Lawyer in the Library (Virtual): Free Legal Assistance

Free Legal Assistance

The Lawyer in the Library Program is a countywide service coordinated by Legal Access Alameda, the pro bono arm of the Alameda County Bar Association, and staffed by volunteer attorneys in partnership with various libraries throughout Alameda County.   

Details

• Appointments are offered every third Tuesday of each month.
• Appointments are by telephone.  PLEASE INCLUDE PHONE NUMBER WITH FIRST NAME WHEN REGISTERING.
• Each registrant will have a 15 to 20 minute confidential consultation with a member of the Alameda County Bar Association.  
• Registration closes at 6 pm on the Saturday prior to the Tuesday event.
• Registrants must fill out a short appointment request form and sign a limited scope agreement (available below).
• The appointment form and signed agreement must be returned to the Pleasanton Library by email, mail, or in person by 12 noon the day of the event (instructions below).
• Topics may include landlord-tenant disputes, probate matters, employment problems, or other general consumer issues.
• Topics must be issues occurring in Alameda County.

How Virtual Lawyer in the Library Works

• Register for appointment at: https://pleasantonlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events
• The appointment request form and signed agreement (available at bottom of article) may be either:

1. 1. Filled out online and emailed to [e-mail]  
   2. Printed, filled out, and mailed to:  Pleasanton Public Library, 400 Old Bernal Avenue, Pleasanton CA  94566  (Print Pickup services available).
   3. Printed, filled out, placed in an envelope with registrant's name and "Lawyer in the Library" on the outside of the envelope, and brought to the reference desk in the Library.

• The appointment request form and signed agreement must be received by 12 noon on the day of the program (3rd Tuesday) so that the attorney has time to prepare for the appointments. 
• The volunteer attorney will call you at your assigned appointment time.
• Appointment times will be assigned the day of the event.

Please note:  The purpose of the consultation is to determine whether or not there is a legal problem and to provide guidance on how the legal problem might be solved, rather than for the attorney to provide in-depth legal analysis or advice. There is no continuing attorney/client relationship formed by meeting with a volunteer attorney, and the discussion with the attorney will be confidential. There are no specific income eligibility requirements in order to meet with an attorney through Lawyers in the Library, and the service is free. To view other local participating public libraries with Lawyers in the Library services, visit Legal Access Alameda.