Before adding a new organization, ensure that it meets our guidelines below for adding a new organization. 

Organizations that are added to Illinois Legal Aid Online’s directory must have:

  • Some relationship to the provision of legal services.
  • Some connection to Illinois.  They may be a national organization or located outside Illinois, but they must have a strong presence in Illinois.

The following is a list of the types of organizations that may meet the above criteria.  This is not a comprehensive list of types that can be included in the directory and organizations of these types are not automatically included.  This list is merely designed to provide an idea of the types of organizations that may be included.

  • Legal aid organizations that provide direct services
  • Organizations that provide support to Illinois legal aid organizations
  • Organizations that provide legal education to the public
  • Legal clinics, including those operated by law schools
  • Legal self-help centers and help desks
  • Policy groups
  • Chicago Bar Foundation grant recipients
  • Domestic violence victims’ advocates

ILAO does not include:

  • Government agencies (unless they take PILI interns)
  • Social services organizations without legal programs
  • Bar associations without lawyer referral programs
  • For-profit organizations, even organizations that offer services on a sliding scale

NOTE:  non-profit organizations that offer services on a sliding scale may be included, as long as they offer some services for free to those who meet income qualifications.

To determine if an organization is appropriate for inclusion in the directory, the following information must be gathered and evaluated:

  • Name of organization
  • Name and contact information of a representative of the organization
  • A link to the organization’s website
  • A description of the legal services that they offer, including whether they charge for their services and what their fees are.