Free legal advice may be available to low-income persons
If you need legal advice on a civil (non-criminal) matter - such as family law, a housing matter or personal bankruptcy - and have limited financial resources, you may be able to take advantage of free legal services that are available throughout Illinois.
Legal service clients must be able to prove that they lack sufficient income and qualify for the free service. Some of the organizations post their eligibility requirements on their web site.
When determining whether or not to accept a case, those offering free legal services consider several factors. Legal matters that impact a household's ability to meet its basic human needs for protection from violence and abuse, access to medical assistance, subsistence income, or access to decent affordable housing, are considered the most important.
Some of the cases commonly accepted for more extensive legal representation include:
- Domestic Violence Orders of Protection (when legal representation is needed)
- Denials/terminations of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits
- Financial exploitation or abuse of the elderly or persons with disabilities
- Problems associated with nursing home care or paying for nursing home care
Among the leading organizations that provide free legal services are:
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation
http://www.lollaf.org/
618.462.0029; 800.642.5570
Prairie State Legal Services
http://www.pslegal.org/
815. 965.2134
In areas not covered by these two legal service providers, consider:
Chicago Legal Clinic
http://www.clclaw.org/
773.731.1762
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
http://www.cvls.org/
312.332.1624
Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS)
http://www.carpls.org/Home.aspx
312.738.9494
DuPage Legal Aid Service
http://www.geocities.com/lasdupage@sbcglobal.net/
630.653.6212
Legal Aid Bureau of Metropolitan Chicago
http://www.metrofamily.org/services/lab.asp
312.986.4000
Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
http://www.lafchicago.org/
312.341.1070
Note: This information was prepared as a public service by the Illinois State Bar Association and is a joint project with the Illinois Press Association. Its purpose is to inform citizens of their legal rights and obligations.
© Illinois State Bar Association
If you have questions about the application of the law in a particular case, consult your lawyer. The law is constantly changing. Information on this site or any site to which we link does not constitute legal advice.