From 2005-2012 ILAO worked with Illinois courts and other stakeholders to establish a Legal Self-Help Center (LSHC) in each of Illinois’ 102 counties. These centers, which are located at public libraries and courthouses, provide self-represented persons with in-person guidance, legal information, and technology tools to solve their legal problems.
The presence of a legal self-help center can make a significant local impact, particularly in poorer, geographically remote counties where the local legal aid office may be one or more counties away. The self-help center is often the only option for help available to a person facing a legal problem. Legal self-help centers expand access to the DIY tools on IllinoisLegalAid.org by offering additional resources and services. At a minimum, they offer a reliable internet connection, a computer, and printer. Some Illinois LSHCs also have more specialized resources to offer, including in-person navigation assistance, individual case management, and even legal advice.
ILAO continues to work with these centers on a daily basis. We provide ongoing training and support to navigators, maintain a listserv to keep them informed of law changes, new resources on the website, and other important information. We maintain information on their hours and location and the services offered and make that available to website users in a clean user-tested format.