The U.S. legal system is complex for everyone. But for someone who lives in poverty and can`t hire a lawyer, our legal system is downright intimidating. For more than 50 years, LAF (formerly Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago) has provided free professional legal advice to people living in poverty in the Chicago area. LAF makes equal justice a reality and impacts the lives of more than 30,000 of the most vulnerable members of our community each year. Legal Aid Chicago provides free civil justice services to people living in poverty in Cook County. All clients must be registered by telephone and their eligibility must be verified by our Client Selection Unit at 312-341-1070. — Track your progress on legal issues — Sign up for legal updates — Save legal recommendation information to your profile — Participate in focus groups — Access to IICLE(R) online library — Edit legal articles ILAO members who are lawyers, law students or navigators can: LAF`s lawyers and full-time staff pay individual attention to their clients. Their work leads to successes such as ordering the protection of an abusive spouse, preventing an unjust eviction, or justice for a victim of consumer fraud. LAF`s work begins with making the legal system accessible to our clients and ends with a life-changing solution that gets them back on track. Legal Aid Chicago also works with volunteer lawyers and community organizations to provide free legal clinics and assistance services.

Please see our list of legal clinics and support services. This agency is authorized to host articling students for law students in the fall and spring semesters, as well as in the summer. They are also eligible for admission to graduate scholars. „You helped me a lot! Thank you, I really appreciate it! Sign up here to receive monthly e-newsletters and updates on Legal Aid Chicago`s work to help the most vulnerable in our community. Learn more about how we helped Vincent and thousands of others like him here. Podcast hosts Colleen Connolly and Naeem Nulwala talk to guests about eviction issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and how Cook County`s court systems have adapted. Read more Legal Aid Chicago does NOT address the following types of questions: As we are funded by Legal Services Corporation, our clients must also fall into one of the following categories: Our phone menu and staff communicate in English and Spanish. Legal Aid Chicago`s size and diversity generally allows us to place articling students and PILI Fellows in their preferred practice groups.

Articling students and fellows gain extensive practical experience in handling individual client cases and representing them in court, to the extent permitted by virtue of their law school status. Please contact community@namati.org to report outdated information or ask a question about this profile. „This website has done a great job – both concise and informative. Thank you for making this simple and thoughtless easy to understand… When Vincent, a recently widowed veteran, was left homeless by the Chicago Housing Authority, he turned to Legal Aid Chicago for help. Program: Graduate Scholarship, Articling for Law Students Learn more about LAF and its staff, the services we offer, our volunteer opportunities, and how your support and donations will make a difference. And stay up to date with the latest LAF events and news by signing up for our fan newsletter. LAF board meetings are also open to the public „This is one of the best websites I`ve ever used. The automatic filling system makes your life easier! Thank you! » – Add or edit job postings – Post events to the ILAO Community Calendar – Manage your nonprofit`s profile „I was able to find out what my rights were and how to apply for help with little or no income. The Illinois State Board of Education has asked Chicago Public Schools to address issues related to special education services for high school students at the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center. Learn more.