arizona library association conferencenovember 14, 2013 yes, you can help people with legal...
TRANSCRIPT
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
Yes, You Can Help People with Legal Questions!
Barbara Howe and Janet Fisher, State Library of Arizona
Tony Apodaca, Maricopa County Library District
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
“I need information on…”
• How to file for divorce• Whether this contract is legal• Writing a will• How long creditors have to collect
November 14, 2013Arizona Library Association Conference
Don’t Panic!
November 14, 2013Arizona Library Association Conference
What are we talking about?
ANSWER:Access to Justice
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
Legal information - something we can do
Guide created for County Court personnel, and useful for libraries.
http://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/34/Guides/QRHandbook.pdf
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
Examples of an informational question
Q. Is jury service mandatory?A. The United States Constitution and the Arizona State Constitution guarantee the right to trial by jury. Failure to attend as directed may subject the person to penalties provided by law, including a fine up to $500 and being rescheduled for jury service, See A.R.S. Title 21.
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
Legal Advice – Sentences to avoid
• I think you should …
• What this is saying is …
• The law really means …
November 14, 2013Arizona Library Association Conference
Your toolkit for helping with legal questions
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
Statewide databases
Legal Information Reference Center has a general focus
•How-to’s• Forms• Explanations
General research in EBSCO databases can provide some description of legal issues and examples
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
AZLawHelp.org
• Ask questions• Find a lawyero Online intake form
• Identify applicable legal serviceso Modest Means Projecto Arizona Senior Citizens Law Project
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
Other online tools
State Bar of Arizona • Find a Lawyer
Maricopa County Bar Association • Lawyer Referral Service
Hein Online• Articles• Attorney General Opinions• More
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
State:• Arizona State Courts – self-service forms
http://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/selfserviceforms.aspx
Federal:• Law Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/law/help/guide/states/us-az.php http://www.loc.gov/law/help/guide/federal.php
• Regulations.gov• USA.gov
Government sites
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
Contact someone to help you
County law librariesCounty courts• Note: Many sources from Maricopa County
Superior Court can be revised for use in other counties
State law librarians – [email protected]
November 14, 2013Arizona Library Association Conference
November 14, 2013Arizona Library Association Conference
Looking forward to the start of a project
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
Maricopa County as test location
• Provide training to selected/self-selected library staff from Maricopa County Library District a couple of branches in some metro-area libraries– Testing value of training in urban and rural areas
Schedule Spring 2014 – training for library staff, event with attorneys and connection between communities and attorneys.
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
Survey participants
Before• Common areas for training
After• Value of training – less apprehension in
providing assistance with law-related questions; knowledge of sources for assistance and how far to go when responding
November 14, 2013Arizona Library Association Conference
Questions?
Arizona Library Association Conference November 14, 2013
Contact us:
Barbara Howe [email protected]
Janet Fisher [email protected]
Tony Apodaca [email protected]