Free Legal Services in Suburban Cook County This resource sheet was developed for the January 2012 CBA Legal Aid Committee meeting, and is intended for use by legal aid organizations as a resource for no-cost suburban legal and mediation resources and for referrals. To be as complete as possible, we have included CBF grantee pro bono and legal aid organizations as well as other programs that work in partnership with CBF grantee pro bono and legal aid organizations. County-wide legal services CARPLS, (312) 738-9200 Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, (312) 341-1070 Chicago Legal Clinic, (773) 731-1762 Equip for Equality, (312) 341-0022, (800) 610-2779 (TTY) Chicago Coalition for the Homeless: legal services for homeless youth and educational issues for homeless children throughout Cook County, (800) 940-1119 Second Municipal District (Skokie) James B. Moran Center Expungement Help Desk: expungement- and sealing legal assistance, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm LAF Eviction Desk, Court Room 204, Fridays, 9 am to 11 am Center for Conflict Resolution: free mediation services in the Pro Se Court Room and/or the Presiding Judge s Office, Room 219, Mondays, 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. For more information, call (312) 922-6464, ext. 22 James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, 1123 Emerson, Suite 203, Evanston, IL 60201, (847) 492-1410. Moran Center attorneys focus on serving Evanston youth in juvenile delinquency and adult criminal court proceedings, school disciplinary and expulsion hearings, and before various state and local agencies. All clients receive comprehensive social work assessments at the outset of representation. Moran Center Ask a Lawyer, Evanston Legal Help Desk, Evanston Public Library Main Branch, 1703 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, first Tuesday of every month, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. This help desk offers brief legal advice from volunteer attorneys and preregistration is available at (847) 492-1410, ext. 0 or at http://www.askalawyerevanston.org/ Life Span: legal representation to domestic violence and sexual assault victims who reside in Cook County and have a pending order of protection, divorce, parentage or civil no-contact proceeding at the Skokie, 555 W. Harrison or Daley Center courthouses. 1 P a g e
Representation is done both out of the Life Span Des Plaines and downtown house, more information is available at (312) 408-1210 Connections for the Homeless: homelessness prevention advocacy, 2010 Dewey, Evanston, IL, ph: (847) 475-7070 YWCA Evanston-North Shore Domestic Violence Services, P.O. Box 5162, Evanston, IL 60204. This program includes legal advocacy, community-based services and emergency assistance and shelter. Toll-free crisis and referral line: (877) 718-1868, Crisis and referral line: (847) 864-8498 Childcare Network of Evanston Mayme F. Spencer Memorial Street Law Services, 1335 Dodge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60204. This clinic is staffed by volunteer attorneys and is open the 3 rd Thursday of each month, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Third Municipal District (Rolling Meadows) Center for Conflict Resolution: free mediation services in Court Room 206, Fridays, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. For more information, call (312) 922-6464, ext. 22 Rolling Meadows Legal Self-Help Center will open in early 2012, more details will follow Life Span: legal representation to domestic violence and sexual assault victims who reside in Cook County and have a pending order of protection, divorce, parentage or civil no-contact proceeding at the Rolling Meadows, 555 W. Harrison or Daley Center courthouses. Representation is done both out of the Life Span Des Plaines and downtown house, more information is available at (312) 408-1210 NWSBA Paternity Court Facilitators: consultation with an attorney on child support and paternity issues, Thursdays, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm NWSBA Pro Se Help Desk: brief consultation with an attorney, outside Court Room 206, Fridays, 1:00 pm to 3;00 pm Between Friends: bi-lingual court advocates (Spanish) who assist with independent orders of protection and legal assistance for civil orders of protection on the 3 rd Thursday of the month. For more information, call (847) 818-8900 Kristin M. Eby, MS, LCPC, Victim Services Coordinator, Arlington Heights Police Department, 200 E. Sigwalt Street, Arlington Heights, (847) 368-5361 Kristin Jordan, MSW, Social Worker, Schaumburg Police Department, 1000 W. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, (847) 348-7395 2 P a g e
