Court & Hearings

If you receive a final court decision that you don’t agree with, you may be able to file an appeal. An appeal is a review by an appellate court. That court reviews the circuit court or administrative agency’s judgment or order to determine if any legal errors were made. Learn more about civil appeals.

You have the right to file an appeal with or without the assistance of a lawyer.  However, you should know that appeals are difficult. You will need to follow all rules and deadlines that a lawyer would follow. You will need to conduct legal research and write a strong argument in your brief.

Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts

The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts’ Appellate Resource Program has many resources on its website to help people who are representing themselves in an appeal. You can find information about civil appeals, including:

• General Case Information: Read this right away to understand your deadlines and what to expect during the appeal process.
• Statewide Forms and Instructions
• Legal Assistance Resources
• Frequently Asked Questions on Every Step in an Appeal: Read this right away to understand your deadlines and what to expect during the appeal process.
• Appellate Guides and Overviews
• How-to Video Series on Civil Appeals
• Resources for Conducting Legal Research
• Resources for Appeals to the Illinois Supreme Court
• E-filing Manuals

If you have any questions about the resources listed in this post, please contact the Appellate Resource Program at: [email protected] or call (312) 793-2013.

Illinois Free Legal Answers for Civil Appeals

Free Legal Answers is a national program of the American Bar Association. It is run by the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) in Illinois. It is a virtual legal advice clinic that helps people with low incomes get free legal advice for civil appeals. If you qualify for the service, you can submit your questions online and upload documents like the final court order you’re appealing. The lawyers can give advice, but they won’t represent you in court. They also don’t help with criminal or federal appeals. All communication happens online—there are no phone calls or in-person meetings. Make sure to check your email for any updates or questions from the lawyer.

Visit the Illinois Free Legal Answers webpage to learn more about the program, see if you qualify, and submit a question.

Research

The Chicago Association of Law Libraries offers a guide called Finding Illinois Law: A Librarian’s Guide for Non-Lawyers to help people understand the legal system and do legal research.

The Illinois Supreme Court Library also has Civil Appeals Research Guides to assist with research for appellate briefs. These guides are just a starting point for your research. Visiting a law library can help you find legal resources and authority. Many Illinois counties have public law libraries in courthouses, and some law school libraries allow public access during certain hours. Be sure to call ahead to confirm availability.

The Illinois Courts' website has opinions from the Illinois Supreme Court and appellate courts from 1996-present. It also has Workers' Compensation opinions from 2005-present.  
Illinois codes and statutes

The Illinois General Assembly publishes Illinois statutes, current bills, and other legislative reports. State laws are organized by subject area into Chapters and Acts.

Learn more about how to do legal research for your case.

Law libraries in Illinois