Legal Help

Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) helps people who cannot find or afford a lawyer overcome legal barriers. ILAO makes the law understandable and accessible through its website, IllinoisLegalAid.org, which has plain-language, 24/7, self-help court forms and legal information in three languages so that people can understand and assert their legal rights on their own.
 
  • Legal Self-Help Center (LSHC) toolkit – Has links to legal referrals and other programs, training videos, and promotional materials
  • Legal aid referrals (all are included in the toolkit, except for PSLS):
    • Get Legal Help – This is ILAO’s tool to connect people to the appropriate legal referral for their issue, income, and location.
    • Prairie State Legal Services PSLS (this is the main legal aid provider in your area; people can use Get Legal Help to start the PSLS application online, if the person’s issue is something PSLS will handle).
    • Catholic Charities legal advice line: (312) 948-6821. They handle most legal issues.
    • Free Legal Answers – People can submit legal questions to volunteer lawyers through a secure online portal.
    • The Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network (IL-AFLAN) – Provides legal help for armed forces and their families in Illinois. Veterans, service members, national guard members, reservists, spouses, or dependents needing civil legal aid can call 855-452-3526 to speak to an attorney for free.
    • New Leaf – Helps individuals seeking to expunge cannabis convictions from their records.
    • Eviction Help IL – Provides free legal help for Illinois residents who are renters facing potential eviction or landlords not represented by a lawyer.
    • IL Court Help – Connects people without lawyers to the information they need to go to court. It’s a free service from the Illinois Courts. People can call or text (833) 411-1121 for help.
  • ILHAF Mortgage Assistance Program – Provides financial assistance to struggling homeowners. They recently extended the deadline beyond January 31st (new deadline TBD).
  • The Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP) provides funding to Illinois tenants and landlords across the state (outside of Cook County) who have pending cases in eviction court. Applicants may qualify for up to $25,000 in emergency rental payments.