Teaching Legal LiteracyOutside the Law Library

Brian R. Huffman, JD, MLIS

Washington County Law Library

27 April 2012 – ARLD Day

Recipe for an Effective Transliteracy Program

Ingredients:

• Information

• Presenter

• Technology

• Audience

• Public space

• Publicity

Product: Proactive, localized reference

Librarians Lending a Hand: Teaching the public how to find and use legal resources

Knowledgeable presenters: Lawyers

Eager audience: Pro se litigants/patrons of law library

Information: Legal forms, and fact sheets and online guides

Technology: LSTA-funded laptops using wireless

Location: Public libraries throughout the county

Publicity: Promotion through various publicity outlets

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomwatson/4702530398/

Purpose and Scope

Workshop Participants:

• Use laptops* to access free legal forms and online resources

• Learn the basics of various legal issues

• Become more informed of their legal options

• May chat one-on-one with a volunteer attorney

*Equipment purchased with LSTA funds

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecstaticist/3077048704/

Results

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liberato/2275622210/

As a result of attending the “Librarians Lending a Hand” workshop, participants:

• Cited increased knowledge of legal issues;

• Felt more prepared to resolve own legal conflict;

• Would use free services, forms and resources;

• Were able to ask volunteer attorney questions;

• Would attend additional WCLL workshops