Law on the Frontlines: Libraries as Partners in Access to Justice

Legal service providers can partner with libraries, court and public, for program support and expanded program reach. Court libraries provide legal information and referrals and have expanded their reach partnering with public libraries. As a trusted community institution, the public library is a reliable resource for legal information, legal advice and referrals. Lawyer in the Library programs, through partnerships between public libraries, court libraries and legal service providers, are established as significant legal resources in the community. To assist public libraries in addressing legal information needs on a daily basis, when the Lawyer in the Library is not available, the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library, the Maryland Access to Justice Commission, and the Conference of Maryland Court Law Library Directors have developed a standardized state-wide curriculum on legal reference for public libraries. This curriculum is offered to public library systems to enable and empower public library staff across Maryland to provide quality legal reference and referrals in their local communities, ensuring that the law is accessible to every Marylander.

See how training public library staff in the use of legal information and referrals can expand access to justice .Learn how libraries can support your organization's mission and expand program reach.

Panelists:

1. Catherine McGuire, Thurgood Marshall State Law Library
2. Reena Shah, Maryland Access to Justice Commission
3. Sarah Mullen, Anne Arundel County Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library

Moderator: Joan Bellistri, Anne Arundel County Public Law Library