The Stillwater Public Library’s (SPL) annual “Ask-a-Lawyer” event is happening Wednesday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Stillwater Community Center (315 W. 8th) in partnership with the Payne County Bar Association (PCBA). This service is free and open to the public.
Community members can privately meet one-on-one with local lawyers to ask questions about legal topics such as bankruptcy, real estate planning, personal injury and family law, among many others. Librarians will work to match attendees with lawyers who are best equipped to address their topic of inquiry. Attendees are advised to bring a list of questions and any related documents to get the best assistance. Lawyers cannot discuss current court cases.
At this drop-in event, participants will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure everyone attending gets a chance to meet with a lawyer, sessions will not exceed 30 minutes.
“Ask-a-Lawyer” takes place in conjunction with Law Day, which is officially celebrated on May 1, with events and services taking place throughout the month of May.
Brenna Gilchrist, an adult service librarian at SPL, appreciates the PCBA’s dedication to making this event happen year after year.
“We always have such a great turnout,” Gilchrist said. “It is an invaluable service for our community. This year, I’d also like to thank the Community Center for letting us host the event at their facility.”
Community members unable to attend the event have other options for getting legal advice.
On Thursday, May 1, the Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA) will be available to give free legal advice from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. by phone at (405) 429-4290 and by email at askalawyer@okbar.org. The OBA also has resources online at okbar.org that help answer legal questions on various topics. They also provide contact information for low or no-cost legal assistance options.
Citizens can also check the American Bar Association’s website at abafreelegalanswers.org to see if they qualify for free legal advice. Licensed attorneys from the state will reply by email and can assist with most topics, whether specific to a particular state or questions about federal law.
Anyone with questions about “Ask-a-Lawyer” can contact the library’s Help Desk at (405) 372-3633 x8106 or askalibrarian@stillwaterok.gov.