The Dolores County Public Library in Dove Creek hosted a free virtual legal clinic Saturday, Nov. 8, providing three hours of one-on-one consultations with volunteer attorneys. Sessions run from 2–5 p.m., and each participant receives roughly a 20-minute appointment on issues including probate, landlord-tenant disputes, civil protection orders, collections, veterans’ issues, small claims and family law. The clinics are held monthly; interested residents were asked to call the library to schedule and reserve a slot.

The format gives local residents targeted legal guidance without the expense or travel time often associated with hiring an attorney. Because each 20-minute slot is short by design, the clinic is best suited for initial legal advice, triage, and referrals to more in-depth representation when necessary. The three-hour window allows volunteers to offer multiple consultations; at 20 minutes per session that structure makes as many as nine slots per volunteer attorney theoretically possible in a single afternoon.

Access to affordable legal information can have measurable economic effects in a rural county like Dolores. Timely advice on landlord-tenant matters can prevent evictions that displace families and create turnover costs in the local housing market. Help with collections and small claims can restore consumer confidence and improve household balance sheets, while probate assistance can reduce delays in transferring property and assets—an important consideration for families managing intergenerational wealth and land holdings. Legal help for veterans can also accelerate access to benefits and services that affect household income and stability.

Holding these clinics monthly establishes a predictable point of access for residents who may otherwise delay seeking legal assistance due to cost, transportation barriers or limited local legal resources. Regular availability lowers the odds that routine civil legal problems will escalate into lengthy, expensive litigation, which can drag on personal finances and local small businesses.

Organizers emphasize that the clinic is run by volunteer attorneys and that advance scheduling is required to reserve a spot. Residents who need guidance on probate, eviction or tenant issues, family law, small claims, collections or veterans’ legal matters can call the Dolores County Public Library to arrange a consultation.

For many in Dolores County, the virtual clinic represents not only immediate legal help but also a small public investment in preventing larger economic disruptions—keeping households housed, reducing unresolved debt, and smoothing legal transitions that can ripple through the local economy.