Do you need legal help but can’t afford an attorney?
Millions of Americans face civil legal problems every year with nowhere to turn. If you’re struggling to pay bills and need help with a pressing legal issue like eviction, family law, debt collection or something else urgent…
The thought of finding a lawyer or legal assistance that you can afford can seem daunting if not impossible.
But don’t lose hope just yet. In this complete guide to finding legal aid, we’ll lay out exactly where to find free legal services in Illinois to help with your situation.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- The reality of the legal aid landscape
- Types of free legal services available
- How to find Illinois legal assistance
- What to expect when you apply
- Tips to make the most of your legal resources
The Reality of the Legal Aid Landscape
Okay. Let’s start with something shocking …
Low-income Americans receive inadequate or no help at all for 92% of their civil legal problems. That’s nearly 9 out of 10 cases. It’s a problem that’s only getting worse.
The fact is, there aren’t enough legal aid lawyers to help every person who needs assistance.
The ABA and Pro Bono Finder published a study in 2020 showing there were only 2.8 paid legal aid attorneys for every 10,000 people living in poverty nationwide.
Think about that number for a second.
If you can’t afford an attorney and need legal help in a crisis, your odds of finding assistance are slim. That’s why it’s so critical to know about the Illinois legal services directory and where to look.
Types of Free Legal Services Available
Not all legal aid is created equal.
Legal organizations offer assistance in certain areas of law, while private lawyers might take pro bono cases. When you start your search using an Illinois legal services directory, here are some of the main types of help you can find:
- Family law issues including divorce, child custody and parenting time, and domestic violence protection orders
- Housing problems like eviction defense, landlord disputes, and foreclosure prevention
- Consumer debt like bankruptcy, debt collection harassment, and credit issues
- Public benefits including Social Security, disability claims, Medicare, and Medicaid
- Employment disputes like wage theft, discrimination, and wrongful termination
Family law matters such as divorce and custody issues are complex. Working with a dedicated family law team through your local Illinois legal services directory can make all the difference to the future of your family.
Legal Aid Organizations vs. Pro Bono Services
Here’s an important distinction…
Legal aid organizations employ full-time attorneys that work exclusively with low-income clients. The attorneys at these civil legal aid offices only practice family, housing, and consumer debt law. They know the system and process inside and out.
Pro bono services are private attorneys volunteering their time to take cases free of charge. Most law firms have pro bono programs requiring their lawyers to provide a certain number of free hours per year.
Both are great and both provide critical services to those in need. But legal aid organizations are usually better equipped to handle cases and have deeper expertise in poverty law matters.
How to Find Illinois Legal Assistance
Okay. Let’s get down to brass tacks.
Finding legal help in Illinois is easier than you might think. Here are the best places to start:
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
ILAO should be your first port of call.
Illinois Legal Aid Online is a free service that connects you to legal information, forms, and an Illinois legal services directory. Their website includes:
- Plain-language explanations of Illinois law and your legal rights
- Interactive tools to create court forms and assistance with common legal problems
- A “Get Legal Help” button that links you to local legal services based on your issue and location
- Legal information in English, Spanish, and Polish
This resource helps over 3 million Illinoisans every year. It’s a massive free tool at your fingertips 24/7. Make sure to use ILAO.
Regional Legal Aid Programs
Illinois has several large legal aid programs that serve different regions of the state:
- Prairie State Legal Services. This nonprofit covers 36 counties in northern and central Illinois with 11 offices throughout the region.
- Land of Lincoln Legal Aid. This agency serves central and southern Illinois, reaching over 740,000 residents in or near poverty.
- Legal Aid Chicago. As the name suggests, this organization focuses on Chicago and the surrounding Cook County area.
Each of these legal aid organizations has its own intake process and eligibility criteria, but most now accept online applications to make it easier.
Courthouse Self-Help Centers
Don’t sleep on this one.
Illinois has 182 legal self-help centers statewide. They’re in courthouses and public libraries throughout the state. The centers offer:
- One-on-one assistance with court forms
- Information about court procedures
- Referrals to local legal aid organizations
- Help understanding your legal rights
You can visit most of these self-help centers without an appointment.
What to Expect When You Apply
The hard truth…
Just because you apply for legal aid doesn’t mean you’ll be accepted. Legal organizations must triage cases by priority and have limited resources.
So here’s what to expect when you apply:
First, you’ll fill out an intake application. This application asks you about your income, assets, household size and members, and the details of your legal problem. Most programs only help those at or below 125% of the federal poverty level.
Second, your case will be screened. The legal aid organizations consider:
- Whether your issue is in their practice areas
- How urgent your situation is
- The chances of a positive outcome
- Available attorney capacity
Third, a decision will be made. If accepted, you will be assigned an attorney to take your case. If not, you should get referrals for other resources.
Waiting times can vary. Cases that are urgent like eviction or domestic violence should get faster responses.
Important Documents to Gather
Give your application the best chance of acceptance by having these documents ready:
- Proof of income like pay stubs, tax returns, and benefit statements
- Any court papers or legal documents related to your case
- Identification for every member of your household
- Documentation of your legal problem like letters, notices, or contracts
Being prepared and organized can speed up the process significantly.
Making the Most of Your Legal Resources
Think you’ve hit a dead end?
The legal aid network is the largest resource for free legal help in Illinois. But if you get rejected, all is not lost. There are still other options and resources to tap:
- Law School Clinics. Law schools in Illinois operate clinics at several universities. Real cases are handled by students under the supervision of experienced professors for free.
- Bar Association Referral Services. Bar associations throughout Illinois can help refer you to private attorneys that may offer reduced rates or payment plans.
- Limited Scope Representation. Also known as “unbundled” legal services, you can hire a lawyer to do certain tasks but not the full case. It can make legal services more affordable.
- Self-Help Resources. ILAO has interactive tools that will guide you through handling basic issues on your own.
Many people successfully navigate legal problems by strategically combining resources like these.
The Bottom Line
Persistence is key when it comes to finding legal aid in Illinois.
The unfortunate reality is that need massively outstrips supply. But resources do exist and thousands of people find help every year through the Illinois legal services directory network.
The best thing you can do?
Start your search as early as possible before your situation becomes a crisis. Apply to as many programs as possible. Make use of online resources while you wait for an attorney. And never give up.
Legal problems rarely fix themselves. The best thing you can do to protect yourself and your family is to take action and seek help. While the system is far from perfect, Illinois has built up a network of services to help people like you.
Use them.