Clackamas County law library says it helps 'equal access to justice' with free legal research and remote services

The Alden E. Miller Law Library of Clackamas County provides free and low-cost legal information to anyone who needs it, its law librarian said in a county podcast interview. "The purpose of the law library is to help provide equal access to justice," Jennifer Daglish said.

Daglish, who serves as the county's law librarian, described a service that supports both legal professionals and members of the public. Usage is "split almost in half" between judges, attorneys and paralegals and other patrons such as students, reporters and self-represented litigants, she said. The library occupies about 2,000 square feet in the new courthouse in Oregon City and is designed for focused legal research rather than casual browsing.

Patrons meet with staff members who have legal or information-science credentials — "either a Juris Doctorate or a master's degree in library and information science" — and are asked about their legal question so staff can guide them through research options, Daglish said. That expertise matters, she added, because online searches and AI can return unreliable information: librarians help users find the most accurate and reliable sources.

The library can assist with a broad range of legal topics, Daglish said, from torts and personal-injury issues to small claims, name changes, bankruptcy and estate planning. She emphasized a key limit: staff are prohibited from giving legal advice. "We don't fish for them. We teach people how to fish when we can," Daglish said, describing how librarians provide resources and referrals to attorneys when appropriate.

The library offers multiple access channels. Daglish said services are available in person and online, and patrons can use an "ask a law librarian" icon or an appointment request form on the county website. Staff can be reached by email at lawlibrary@clackamas.us and the library provides Zoom and Microsoft Teams virtual meetings in addition to telephone assistance.

Daglish cited a recent success in which a patron representing herself regained custody of her child after months of research work supported by the library. She also recalled assisting an attorney who later acknowledged the library's help in a published book.

The Alden E. Miller Law Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and does not close for lunch, Daglish said. For more information or to request an appointment, callers can contact the library by email or through the county's website.