Beyond the Legal Profession: Access to Justice and Legal Information Initiatives for Public Users

By Alan Kilpatrick

On Tuesday, May 26, 2025, I am co-presenting a session at the 2025 Canadian Association of Law Libraries with Ana San Miguel, Roman Lanzarotta, Charmaine Tierney, Lorissa Kinna, and Angela Ashton.

Beyond the Legal Profession: Access to Justice and Legal Information Initiatives for Public Users

Legal information can help people with legal problems better understand the law, identify ways of resolving legal issues, and learn about legal rights and responsibilities. Access to legal information is an essential element to achieving access to justice and an engaged citizenry. Join this cross-country panel to learn about the key role Canadian law libraries play in the justice system and how they are helping expand public access to legal information and justice.

The panelists, representing law libraries nationwide, will discuss how they are “moving mountains” to reach beyond legal professionals and build connections directly with the public. Each panelist will share some innovative programs to connect members of the public with legal information, legal resources, and options for legal advice. Attendees will hear about successes, failures, and challenges of these initiatives and how they can support public access to legal information in their library.