April's Blog

NNWLA Lawyer in the Library Night: May 8, 2019

Join NNWLA for our annual Lawyer in the Library Night as we answer legal questions from the local community! The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to approximately 7:30 p.m. Volunteers and community members are organized by practice area, so do not worry about being paired with someone who has a question in an area of law that is completely outside your expertise.  Each year we have been able to serve over 60 individuals, which would not have been possible without the support of our members.  The earlier you volunteer, the more people the law library can add on their list to participate.  Let’s make this the best year yet! 

​Please e-mail nnwla.rsvp@gmail.com to volunteer for this event.  When you volunteer, please indicate what your practice area is or what areas you are comfortable assisting individuals.

Mix & Mingle at 1864 Tavern: April 25, 2019

Please join us on Thursday, April 25th at 5:30 p.m. at 1864 Tavern, located at 290 California Avenue, for a mixer and networking event. Reconnect with old friends and make new friends while enjoying one of their craft cocktails. Light refreshments will be provided.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Member Spotlight: Emily B. Reed
- Bronagh M. Kelly

Emily B. Reed serves as the Self-Help Center and Law Library Program Manager, a position she has held since 2013. In her role, she is responsible for managing the Law Library and Self-Help Center staff, selecting the law library collections, managing the budget, and collaborating with the Law Library Board of Trustees, judges, court administration, staff, and volunteers. She also creates and enhances court forms and packets for self-represented litigants.
 
In her 6 years in the role, Emily has seen many changes and improvements to the services offered to the public, as well as an increased awareness of the resources available to those in need. The Self-Help Center now has over 100 packets available in the area of family law, and numerous forms for probate issues. The Self-Help Center is exploring the recommendation to expand the forms to the civil arena. Emily believes that the increase in forms and expansion of services reflects the needs of the community and their expectations. In 2019, the Law Library assisted 19,658 people and the Self-Help Center assisted 13,800 people.
 
There are, however, many people who are unaware that such invaluable resources exist in our community. Those who have never been faced with a legal issue may not know where to turn for help or assistance. Emily works tirelessly with the legal service providers in our community to increase awareness of the services at the Law Library and Self-Help Center.
 
The Lawyer in the Library programs offer participants the opportunity to speak with a volunteer attorney for free and obtain legal assistance in many areas of the law. The ten minutes of time the participants get with the attorney is invaluable and can make all the difference. Family Law night occurs each Tuesday, General Law night occurs each Wednesday, and Probate, Wills, and Trust Law night takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, all from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The Lawyer in the Library program relies on volunteer attorneys from our community, and it is always accepting more volunteers as the demand for this program continues to grow. In 2018, the total number of participants in the program was 1,309. Unfortunately, 87 people were turned away due to demand on certain nights.
 
NNWLA partners with the Law Library each year to put on a special Lawyer in the Library Event for Law Day. Last year, 18 volunteer attorneys assisted 80 members of the public in less than two hours. This year’s event is taking place on Wednesday May 8, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., and Emily encourages all attorneys to participate. “Don’t be nervous,” is her best advice for any interested attorney. This is an opportunity for the community to have questions answered and attorneys to “get their feet wet” with the program, having the additional support of seasoned volunteers for the tricky questions! Emily sees the most need in areas of family law, housing, probate, criminal, and general civil law.
 
After the event last year Emily received tremendous feedback, with many participants returning to the library ready to take the next steps as a result of the assistance received from one of the incredible volunteers. Volunteering at this event will literally change the lives of people in our community!

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A Successful Night at the Supreme Court

Thank you to all who attended our March event at the Supreme Court. It was a wonderful way to celebrate Women's History Month, and the discussion with our Supreme Court Justices and other members of the bench was enjoyed by all.

The Supreme Court Law Library put on a wonderful display and assisted with highlighting the careers and achievements of the women who have served on Nevada's Supreme Court.
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NNWLA even received recognition from Attorney General Aaron Ford for our efforts in recognizing and celebrating the achievement of women in our state. 

Article of the Month

Overusing the world "sorry" can come across as a lack of confidence - and can make others lose respect for you. Women say "sorry" much more often than men do. Women are likely to say "sorry" or downplay ourselves and our accomplishments in all kinds of situations when an apology isn't really warranted, sociologist Maja Jovanovic explained at a recent TEDx Event. 
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Read the full article here for some of Jovanovic's suggestions for substituting the word "sorry."