Good for Chicago: Illinois Legal Aid Online

Working thru divorce, foreclosure, domestic violence, discrimination claims (and really, most legal matters) often involves complex procedures, strict timelines, and—of course—tons of paperwork. Jumping thru all the right hoops can be exasperating...more-so for folks on limited incomes and even worse for those in rural areas. Have no fear, Illinois Legal Aid Online is here. And it’s a 2018 addition to our Thanks to You charity program.

For four years now, we’ve been running our Thanks to You program, where our residential clients can direct a portion of our fees to a charity on our curated list. This post is one of a series to tell our readers a little more about these charities and why we chose them.

Started in 2001, Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) works to leverage technology to help people in need, and legal aid providers who want to help them—regardless of location, income or education.

Working in partnership with law schools, the private bar and other legal service providers, ILAO offers legal forms, lawyers and resources to those who need it most (free, or at greatly reduced fees). People can access legal resources 24/7, in English and Spanish at IllinoisLegalAid.org. We rely heavily on technology to run our office. We love that these guys do too.

Their web site provides really great information and explanations to help lay people understand and navigate all sorts of legal proceedings and procedures.

The ILAO …

• Has helped more than 2 million people with dire problems like domestic violence, child support and foreclosures 
• Supports technology-based legal self-help centers in more than 80 Illinois counties 
• Offers an online triage and intake system that guides people to the best available legal help for their problem and location 
• Provides online advice from qualified pro bono attorneys for clients who cannot afford legal counsel 
• Provides remote navigation help by trained law student volunteers for people seeking solutions for family safety, housing, workers’ rights, and many other fundamental issues 

As real estate attorneys committed to helping all members of our community, our firm is proud to be associated with ILAO. We encourage you to support and promote ILAO, too. We hope you never need them, but it’s comforting to know ILAO is here to help.

Learn more:
Illinois Legal Aid Online
Thanks to You