St. Bernard Parish Library is pleased to announce that it is participating in the fifth annual ‘Lawyers in Libraries’ statewide program in partnership with the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA). The Supreme Court of Louisiana and the LSBA support this annual volunteer attorney project held during National Celebrate Pro Bono Week which is scheduled for October 22nd – October 27th.
Participants in the free ‘ASK A LAWYER’ event set for Thursday, October 25, 2018, at the St. Bernard Parish Library, 2600 Palmisano Blvd., Chalmette, can receive free, limited legal services on a variety of non-criminal topics. Half-hour appointments can be scheduled from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. by calling the library at 504-279-0448. Appointments are encouraged but ‘walk-ins’ are also welcome.
Attorneys will be available for one-on-one consultations. The individual sessions will be held in the library’s foyer. Participants can have questions answered on subjects such as: Bankruptcy, Civil Lawsuits, Collection Matters, Custody, Divorce, Evictions, FEMA/Disaster Benefits, Food Stamps, Foreclosures, Housing, Medicaid, Social Security, SSI/SSDI, Successions, Taxes and Wills. “Often these legal issues affect families’ safety, housing, medical care, custody, and other core needs. ‘Lawyers in Libraries’ and other Access to Justice initiatives are vital to ensure that people receive justice, are able to identify their legal options, and have access to the court system, regardless of financial circumstance,” explained Louisiana Supreme Court Justice James T. Genovese, co-chair of the Louisiana Access to Justice Commission.
The ‘Lawyers in Libraries’ program has consistently grown since being launched in 2014 with more than 3,000 Louisianans in public libraries being served in every parish throughout the state. “Public libraries are natural starting points for people in search of information and services. Library staff can provide direction to available resources, but not legal advice. The “Lawyers in Libraries” program is a great benefit to patrons, especially in areas without a legal aid office,” said Holly Priestley, Public Relations Coordinator of the Ouachita Parish Library System.
‘Lawyers in Libraries’ is a partnership between the LSBA, LLA, Law Library of Louisiana, LSU Law Library, legal aid partners, local bar associations, and other community partners. For more details or help finding an event in your area, contact your local library or visit www.LouisianaLawyersinLibraries.org.
The Louisiana State Bar Association assists its more than 22,000 members in the practice of law. The statewide association, as part of its multi-faceted mission, promotes and maintains access to justice initiatives for the state’s residents, assists the Louisiana Supreme Court in its regulation of the practice of law, upholds the honor of the courts and the profession, and supports programs that increase public understanding of and respect for the law.