Lawyer in the Library: July 2025 Dates Announced for the First Judicial Circuit

Each month at local public libraries in the First Judicial Circuit, volunteer attorneys work to help self-represented litigants through the Lawyer in the Library program. With several 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 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 – Wednesday, July 30, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
• Carbondale, IL – Carbondale Public Library, 618-457-0354
  • Attorney Christine Heins – Thursday, July 24, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
  • Attorney Gene Turk – Wednesday, July 30, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
• Carterville, IL – Anne West Lindsey District Library, 618-985-3298
  • Attorney Winter Campanella – Monday, July 14, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and Monday, July 28, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
• Galatia, IL – Galatia Public Library, 618-268-9200
  • Attorney Julian Valdes – Tuesday, July 15, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Harrisburg, IL – Harrisburg District Library, 618-253-7455
  • Attorney Julian Valdes – Tuesday, July 15, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Herrin, IL – Herrin City Library, 618-942-6109
  • Attorney Julian Valdes – Friday, July 25, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Marion, IL – Marion Carnegie Library, 618-993-5935
  • Attorney Julian Valdes – Tuesday, July 15, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
• Olive Branch, IL – Dodge Memorial Public Library, 618-776-9200
  • Attorney Julian Valdes – Thursday, July 24, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Quarterly sessions are also offered at the following locations:

• Metropolis, IL – Metropolis Public Library, 618-524-4312
  • Attorney Julian Valdes – Next session TBD
• Mounds, IL – Mounds Public Library, 618-745-6610
  • Attorney Julian Valdes – Next session TBD
• Vienna, IL – Vienna Carnegie Public Library, 618-658-5051
  • Attorney Julian Valdes – Next session TBD

Thank you to the following for their support of this program: Chief Circuit Judge William J. Thurston, all 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. For more information, please see: https://firstcircuitil.org/self-represented-litigants/.