Practice resources

These resources are written for legal professionals doing legal aid or pro bono work. If you do not have legal training, they may be difficult to understand. Visit resources from the main menu for legal information written and designed for the public. Note: IICLE resources are only available to legal aid employees.

Workers with health or disability issues Resources
Adult Guardianships, Advance Directives, and Mental Health Law
Explains mental health law, considerations, powers and duties of a guardian, and terminating and modifying guardianship. 2025 edition
IICLE
Auto accidents
This is a lawyer manual from Illinois Legal Aid Online. It covers all aspects of an auto accident. Sections of this book include an overview, practice tips, how to prepare a case for the plaintiff, available defenses for a defendant, insurance.
Lawyer Manuals
Available defenses for a defendant
Advanced level content. In an auto accident, defendants must raise affirmative defenses, particularly with respect to the actions of other parties, right away in the Answer.
Lawyer Manuals
Damages
Advanced level content. Information about how to calculate damages, reimbursement to a health insurance provider and medical liens related to auto accidents.
Lawyer Manuals
Denying third party claims
Advanced level content. An insurance company can deny a claim if the insured wasn’t at fault, or the third party is seeking recovery for damages that don’t appear to have been caused by the accident or is seeking excessive damages.
Lawyer Manuals
Employment Discrimination: Practice and Procedure
A lawyer resource for employment discrimination cases in Illinois and federal tribunals.
IICLE
Filing a Request for Reconsideration - SSI Overpayments
Gives information about how to file a request for reconsideration.
Lawyer Manuals
First party coverage in an auto accident
Advanced level content. Details on the five types of first-party insurance coverage in an auto accident: medical payments, comprehensive, collision, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist.
Lawyer Manuals
Helping clients appeal and dispute an overpayment in SSI
Explains filing a Request for Reconsideration in overpayment cases, late appeals, and overpayments for SSDI and SSI.
Lawyer Manuals
Helping someone with a disability find work
Explains the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services program that helps people with disabilities find work.
Text article
How to prepare a case for the plaintiff
Advanced level content. Information about gathering important facts for the case, such as getting a police report. A quick list of important facts that will help you analyze the strength of your auto accident case as the plaintiff.
Lawyer Manuals
Insurance company’s duty to defend
Advanced level content. The insurance company has a duty to defend its insured even if it denies third-party claims.
Lawyer Manuals
Labor and Employment Issues in Transactions, Business Restructuring, and Workforce Reductions
A lawyer resource on labor and employment issues in transactions and restructuring, covering workforce reductions, bankruptcy, due diligence, and employee benefits considerations.
IICLE
Liens upon Illinois Tort Actions
Manual on liens upon tort actions including liens on attorneys, clinical psychologists, physicians, physical therapists. 2022 edition
IICLE
Local, state, and federal laws
Case law with links for all aspects of an auto accident in Illinois.
Lawyer Manuals
Long-Term Care Litigation
A lawyer resource that explains federal and state regulation of long-term care facilities, including involuntary transfers, discharges, records, and medical and nursing issues. It considers both the plaintiff's and defendant's perspectives.
IICLE