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Helpful Organizations
| Helpful Organizations |
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Free or Reduced Fee Legal Aid
19 Organizations
| 1. | LAF Markham Courthouse Eviction Project |
LAF (Legal Assistance Foundation) staffs an eviction help desk at the Markham Courthouse on alternating Mondays. LAF attorneys and volunteers provide advice, brief services and, in some cases, representation in court. Attorneys are introduced by the Judge at the start of the eviction call and then go out into the hallway. Anyone who wishes to talk with the attorney can do so for a limited time in the hallway. Attorneys are happy to review pleadings, talk about the facts of a particular case, or discuss the procedure that landlords must follow to evict a tenant. In very limited circumstances (usually only where there is a subsidized tenancy), the attorney may refer the case for representation to LAF staff attorneys. |
| 2. | John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Clinic |
The Clinic provides legal services in cases of discrimination relating to housing, insurance, affordable housing, and lending. No income requirements - cases limited to housing and housing related discrimination. |
| 3. | LAF (Legal Assistance Foundation) |
LAF (formerly The Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago) provides free civil legal services to individuals and families in Chicago and suburban Cook County who are unable to afford an attorney. To qualify for free legal help, household income must be less than 125% of the federal poverty level. |
| 4. | Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing |
About LCBH The Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) believes that every individual and family is entitled to decent housing as a basic need and human right. For over thirty years, LCBH has defended the rights of tenants to have safe, accessible, and affordable housing on a non-discriminatory basis through education, outreach, supportive services, advocacy, and legal representation impacting over 7000 Chicago area renters each year. LCBH provides free legal assistance to low and moderate-income renters facing serious housing issues.
Attorney of the Day Eviction Defense Project (AOD)
More than 30,000 eviction cases are filed every year in Cook County. Without counsel, over 90% of tenants will be evicted from their homes after only a few minutes before the judge. Our Eviction Defense Project provides high-volume, no-cost legal services to families in eviction court, many times providing the last defense against homelessness.
Tenants in Foreclosure Intervention Project (TFIP)
Foreclosure doesn't just impact homeowners! In recent years, more Chicago area renters have been displaced by foreclosure than homeowners. Our Tenants in Foreclosure Intervention Project provides legal information and support to renters impacted by foreclosure at our Help Desk located at the Richard J. Daley Center in downtown Chicago and through state-wide outreach and training.
Affordable Housing Preservation Project (AHPP)
Many low-income renters find themselves living in deteriorating, unsafe building conditions as the affordable rental market in Chicago shrinks. Through partnerships with community organizations, tenant groups, and the Department of Buildings, our Affordable Housing Preservation Program works to maintain the supply of safe, decent and affordable rental housing in Chicago.
Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP)
Tensions between renters and landlords often flare well before a court case is filed. Our Tenant Advocacy Project helps to resolve a wide range of pre-litigation disputes between landlords and tenants through research, negotiation, and advocacy.
Supportive Services
Our Supportive Services team provides assistance to our most vulnerable client families by connecting them with a network of services and programs aimed at stabilizing families and preventing homelessness.
