Lawyers doling out free advice Saturday - Willow Springs, IL - Willow Springs Suburban Life

Lawyers across the state will be manning telephones Saturday to answer legal questions at no cost.

The attorneys will provide free advice on consumer problems, family law, personal injury and other legal situations as part of the 30th annual Ask A Lawyer Day.

The Illinois State bar Association is sponsoring the service and some Chicago-area bar associations are cooperating too.

“An attorney can give them some basic information to head them in the right direction,” said Leslie Monahan, executive director of the DuPage County Bar Association. “If the attorney they are talking to feels they should be hiring an attorney, they can let them know.”

If the customer doesn’t have an attorney, they’ll be given a referral “rather than opening the phone book and having no idea,” Monahan said.

Many of the bar associations run free referral services year round. DuPage’s, for instance, offers referral to participating lawyers who then provide 30 minutes of free consultation.

But on Ask A Lawyer Day, callers can talk to a lawyer right away, Monahan said. Typically, the DuPage attorneys will field a few dozen calls, she said.

The call-in event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Any Illinois resident can call the state bar association at (800) 252-8908 or (217) 525-176. They can also all the local bar associations:

Northwest Suburban Bar Association, which includes Bartlett and Carol Stream: (847) 221-2681