Karyn Nelson, Social Worker, Streamwood Police Department, 401 E. Irving Park Road, Streamwood, (630)736-3721 Miriam Mayorga, Victim Services Coordinator, Wheeling Police Department, 255 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling, (847) 459-2640 Fourth Municipal District (Maywood) Center for Conflict Resolution: free mediation services in Court Rooms 111 and 112, Mondays, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For more information, call (312) 922-6464, ext. 22 Center for Disability and Elder Law Suburban Legal Assistance Clinics assist lowincome seniors and persons with disabilities with simple estate planning, housing, collections, simple divorces, guardianship and consumer fraud. The Clinics are by appointment only, and appointments can be obtained by calling (312) 376-1880, ext. 22. o Solutions for Care, 7222 W. Cermak, North Riverside, every first Tuesday of the month. o West Suburban Senior Services, 439 Bohland, Bellwood, every third Tuesday of the month. Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Legal Clinic, West Suburban Pads Oak Park, 1125 Rossell Avenue, Oak Park, 2 nd Thursday of every month, 5:30pm -6:00 pm Center for Economic Progress, Midwest Tax Clinic: clinics generally open from January 30-April 15, 2012, hours vary by site; Elgin-Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120 and Joliet-University of St. Francis-College of Nursing, 605 Taylor Street, Joliet, IL 60435. For more information call, (312) 252-0280 Constance Morris House, domestic violence services, 6120 S. Archer Road, Summit, IL, (708) 485-0069 Sarah s Inn Legal Advocacy: located in room 251 of the Maywood Courthouse. Provides assistance with orders of protection Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. Bilingual staff. For more information, call (708) 865-6134 Catholic Charities West Regional office, (708) 222-1491 Ladder Up: free electronic preparation and e-filing of tax returns for households earning up to $45,000 annually and individuals earning up to $20,000 annually. o Located at Unity Junior High School, 2100 S. Laramie, Cicero. Open Saturdays, 8:30 am to 11:30 am, from January 21 until April 14, 2012 (except closed on March 17, 2012) 3 P a g e
o Located at Casa Esperanza, 1115 N. 23 rd Avenue, Melrose Park. Open Saturdays, 8:30 am to 11:30 am, from January 21 until April 14, 2012 (except closed on March 17, 2012) Fifth Municipal District (Bridgeview) Center for Conflict Resolution: free mediation services in Court Room 203, Tuesdays, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. For more information, call (312) 922-6464, ext. 22 CVLS First Congregational Church of LaGrange Legal Clinic, 2 nd Saturday of the month, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Legal Aid Society Neighborhood Office, Southwest Community Center, 10537 South Roberts Road, Palos Hills, IL 60405, Mondays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Pillars, domestic violence advocacy services, please call: (708) 745-5277. Pillars also operates a 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline, (708) 485-5254 and a 24-hour Sexual Assault Hotline, (708) 482-9600 Constance Morris House, domestic violence services, 6120 S. Archer Road, Summit, IL, (708) 485-0069 Sixth Municipal District (Markham) Center for Conflict Resolution: free mediation services in Court Room 209, Thursdays, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. For more information, call (312) 922-6464, ext. 22 Legal Assistance Foundation Domestic Violence Civil Order of Protection Legal Assistance, Room 204H on the 2 nd and 4 th Mondays Legal Assistance Foundation Eviction Court Legal Assistance, Court Room 207-208, 2 nd and 4 th Mondays Legal Aid Society Civil Law Help Desk: legal consultation on contract dispute, debt collection, landlord/tenant, mortgage foreclosure and other consumer law cases, Room 204H on Fridays, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm Legal Aid Society Self-Help Web Center, Cook County Law Library (in basement of courthouse), staffed with LAS lawyers and student volunteers, Mondays and Fridays, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm 4 P a g e
Center for Disability and Elder Law Suburban Legal Assistance Clinics assist lowincome seniors and persons with disabilities with simple estate planning, housing, collections, simple divorces, guardianship and consumer fraud. The Clinics are by appointment only, and appointments can be obtained by calling (312) 376-1880 ext. 22. o Argento Center, 1700 Memorial Drive, Calumet City, IL every 2 nd Tuesday of the month. o Bloom Township Senior Services, 425 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, IL every 4 th Tuesday of the month. Legal Aid Society Neighborhood Office, Southwest Community Center, 1316 S. Western Avenue, Blue Island, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Center for Economic Progress, Midwest Tax Clinic: clinics generally open from January 30-April 15, 2012, hours vary by site; Harvey-Public Library District, 15441 Turlington Avenue, Harvey. For more information call, (312) 252-0280 South Suburban Bar Association Pro Bono Program: brief consultation with an attorney, Basement, Wednesdays, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm South Suburban Family Shelter, domestic violence services, (773) 701-4223 For people who do not need the legal aid guidelines, the CBA Lawyer Referral is an additional resource: The CBA Lawyer Referral Service can be reached at (312) 554-2001; hearing-impaired individuals can call (312) 554-2055. The CBA Lawyer Referral Service is open Mondays-Fridays, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm The CBA Lawyer Referral Services makes referrals to experienced attorneys who practice in the appropriate area of law, serve suburban locations and who charge fees for their time and services. There is a $30.00 administrative fee to the CBA for the initial consultation. 5 P a g e