Who is ILAO?

At ILAO, we believe in justice. We believe the law is for everyone. We know, however, that not everyone is equal in the eyes of the legal system. Race and culture, language, education, location, time, disability, and income are enormous barriers to using the law to get justice.

For more than 20 years, Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) has opened opportunities to justice so that people can resolve their problems, especially those with the least access to the legal system. Through innovation and partnership, we make the law actionable and accessible. 

We believe that, with the right knowledge and guidance, people can be their own best advocates. We mobilize people with plain-language, 24/7 tools - in two languages - so families can understand and assert their legal rights. ILAO helps people, who are unable to find or afford lawyers, open opportunities for justice.

Illustration of a crowd of people as silhouettes in different colors
Our values

These core values drive our work:

  1. Putting those we serve first.
  2. Focusing with intention on equity. 
  3. Respecting and serving the diverse communities of Illinois. 
  4. Simplifying complicated concepts into actionable tools and resources. 
  5. Cultivating connections and activating partnerships.
  6. Courageously trying new approaches and taking calculated risks.
  7. Continuously learning and improving.
Community Engagement Director Amy Clark sits next to Community Navigator Manager Jerome White at a community resource fair in Champaign. Amy and Jerome are smiling and Jerome is waving.
Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) is open to all. Working with and helping people with a wide variety of lived experiences, brings us closer to meeting our ideal of a society where all people can get justice. Because our services and products—like the law—are for everyone, we believe in including everyone. We know that justice is scarce for those who need it most. People with intersectionalities of oppressed identities face the greatest barriers to justice.
 
ILAO condemns white supremacy and all forms of discrimination. We stand in solidarity with those advocating for transformative change in our systems of wealth distribution, policing, criminal justice, civil justice, and immigration policies. Through our work, we seek to break barriers to justice. ILAO believes that, equipped with the right tools, opportunities, and connections, people can shift the power differentials and use the law to get justice.
 
Inclusion, equity, diversity, and anti-racism are key in our work to champion opportunities, equality, and justice for those who need it most. As a community and as individuals, we honor and respect differences, practice equity, and support the professional development and wellness of our colleagues.
Illustration of a group of people in profile, each with a heart in their outline
ILAO does
  • Even the playing field for people who can't afford a lawyer. With ILAO, people without lawyers are not without help or hope. Over 3 million people will use our tools this year to help with crises such as eviction, debt, food insecurity, domestic abuse, deportation, and divorce.
  • Use technology to scale the number of people helped. ILAO's Form Library provides over 70 apps that generate free legal papers for those seeking solutions to their legal problems. With more than 50,000 personalized documents created last year, ILAO believes that the law is for everyone.
See our vision and plans
ILAO is
  • Always open. Nearly 100,000 people access our tools each month from 5:00 pm to 9:00 am and on weekends, when traditional legal services are closed. ILAO is the only legal aid service in Illinois where people can get free legal aid 24/7/365.
  • A game changer. Our tools and services are used by unsung heroes across Illinois, who take the initiative to advocate for themselves, their families, and their communities.
  • Bilingual. We help people whose first language is not English. Over 50,000 people visit our Spanish-language tools every month.
  • Accurate. We track changes in Illinois law and keep our tools up-to-date in real time.
Support ILAO today