Free Legal Consultations Coming To St. Tammany Parish Libraries Oct. 26-31

by | Slidell News & Guides

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Five Sessions Are Scheduled At Library Branches In Slidell And Mandeville During Louisiana’s Lawyers In Libraries Week

ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. — St. Tammany Parish residents will have several opportunities to meet directly with volunteer attorneys for free legal consultations later this month through the annual Lawyers in Libraries program.

The St. Tammany Parish Library will host five Lawyers in the Library sessions from Oct. 26 through Oct. 31 at three branch locations in Slidell and Mandeville. The schedule includes weekday morning, afternoon and evening appointments along with a Saturday session, giving residents several ways to participate.

Louisiana’s statewide Lawyers in Libraries program is held during National Celebrate Pro Bono Week and connects residents with volunteer attorneys who provide brief legal assistance at no cost. The program is designed to help people better understand civil legal questions and identify additional resources when more extensive help may be needed.

St. Tammany Parish Schedule

  1. Monday, Oct. 26, 9-11 a.m.: Causeway Branch, 3457 Hwy. 190, Mandeville. This is the first St. Tammany Parish session scheduled during the week.
  2. Thursday, Oct. 29, 1-5 p.m.: Slidell Branch, 555 Robert Blvd., Slidell. The four-hour afternoon window provides one of the longest local appointment periods on the parish schedule.
  3. Thursday, Oct. 29, 5-7 p.m.: South Slidell Branch, 3901 Pontchartrain Drive, Slidell. The evening time offers another option for residents who may be unavailable earlier in the day.
  4. Friday, Oct. 30, 9-11 a.m.: Causeway Branch, 3457 Hwy. 190, Mandeville. This second Causeway Branch session gives northwestern St. Tammany residents another opportunity to participate.
  5. Saturday, Oct. 31, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: South Slidell Branch, 3901 Pontchartrain Drive, Slidell. The weekend session provides an additional choice for residents whose work or family schedules make weekday appointments difficult.

Each session allows participants to meet individually with an attorney for about 15 to 20 minutes to discuss a civil legal issue. Volunteer attorneys can answer basic questions, provide limited legal guidance and help residents identify free or lower-cost services that may be appropriate for their situation.

Criminal matters are not handled through the Lawyers in Libraries program. Residents seeking assistance should understand that the meetings are brief consultations rather than full legal representation or an ongoing attorney-client service.

Registration is required for the St. Tammany Parish sessions, and residents should contact the participating library branch directly to reserve an available appointment. Advance registration can also help residents determine which session best fits their location and schedule.

Residents attending the Causeway Branch sessions can call 985-626-9779, extension 1. Slidell Branch appointments are available by calling 985-646-6470, extension 3, while the South Slidell Branch can be reached at 985-781-0099.

The statewide Lawyers in Libraries initiative is supported through a partnership involving the Louisiana State Bar Association, Louisiana Library Association, State Library of Louisiana, Law Library of Louisiana and participating public libraries. The program uses familiar community locations to make basic civil legal information more accessible to residents.

Louisiana residents who cannot attend an in-person session may also seek a phone consultation through the statewide program. The Louisiana State Bar Association provides additional legal education, referral information and resources for people who may need further assistance after an initial consultation.

Why This Matters In Slidell

Slidell residents will have three local Lawyers in Libraries sessions during the week, including appointments at both the Slidell Branch on Robert Boulevard and the South Slidell Branch on Pontchartrain Drive. Those locations give residents access to the program without requiring travel to Mandeville or another part of St. Tammany Parish.

The Oct. 29 schedule is especially flexible for Slidell-area residents because the Robert Boulevard session runs from 1 to 5 p.m. and the South Slidell session follows from 5 to 7 p.m. Residents who cannot attend during the workweek will also have a Saturday option at South Slidell on Oct. 31.

The program can be especially useful for residents who have a civil legal question but are uncertain about what kind of assistance they need. A short conversation with a volunteer attorney can help clarify the issue, explain possible next steps and point residents toward other legal resources if their situation requires additional help.

 

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