Lawyer in the Library: June 2024 Dates Announced for the First Judicial Circuit

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, 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 but 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 o Attorney Gene Turk – next session June 5, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

? Carbondale, IL – Carbondale Public Library, 618-457-0354 o Attorney Gene Turk – next session June 12, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

? Carterville, IL – Anne West Lindsey District Library, 618-985-3298 o Attorney Winter Campanella – next session June 24, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm ?

Harrisburg, IL – Harrisburg District Library, 618-253-7455 o Attorney Nina Brown – next session TBD for September ?

Marion, IL – Marion Carnegie Library, 618-993-5935 o Attorney Elisha Sanders – next session June 18, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm ?

Metropolis, IL – Metropolis Public Library, 618-524-4312 (quarterly sessions) o Attorney Julian Valdes – next session June 5, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm ?

Mounds, IL – Mounds Public Library, 618-745-6610 (quarterly sessions, walk-in only) o Attorney Julian Valdes – next session June 8, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm ?

Vienna, IL – Vienna Carnegie Public Library, 618-658-5051 o Attorney Michael Hampleman – next session June 7, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Thank you to the following for their support of this program: Chief 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 a Self-Represented Litigant/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 the Office of the Chief Judge, Brenda Sprague, Executive Assistant to the Chief Judges and ATJ Grant Coordinator. www.firstcircuitil.org