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.

Health & Benefits Resources
Medical or nursing home care
(4 resources)
Understanding your legal medical rights for mental health
Information for people who get Mental Health and Developmental Disability services about your legal medical rights.
Text article
Medical Malpractice
A lawyer resource on medical malpractice law, covering medical records, damages, defenses, and more, with practical guidance and forms.
IICLE
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
Wrongful-Death and Survival Actions
A lawyer resource on wrongful death and survival actions, covering the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, damages, conflicts of law, the Illinois Survival Statute, and family member liabilities, remedies, and immunities.
IICLE
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Injury or accident
(4 resources)
Understanding your legal medical rights for mental health
Information for people who get Mental Health and Developmental Disability services about your legal medical rights.
Text article
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
Subrogation
Advanced level content. Subrogation is your insurance company’s right to recover money it pays to its insured, under first-party coverage, from third parties allegedly at fault.
Lawyer Manuals
Who are the proper defendants: agency and negligent entrustment
Who are the proper defendants: agency and negligent entrustment
Lawyer Manuals
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Food and cash benefits (food stamps or "SNAP," TANF, general assistance)
(4 resources)
SNAP Eligibility
A lawyer resource for helping clients get, keep, and use SNAP food benefits, with guidance on applications, appeals, and common issues.
Lawyer Manuals
How to link your 'manage my case' account in Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE)
Here is a step-by-step guide to linking your Manage My Case account on the Application for Benefits Eligibility website.

This step must be completed to connect any previous applications to your most recent application.
Video
The Link system
A lawyer resource for helping clients get, keep, and use SNAP food benefits, with guidance on applications, appeals, and common issues.
Lawyer Manuals
Certification and reporting requirements
This is a lawyer manual from Illinois Legal Aid Online providing information on SNAP. It covers the life cycle of SNAP from applying for SNAP benefits and who is eligible, to violations, disqualifications, and appeals.
Lawyer Manuals
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Disability or old age benefits (SSI, SSDI or AABD)
(4 resources)
Negotiating repayment plans with SSA
Learn about the grounds for requesting that the SSA reduce the repayment amount owed in SSDI or SSI overpayment cases.
Text article
SSI and SSDI overpayments and appeals
This article for lawyers explains overpayments, Notices of Overpayment, SSA's appeals process, and SSA's options for collecting overpayment.
Text article
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
Filing a Request for Reconsideration - SSI Overpayments
Gives information about how to file a request for reconsideration.
Lawyer Manuals
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Unemployment benefits
(1 resources)
Claimant's rights to unemployment benefits
Guide to issues on determining eligibility and helping a claimant obtain unemployment insurance benefits in Illinois.
Text article
Another disability issue
(4 resources)
Special education procedures and meetings
Special education procedures and meetings
Lawyer Manuals
Individualized education programs for special education
Explains the parts of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for special education.
Lawyer Manuals
Eligibility for special education
Eligibility requirements and procedures for special education.
Lawyer Manuals
Additional definitions for IDEA and special education
Additional definitions for IDEA and special education
Lawyer Manuals
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Health insurance (Medicaid, Medicare, Affordable Care Act, private insurance)
(4 resources)
Litigating policyholder claims against insurance companies
An aid for attorneys who are litigating claims of an insured person against their insurance company.
Text article
Insurance law
A lawyer resource about the rights and duties of Illinois insurance policyholders.
IICLE
Advising Elderly Clients and Their Families
Information on representing elderly clients on issues such as estate and tax planning, Medicare, and elder abuse. 2023 edition
IICLE
Causes of action: Insurance litigation
A lawyer resource on insurance litigation that explains common causes of action, declaratory judgments, bad-faith refusal to settle, negligent issuance of a life insurance policy, and insurance broker malpractice.
IICLE
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Planning for loss of health or life
(4 resources)
Illinois Parentage Act of 2015
Gives information about the Illinois Parentage Act, and the parent-child relationship.
Lawyer Manuals
Children's law and Illinois Parentage Act
Gives information about Children's law and the Illinois Parentage Act.
Lawyer Manuals
Special Topics involving Children Law
Gives information about various different type of topics associated with children law.
Lawyer Manuals
Chancery and Special Remedies
A handbook for lawyers on special remedies, covering rescission, reformation, injunctions, interpleader, constructive trusts, subrogation, and contempt, with sample petitions, orders, and forms.
IICLE
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Retirement benefits (SSA)
(1 resources)
Overview of Social Security programs
Covers the different types of Social Security that a client might receive.
Text article
Housing repairs and living conditions
(1 resources)
Land Use Law: Practice and Procedure
Manual on land use including zoning controls, variations, subdivisions, impact fees, government financing, and more. 2025 edition
IICLE
Other health and benefits issues
(1 resources)
Estate planning forms and commentary: Powers of attorney and advance directives
Explains and provides sample forms for estate planning. Includes: power of attorney for property, Illinois advance health care directives, premarital agreements, and guardianships. 2022 edition.
IICLE