[HOUSTON, TX. July 25, 2024] – The Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Library, in partnership with Harris County Public Library, is excited to announce the launch of Legal Access Workspace Pods (LAWPods) This initiative aims to provide free and convenient access to legal resources for individuals navigating the court system. These LawPods empower individuals with the tools and resources necessary to understand and exercise their legal rights, thereby ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or financial situation, has access to essential legal assistance.
LAWPods Explained
The LAWPods are sound-dampening workspaces equipped with computer stations. These pods offer patrons access to the extensive legal resources available from the Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library. Services include assistance in finding legal forms, access to valuable research materials, and one-on-one video calls with a Law Librarian.
It is important to understand that while Law Librarians can guide users to helpful resources, they do not provide legal advice, fill out forms, or refer users to specific attorneys.
LAWPod Locations
The LAWPods are located at four different locations ensuring that Harris County residents will not have to travel far to use this service.
- Barbara Bush Branch Library (Spring TX)
- Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library (Clear Lake City)
- Katherine Tyra Branch Library (Bear Creek)
- Parker Williams Branch Library (South Belt / Ellington Area)
Increasing Equity in Access to Legal Resources
Among the hundreds of questions library staff are asked to field on a daily basis, legal questions pose an especially difficult problem. Now, offering legal assistance, but not legal advice or counsel just became a lot easier with the availability of LAWPods. "Customers no longer need to travel far to access legal resources or to consult with a Law Librarian," says Barbara Bush Branch Manager Shane Harris, "Thanks to the LAWPod, they can do that in the comfort of an HCPL library close to them."
The LAWPods initiative promises to make legal assistance more accessible and convenient for all who need it. It marks a significant advancement in more equitable access to legal resources for Harris County residents. This commitment to public service ensures that individuals who face barriers such as lack of reliable transportation, financial constraints, or work commitments can still access the legal resources they need.
LAWPod Booking Information
LAWPods are available Tuesdays and Thursdays and can be booked in 30-minute increments. There is no charge to use them. To reserve a LAWPod, visit hcpl.net/meeting-study-rooms/#LAWPods
About Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library
The Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library is a public library that serves the legal information needs of self-represented litigants, legal professionals, the judiciary, and county and other governmental officials. Public access to legal information is a critical component of open and equal access to the justice system. The Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library’s mission is to provide all of its patrons access to relevant, current, accurate, and practical legal information in the most appropriate and cost-effective formats possible and to provide educational opportunities designed to enhance patrons’ understanding of legal information and how it is accessed. Learn more at www.harriscountylawlibrary.org/