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| 5. | REACH Legal Clinic |
Volunteer attorneys provide advice and referrals in the areas of family, housing, and consumer law issues. To Make an Appointment: You must call our intake number, (312) 986-4200, during intake hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Appointment Hours: Hours are second Saturday of every month from 9am to 12pm. We provide the following services: Advice and Representation on Family Law Issues
Advice and Representation on Housing and Consumer Issues
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| 6. | Circuit Court of Cook County Foreclosure Mediation Program |
The Circuit Court of Cook County Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program provides free assistance to Cook County homeowners in foreclosure. Homeowners who have received a foreclosure summons should call the toll-free help line at 877.895.2444 (or 312.836.5222 TDD) to schedule a free meeting with a housing counselor – this is the first step in the mediation process. Housing counselors are located at 69 W. Washington and at the Richard J. Daley Center, Room 1303. Walk-in appointments are not available. To participate in the mediation program, homeowners must:
*Homeowners concerned about their mortgages, but who have not received a summons from the court and are not currently in foreclosure, should consult www.CookCountyForeclosureHelp.org for a list of available resources. |
| 7. | Cabrini Green Legal Aid |
Our mission is to answer God’s call to seek justice and mercy for those living in poverty by providing legal services that strengthen lives, families and communities. Expulsions: CGLA will represent students facing disciplinary expulsions from public school, concentrating on those expulsions that have a corresponding criminal case. Expungement, Sealing and Executive Clemency: Our Expungement Help Desk in Room 1006 of the Daley Center is open every Monday through Friday from 9am to noon. At the Desk we will assess a client’s rap sheet and assist qualifying individuals complete expungement or sealing forms. Individuals who do not qualify for this relief will be informed about the executive clemency option. The desk operates on a first-come, first-served basis. A client can only be seen if s/he brings a current RAP SHEET from the Chicago Police Department (available at 4770 S. Kedzie). To secure the rap sheet, individuals must first be fingerprinted and pay a $16 fee. Fingerprints are taken Monday through Friday, 8 am to 3:30 pm. RAP SHEETS and you will be instructed about retrieving the RAP sheet. |
| 8. | Loyola Community Law Center |
The Community Law Center is a legal clinic affiliated with the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. The Community Law Center serves low-income persons with a variety of civil legal problems, including disability claims, family law litigation, elder law, and in defense of eviction and consumer debt suits. |
| 9. | Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-Chicago |
CAIR-Chicago is a local chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization. The organization’s mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. CAIR-Chicago’s Civil Rights Department counsels, mediates and advocates on behalf of Muslims and others who have experienced religious discrimination, defamation, or hate crimes. If you feel you have been the victim of any form of discrimination because you are Muslim, or because you were mistaken to be Muslim, please contact CAIR-Chicago at 312-212-1520 to see how we can help. |
| 10. | Kane Legal Clinic |
The Kane Legal Clinic operates out of the Chicago Lighthouse at 1850 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago IL 60608. We provide free legal services for people with vision impairments who cannot afford a lawyer. Please call 312-666-1331 and ask for Judge Pomaro. In most cases, you will need to come to the clinic, however when you speak to the clinic director by phone, that can be determined. Appointments are generally on Monday or Thursday, but you may leave a message with your problem at any time, and the judge will return your call by the next business day. |
| 11. | Center on Halsted Legal Program |
The Legal Program at Center on Halsted provides members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community with referrals to attorneys specializing in areas such as discrimination, adoption, custody, personal injury, criminal cases, harassment, contracts, wills, and bankruptcy. Referrals are made to attorneys who are sensitive to, and experienced in matters related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues. |
| 12. | Catholic Charities Legal Assistance |
The mission of Catholic Charities Legal Assistance (CCLA) is to provide access to compassionate and competent legal assistance to the economically disadvantaged in the Chicago area.
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| 13. | Markham Courthouse Help Desk |
The desk is open on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| 14. | Asian American Legal Services Clinic |
Asian American Legal Services Clinic offers legal services to the pan-Asian, immigrant, refugee, and low-income communities of Chicago. Legal help is free to those living at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Clinic offers legal services to individuals with income above this level for a small fee in the areas of immigration, consumer issues, divorce, child custody, housing, employment, and public assistance. A monthly free legal clinic is offered on the first Wednesday of every month in the evening by volunteer attorneys at Asian Human Services' Uptown office. Clients must provide their own translator. Please contact Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) to schedule an appointment for the Legal Services Clinic at (312) 332-1624.
