Free/Low Cost Legal Resources*Please note that useful resource materials are located at the Rockdale County Law Library. The Rockdale County Law Library is a program and service of the Conyers-Rockdale Library System and the Rockdale County Law Library Board. The Rockdale County Law Library is located within the Nancy Guinn Library at 864 Green Street, Conyers, Georgia 30012.
The Ask-A-Lawyer (AAL) program is a collaborative initiative that provides essential legal support to the community. This program is a partnership between the Rockdale County Law Library, located within the Nancy Guinn Memorial Library in Conyers, and the Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP).
Program Overview & Scope
The AAL program aims to assist low-income residents and senior citizens of Rockdale County by offering free 30-minute legal consultations focused on civil (non-criminal) matters. These consultations are designed to empower participants with legal knowledge and guidance, helping them navigate their legal issues effectively.
Legal consultations take place on the second Friday of every month between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. This scheduling allows residents to plan ahead for their visit, ensuring that they receive the help they need in a timely manner.
Participants in the AAL program can expect to receive basic legal advice and guidance during their consultations. This includes assistance with various civil matters, such as probate issues, landlord-tenant disputes, and family law inquiries. However, it is important to note that the program does not provide formal legal representation or establish an attorney-client relationship. As such, the advice offered should be viewed as guidance rather than as a substitute for comprehensive legal counsel.
Appointment & Operations Process
To enhance the experience for all patrons and minimize potential waiting-related stress, the AAL program operates on a pre-booked appointment basis. Generally, there are 10 appointment slots available per session, enabling a focused, orderly consultation process without the chaos of a first-come, first-served walk-in model.
Prospective participants can make reservations through a dedicated phone line. This line opens at 10:00 AM on the Tuesday prior to each monthly program event. Appointments are booked on a first-come, first-served basis until all slots are filled. Once the slots are fully booked, the phone line automatically closes. After appointments are secured, they are shared with the GLSP, which confirms the schedule with the individual attendees.
To protect the privacy of all participants and ensure sensitive information remains confidential, the phone system deliberately does not accept voicemails or messages. This policy helps prevent patrons from inadvertently leaving personal and confidential details on library phone lines.
The finalized schedules of confirmed appointments are compiled and shared with court representatives by 12:00 PM on the Thursday preceding each service date. This ensures that all parties involved are well-informed and prepared for the consultations.
Patron Privacy & Confidentiality
To maintain the confidentiality of all program participants, intake lists shared with court representatives are carefully redacted. This means that all personally identifiable information, including full names, phone numbers, and email addresses, is removed from these documents prior to distribution.
The original intake logs, which contain unredacted personal information, are stored securely at the library service desk. Access to these logs is restricted solely to authorized staff members and designated court representatives, ensuring that participants' privacy is upheld at all times. This commitment to confidentiality is a cornerstone of the AAL program, allowing residents to seek legal guidance with confidence and in the privacy they deserve.
For more information on Ask a Lawyer Day and other library programs, go to https://www.conyersrockdalelibrary.org/, email [email protected], or call 770-388-5040 ext. 109.”
Ask A Lawyer Days - Rockdale County Law Library