5-7 p.m.

Carterville, IL – Anne West Lindsey District Library, 618-985-3298
Attorney Winter Campanella – November 18, 5-7 p.m.

Galatia, IL – Galatia Public Library, 618-268-9200
Attorney Todd D. Lambert – November 8, 12-2 p.m. and November 22, 12-2 p.m.

Harrisburg, IL – Harrisburg District Library, 618-253-7455
Attorney Julian Valdes – November 12, 2-4 p.m.

Herrin, IL – Herrin City Library, 618-942-6109
Attorney Julian Valdes – November 8, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and November 22, 2-4 p.m.

Marion, IL – Marion Carnegie Library, 618-993-5935
Attorney Julian Valdes – November 12, 5-7 p.m.

Olive Branch, IL – Dodge Memorial Public Library, 618-776-9200
Attorney Julian Valdes – November 7, 2-4 p.m. and November 21, 2-4 p.m.

Quarterly sessions are offered at the following locations:

Metropolis, IL – Metropolis Public Library, 618-524-4312
Attorney Julian Valdes – Next quarterly session December 18, 1-5 p.m.

Mounds, IL – Mounds Public Library, 618-745-6610
Attorney Julian Valdes – Next quarterly session December 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Vienna, IL – Vienna Carnegie Public Library, 618-658-5051
Attorney Julian Valdes – Next quarterly session December 20, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

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 Improvement Grant Coordinator. https://firstcircuitil.org/self-represented-litigants/