Rural Libraries Connect Communities to Legal Aid
Many rural and frontier communities are facing a shortage of attorneys. Legal aid organizations are increasingly partnering with public libraries in these areas to help people in rural communities connect virtually to free legal services. In this video, Jennifer Cuesta, Rural Pro Bono Program Attorney with Colorado Legal Services, explains how rural public libraries are key partners for reaching rural populations with legal aid services.
As partners for legal aid clinics, public libraries provide:
- Reliable technology and internet connection
- Public space that is familiar and is not associated with legal services
- An established and trusted relationship with the community
- A shared goal to provide resources to their community
Watch this video for ideas on how your public library can help improve access to civil legal justice in your community by partnering with legal aid organizations to support remote legal clinics.
For more resources related to libraries and legal services see oc.lc/legal-justice.