1. Statewide Legal Aid Organizations
- Land of Lincoln Legal Aid
- Serves southern and central Illinois (Springfield, East St. Louis, Carbondale).
- Website: lincolnlegal.org
- Phone: 1-877-342-7891
- Legal Aid Chicago
- Provides free civil legal services in Cook County (Chicago and suburbs).
- Website: legalaidchicago.org
- Phone: 1-312-341-1070
- Prairie State Legal Services
- Covers northern and central Illinois (Rockford, Peoria, Bloomington, Waukegan).
- Website: prairiestatelegal.org
- Phone: 1-800-526-0844
- Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
- Central hub for legal forms, guides, and referrals.
- Website: illinoislegalaid.org
2. Regional Legal Aid Providers
- CARPLS (Coordinated Advice & Referral Program for Legal Services)
- Free legal hotline and services in Cook County.
- Website: carpls.org
- Phone: 1-312-738-9200
- Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS)
- Pro bono assistance for low-income Chicago residents.
- Website: cvls.org
- Phone: 1-312-332-1624
- Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission
- Legal support for individuals with disabilities.
- Website: gac.illinois.gov
- Phone: 1-866-274-8023
- Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL)
- Free legal services for seniors and people with disabilities in Cook County.
- Website: cdelaw.org
- Phone: 1-312-376-1880
3. Directories & Search Tools
- Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) Directory
- Search by zip code or legal issue: illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information.
- Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- Low-cost consultations: illinoislawyerfinder.com.
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Directory
- Federally funded programs in Illinois: lsc.gov/find-legal-aid.
- Illinois Courts Self-Help Center
- Forms and guides: illinoiscourts.gov/self-help.
4. Hotlines
- Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-877-863-6338 (Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence).
- Tenant Rights Hotline: 1-312-347-7600 (Metropolitan Tenants Organization).
- Senior HelpLine: 1-800-252-8966 (Illinois Department on Aging).
- Disability Rights Illinois: 1-800-537-2632 (advocacy for individuals with disabilities).
- Immigration Hotline: 1-312-660-1370 (National Immigrant Justice Center).
5. Additional Resources
- 211 Illinois: Dial 211 or visit illinois211.org for community referrals.
- Pro Bono Programs:
- Pro Bono Network: probononetwork.org (Chicago area).
- Cabrini Green Legal Aid: cgla.net (housing, criminal records).
- Immigration Legal Aid:
- National Immigrant Justice Center: immigrantjustice.org.
- Erie Neighborhood House: eriehouse.org (Chicago).
- Native American Legal Services:
- Native American Rights Fund (NARF): narf.org.
- Ho-Chunk Nation Legal Department: ho-chunknation.com (serves tribal members).
- Self-Help Centers:
- Cook County Law Library: cookcountycourt.org/law-library.
- Illinois Circuit Court Self-Help Centers: illinoiscourts.gov.
- Law School Clinics:
- Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Clinics: law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic.
- University of Chicago Law School Clinics: law.uchicago.edu/clinics.
- Loyola University Chicago Civitas ChildLaw Clinic: luc.edu/law/experientiallearning.
Note
- Eligibility: Most programs prioritize low-income residents (under 200% of the federal poverty level) and specific case types (e.g., housing, domestic violence, public benefits).
- Apply Online: Organizations like Prairie State Legal Services and Legal Aid Chicago offer online intake forms.
- Urgent Issues: For emergencies (evictions, restraining orders), contact hotlines or visit courthouse self-help centers.
- Tribal Members: Contact local tribal offices (e.g., Ho-Chunk Nation, Shawnee Tribe) or NARF for advocacy.