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| 15. | Midwest Center on Law & the Deaf |
MCLD provides information to the general public on the rights of deaf and hard-of-hearing people, and helps deaf and hard of hearing people find attorneys willing to provide accessible legal services. If you or a deaf or hard-of-hearing person you know needs a lawyer, please call MCLD to help you find one. |
| 16. | Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation |
CVLS represents low-income Chicagoans with a wide variety of civil legal problems, including divorce, adult and minor guardianships, adoption, tort defense, collection defense, bankruptcy, and landlord-tenant. CVLS accepts clients whose income is up to 175% of the Federal Poverty guideline. |
| 17. | CARPLS |
As the front door for legal aid services in Cook County , the CARPLS Legal Aid Hotline helps thousands of low-income families find solutions to everyday legal problems including housing, employment, education, consumer debt, divorce, guardianships, estates, injuries to person or property, public benefits, health care and more. Whatever the legal problem, CARPLS’ experienced attorneys can help clients better understand their rights and the remedies available to them under the law. Our attorneys do not represent clients in court. If in-court representation is required, the CARPLS attorneys will assist with a referral to an appropriate full-service legal aid agency if one is available. The Hotline service is free to low-income residents of Cook County. Some clients who do not qualify for free services may be offered a consultation for a fee. The CARPLS hotline is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM and on Wednesday evenings until 7:30 PM. The hotline number is 312-738-9200. |
| 18. | Center for Disability and Elder Law |
The Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL) provides high-quality, pro bono legal assistance to persons marginalized by poverty, age and/or disability. CDEL’s organizational structure consists of a modest in-house staff which supports a network of hundreds of volunteer attorneys and paralegals. CDEL volunteers provide legal representation in a wide range of civil practice areas including: guardianship, simple estate planning, landlord/tenant, consumer fraud, civil rights, elder abuse and real estate. CDEL has also developed a number of limited engagement opportunities for those volunteers that are unable to handle cases that require long-term client commitments. Adult Guardian Help DeskCDEL also administers the Adult Guardianship Help Desk at the Daley Center. The Help Desk assists persons who will appear without a lawyer in court proceedings for the adjudication of disability for an alleged disabled adult and appointment of a personal guardian. The staff will help you understand the court process and assist you in filling out required court forms. However, the Help Desk does not give legal advice or provide legal representation. Help Desk services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on all days that the Circuit Court is in session. Help Desk staff does not provide assistance for proceedings in which a guardianship of the estate may be required or if the guardianship proceeding may be contested. Staff will provide referral information to other resources or to private attorney referral services for representation in these cases. |
| 19. | Center for Economic Progress - Tax Clinic |
The Center for Economic Progress - Tax Clinic provides pro bono advice and legal representation to individuals and families that face a controversy with the Internal Revenue Service. The clinic helps taxpayers interpret letters they have received from the IRS regarding their tax returns and helps undocumented immigrants file a tax return even if they do not have a Social Security number. The clinic also assists taxpayers who have received an examination (audit) notice or who are involved with the Appeals Division of the IRS. Most cases are settled, but if necessary the clinic will represent the taxpayer in the U.S. Tax Court. The clinic serves residents of Illinois, Wisconsin and northwest Indiana with incomes at or below 250% of poverty. |
Private Attorney Referrals
6 results
| 1. | Lesbian & Gay Bar Association of Chicago Lawyer Referral Service |
We provide referrals to GLBT or GLBT-friendly Chicago-area attorneys. Please call 312-807-4401. |
| 2. | Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois Lawyer Referral Service |
Our 24-hour answering service provides referrals to private English/Spanish-speaking attorneys with experience in every area of the law. Please call 312-554-2045. |
| 3. | Cook County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service |
Call our office at 312-630-1157, Monday to Friday between 11am and 3pm for referrals to private attorneys. |
| 4. | IllinoisLawyerFinder.com |
Illinois Lawyer Finder is the Illinois State Bar Association's lawyer directory. This online referral service is designed to serve everyone who can afford the services of a lawyer. If you prefer a telephone referral please call Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We charge no referral fee, and our operators can put you in touch with a lawyer in your area who has agreed to provide an initial consultation for no more than $25 for the first half-hour. |
| 5. | Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service |
The Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service refers clients to private attorneys who have been screened for experience in more than 45 areas of law, such as: criminal and juvenile law, personal injury, estate planning and trusts, and domestic relations. In addition, the LRS offers a broad range of attorneys in various practices who speak foreign languages including Spanish, Lithuanian, German, Japanese, Chinese and many others. Lawyer referrals are available through the web site or by phone Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| 6. | South Suburban Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service |
The South Suburban Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service provides referrals to lawyers in the south suburbs of Cook County, Illinois. Lawyers handle cases at the Bridgeview and Markham courthouses, and at the Daley Center in downtown Chicago. |
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