Lawyer in the Library: Fall 2026 Dates Announced for the First Judicial Circuit
Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/01/2026 - 11/30/2026
12:00 am
Categories
Each month at local public libraries in the First Judicial Circuit, volunteer attorneys work to help
self-represented litigants through the Lawyer in the Library program. With several locations across the
Southern Illinois region, free legal advice is available nearby.
The Lawyer in the Library program provides patrons needing help with a legal issue the
opportunity for a private, one-on-one session with an attorney for up to 20-minutes to receive advice or
help with legal documents. There is no fee and pre-registration is required at most locations. On the date
of your session, check in at the library registration desk and bring any paperwork pertaining to your legal
question or situation. This program may be limited to one visit per patron.
For more information about the program, or to pre-register to speak to an attorney, you may call
one of the following participating libraries:
o Anna, IL – Stinson Memorial Public Library, 618-833-2521
o Attorney Gene Turk
▪ Thursday, November 12, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
▪ Wednesday, December 9, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
o Cairo, IL – Cairo Public Library, 618-734-1840
o Programming details will be determined soon.
o Carbondale, IL – Carbondale Public Library, 618-457-0354
o Attorney Andrea Cooks
▪ Monday, November 9, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
▪ Monday, December 7, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
o Attorney Gene Turk
▪ Wednesday, November 18, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
▪ Wednesday, December 16, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
o Carrier Mills, IL–NEW LOCATION– Carrier Mills-Stonefort Public Library, 618-994-2011
o Attorney Andrea Cooks
▪ Thursday, November 5, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
▪ Thursday, November 12, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
-continued on page 2-
2
o Carterville, IL – Anne West Lindsey District Library, 618-985-3298
o Attorney Winter Campanella
▪ Monday, November 16, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
▪ Monday, December 14, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
o Eldorado, IL – Eldorado Memorial Library, 618-273-4402
o Programming details will be determined soon.
o Galatia, IL – Galatia Public Library, 618-268-9200
o Programming details will be determined soon.
o Golconda, IL – Golconda Public Library, 618-683-6531
o Attorney Jeffrey Goffinet
Monday, November 30, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Monday, December 14, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
o Harrisburg, IL – Harrisburg District Library, 618-253-7455
o Attorney Nina Brown
▪ Tuesday, November 10, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
o Herrin, IL – Herrin City Library, 618-942-6109
o Attorney Antonio Madrigal
▪ November date will be added soon.
o Marion, IL – Marion Carnegie Library, 618-993-5935
o Attorney Elish Sanders
▪ Tuesday, December 8, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
o Attorney Roderick Throgmorton
▪ Tuesday, November 17, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
o Metropolis, IL – Metropolis Public Library, 618-524-4312
o Attorney Diane Goffinet
▪ Tuesday, November 10, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
▪ Wednesday, December 16, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
o Mounds, IL – Mounds Public Library, 618-745-6610
o Programming details will be determined soon.
o Murphysboro, IL – NEW LOCATION – Sallie Logan Public Library, 618-684-3271
o Attorney Andrea Cooks
▪ Monday, November 2, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
▪ Monday, November 16, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
▪ Monday, December 14, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
3
-continued on page 3-
o Olive Branch, IL – Dodge Memorial Public Library, 618-776-9200
o Programming details will be determined soon.
o Vienna, IL – Vienna Carnegie Public Library, 618-658-5051
o Attorney Maria Hafford
▪ The next date will be added in early 2027.
Thank you to the following for their support of this program: Chief Circuit Judge William J.
Thurston, all First Circuit Judges and Circuit Clerks, Volunteer Attorneys, Library Directors, Library
Program Coordinators, and other library staff members.
Each Lawyer in the Library program is initially launched with an Access to Justice Improvement
Grant (ATJ Grant) funding through the Access to Justice Division, Administrative Office of the Illinois
Courts. The programs continue with each Volunteer Attorney coordinating with the Library and Brenda
Sprague, Executive Assistant to the Chief Circuit Judge/ATJ Improvement Grant Coordinator.
