(SPRINGFIELD, Illinois)  Anyone in Illinois with a question about a legal matter can call and talk to a lawyer – at no cost – on Saturday, May 1, Ask a Lawyer Day.

Lawyer volunteers will answer phones at four locations around the state from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Any Illinois resident can call 1-800-252-8908, toll-free, or a local number in some areas for a free phone consultation with a lawyer.

The 29th annual Ask A Lawyer Day, part of Law Day activities in Illinois, is a public service sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) in cooperation with bar associations in Cook County, DuPage County, and Will County.

Lawyer volunteers will be able to answer questions about consumer problems, family law, estate planning, personal injury, or any other legal situations affecting individuals. Property owners who have damage from spring storms and who have questions about their legal rights are encouraged to call for information.

Callers will be advised of steps they can take to resolve their legal problems and, if they need additional legal services, they will be advised to see their lawyer. If they don’t have a lawyer, they will receive a referral through a referral service in their area.

Phone numbers to talk to a lawyer on May 1 are:

The Chicago Bar Association             (312) 554-2001
DuPage County Bar Association        (630) 653-9109
Will County Bar Association               (815) 773-1150
From anywhere in Illinois – ISBA       (800) 252-8908 (toll free) or (217) 525-1760

Each of the bar associations operates a lawyer referral service for people who need legal services but do not have a lawyer. Lawyers participating in referral services provide an initial consultation at a nominal cost to determine the client's legal needs. Also, a lawyer can be found online at one of these bar association Web sites:

• http://www.isbalawyers.org (statewide)
• http://www.chicagobar.org/ (Chicago)
• http://www.dcba.org/public/locate.htm (DuPage County)
• http://www.willcountybar.org/ (Will County)

The 33,000-member Illinois State Bar Association, with offices in Springfield and Chicago, provides professional services to Illinois lawyers, and education and services to the public.