For Immediate Release:
October 15, 2013
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. –To assist individuals who may not be able to afford the expenses associated with seeking professional legal advice, the Santa Clara County Library District, in partnership with the Pro Bono Project, are offering eight free virtual legal advice clinics at select Santa Clara County locations from October 15-25.
The Pro Bono Project is coordinating these free twenty-minute consultations with the assistance of volunteer attorneys from local corporations and commercial law firms.
“Finding reliable legal advice can be a daunting task,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman, delegate for the County Library District Joint Powers Authority. “These legal clinics may be able to assist residents in making better informed legal decisions.”
For their virtual meetings, individuals will use laptops, a printer/scanner, and video conferencing software provided by the Pro Bono Project to meet with a volunteer attorney over the Internet. Individuals will have the capability to scan and send documents to the volunteer attorney. Attorneys will offer legal advice to individuals and provide further referrals to legal service agencies. Library personnel will be available to help navigate the computer system should assistance be needed.
”The Santa Clara County Library District is excited to partner with the Pro Bono Project to bring these cutting-edge programs to five of our community libraries,” noted Deputy County Librarian, Derek Wolfgram. “The Library District is committed to bringing many types of free resources and programs to local residents. These legal clinics improve their access to dispute resolution services and the justice system.”
The virtual consultations will be conducted via a video conferencing program, and individuals must register in advance for their sessions. Individuals can register online at: www.probonoproject.org/virtual-clinics or sign up at participating locations. Short waiting lists will be maintained at each location after available sessions have been booked.
Virtual legal advice clinics will be offered at the following dates and locations:
Tuesday, October 15, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Morgan Hill Library, 660 West Main Avenue, Morgan Hill
Monday, October 21, 6:00 – 8 p.m.
Los Altos Library, 13 South San Antonio Road, Los Altos
Tuesday, October 22, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Campbell Library, 77 Harrison Avenue, Campbell
Wednesday, October 23, 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Santa Clara County Bar Association, 31 North Second Street, 4th Floor, San Jose
Wednesday, October 23, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Somos Mayfair Community Center, 370-B South King Road, San Jose
Wednesday, October 23, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Milpitas Library, 160 North Main Street, Milpitas
Thursday, October 24, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Gilroy Library, 350 West Sixth Street, Gilroy
Friday, October 25, 10:00 a.m. – 12: 00 p.m.
Pro Bono Project offices, 480 North First Street, Suite 219, San Jose
The Santa Clara County Library District, in partnership with the Pro Bono Project, will be piloting monthly Virtual Lawyers in the Library programs at five community libraries and other community locations. Individuals can find further information and program dates at www.sccl.org or http://probonoproject.org/virtual-clinics.
About the Santa Clara County Library District
Known as one of America’s best 100 public libraries, the Santa Clara County Library District promotes knowledge, ideas, and cultural enrichment. Its collection includes more than 1.9 million books, videos, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, eBooks and extensive online resources accessible from home or work.
For eleven years, the Library has ranked as one of the best in the nation for its size by Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings. Also recognized as one of America’s 2013 Star Libraries by Library Journal, the Santa Clara County Library District is one of the most-used public resources in the region.
The Santa Clara County Library District includes two bookmobiles, an online library, seven community libraries and one branch library serving Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. In 2013, the Santa Clara County Library District had more than 215,000 library cardholders and welcomed 3.2 million visitors who borrowed 9.7 million items. Visit Santa Clara County Library District online at www.sccl.org.
Contact:
(408) 293-2326 ext. 3002/3010/3014
