Next week, community members can visit the library to ask their civil legal questions and learn about legal resources during a free one-on-one consultation with a local attorney. The consultations last about 15 to 20 minutes.
Lawyers Loyd Bourgeois, Aaron Hurd, John Norris and Donita Brooks will visit various library branches from Monday, Oct. 20 through Saturday, Oct. 25.
Bourgeois said these free programs are important because legal help is often out of reach of many community members. The sessions are often not designed to provide complete and full answers, but he said he hopes they offer at least some direction to help residents with their legal issue.
“In speaking with a licensed attorney, a participant should have clarity on next steps, and potentially some resources to help them on their way,” he said.
Bourgeois said residents can bring any documents they feel are relevant.
“While documents are not required, they may be helpful if questions relate to judicial orders, wills, power of attorneys, property, etc.” he said. “Historically, questions have centered on property issues, injury claims, and a broad range of other legal matters.”
More lawyers are participating in the program this year than any other year. This is the 12th year the library has participated in the Lawyers in Libraries event, which is coordinated by the Louisiana State Bar Association, the State Library of Louisiana, and the Louisiana Library Association. Since the program’s launch in 2014, attorneys have assisted over 15,000 Louisianans and reached patrons in every parish.
Maria Bilello, the adult programming and outreach librarian for St. Charles Parish Library, said 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, so the Lawyers in Libraries program is a great benefit to patrons needing legal help,” she said.
Reservations for a legal consultation are not required. Lawyers will be at the library for two hours during the scheduled event.
Bilello said participants should check in with the front desk where library workers will be managing a wait list. If no one is currently with the attorney, they will guide the patron to where the attorney will be waiting for their one-on-one session. All sessions are in a private area, like a meeting room or study room.
Attorneys will also direct patrons to free and low-cost legal resources where relevant.
Bilello said community members often asks questions about divorce, custody, successions, housing issues, food stamps, Medicaid and more.
“Twenty minutes may not solve legal questions fully but to get advice for what to do next is very empowering,” Bilello said.
The Louisiana State Bar Association is also offering free virtual talks and ask-a-lawyer phone consultations Oct. 20-25 from noon to 1 p.m. each day. Residents can access the sessions through the Louisiana Lawyers in Libraries Facebook page.
Loyd Bourgeois offers free notary services at the library once a month. Patrons with a free library card can also browse Gale LegalForms, a resource for creating Louisiana-specific legal documents. Southeast Louisiana Legal Services is a local resource for free legal aid to qualifying applicants.
Monday, October 20
East Regional Library
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Loyd Bourgeois of LBJ Legal and Aaron Hurd of The Hurd Firm
Norco Branch
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Aaron Hurd of The Hurd Firm
West Regional Library
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Donita Brooks
Tuesday, October 21
West Regional Library
11am to 1pm: Loyd Bourgeois of LBJ Legal
Wednesday, October 22
St. Rose Branch
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Aaron Hurd of The Hurd Firm
Thursday, October 23
West Regional Library
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Loyd Bourgeois of LBJ Legal
Friday, October 24
Paradis Branch
10 a.m. to noon: Aaron Hurd of The Hurd Firm
Saturday, October 25
East Regional Library
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: John Norris of The King Firm
