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G2S Project Code: 2021-DC-88365
State: District of Columbia
Fiscal Year: 2021
Grantee
District of Columbia Public Library

Project Director
Director Name: Jean Badalamenti
Director Phone: 202-727-1107
Director Email: jean.badalamenti@dc.gov
General Information
Title: Lawyers in the Library
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2020
End Date: 09/30/2022
Abstract: Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP) is a non-profit law firm that provides free legal information, advice, and representation to low-income District of Columbia residents on civil legal matters. Through the Lawyers In the Library partnership with NLSP attorneys 1) provided free walk-in legal clinics at four DC Public Libraries and 2) provided consumer legal education programs at targeted branches. 
State Goal: Employment and Economic Development
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$8,090.00
$0.00
$0.00
$8,090.00
Intent(s)
Improve users' ability to use resources and apply information for employment support.
Business & Finance
Employment
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Walk-in Legal Clinics
Narrative: Free walk-in legal clinics were held monthly at Woodridge Library, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Parklands Turner Library and Benning Library by the Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP). The NLSP representative triaged customer concerns and, if a customer needed legal representation and met NLSP income guidelines, case priorities and other acceptance requirements, NLSP took the case for representation. Otherwise, NLSP provided information and referrals. At the clinics, an NLSP lawyer was available to advise patrons on the following areas: 
  • Criminal Records (record sealing, or help preventing discrimination by landlords and employers
  • Social Security Income(SSI)/Social Security Disability(SSDI) applications, denials, and termination
  • Problems with an employment background check
  • Problems getting a driver's or professional license
  • Student loans
  • Credit reports
  • Wage garnishment
  • Debt collection lawsuits and harassment
  • Placement on DC's child Protection Register
  • Recovery of security deposits from a former landlord

Intent: Improve users' ability to use resources and apply information for employment support.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: In-person


Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 29
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 15


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 26
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Consumer Education Programs
Narrative: Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP) hosted two education programs on topics such as debt collection and a general Know Your Rights program. The Know Your Rights program focused on the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Your Rights Against Debt Collection. The two programs took place at the Benning Library and at the Woodridge Library. 
Intent: Improve users' ability to use resources and apply information for employment support.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: In-person


Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 60
Number of presentations/performances administered: 2
Average number in attendance per session: 10


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 26
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
DC Public Library has partnered with Neighborhood Legal Services in the past. This year was the first since the pandemic that we resumed in-person clinics and programs with NLSP. It took a while to get this program off the ground, so we did not have a full year to implement what is an important offering at our library and enables NLSP to reach beyond the walls of their office. Of the 29 consultations that were completed, six of those turned into extended representation cases that NLSP took pro-bono.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Getting deeper into the community allows NLSP to reach a greater number of potential customers. The public library is a great place to do this because we have customers who use our resources, such as computers and Peer Specialists, who are need of legal support. Often times, individuals don't even realize the problem they have can be addressed through legal channels.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:

Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: Legal Services