Legal Aid Chicago

Legal Aid Chicago resolves critical legal problems that trap people in poverty. Legal Aid Chicago staff prevent unfair evictions from the only decent housing our clients can afford; protect survivors of sexual assault, human trafficking, and domestic violence; secure or preserve desperately needed benefits such as veterans’ benefits, social security, or health benefits; assist senior citizens who have been swindled by consumer scams or robbed of their livelihoods through fraudulent consumer scams; and help children receive the education they need to succeed.

As advocates for people living in poverty, Legal Aid Chicago witnesses how structural racism thwarts the health and stability of low-income communities and perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Free legal aid is a tool to fight racism in all its forms. Legal Aid Chicago joins with legal aid organizations across the country to speak out and work against racial injustice, including racially-biased policing.

Legal Aid Chicago strengthens the social safety net in our community and ensures that people living in poverty have a voice in the justice system. Each year it makes equal justice a reality for thousands of Cook County families.

Legal Aid Chicago provides free civil legal representation to residents of Chicago and Suburban Cook County (statewide for migrant and human trafficking) who have limited income or special legal needs in the following areas:

Family & Safety - Legal Aid Chicago focuses on cases where personal safety and financial stability are at risk.

Homes & Apartments - Legal Aid Chicago focuses on cases that protect safe and affordable housing for tenants and homeowners.

Money & Debt - Legal Aid Chicago focuses on cases that protect income and assets from unfair collections and fraud.

Work & Employment Rights - Legal Aid Chicago focuses on protecting the rights and benefits of workers and reducing barriers to employment.

Health, Disability, and Basic Needs - Legal Aid Chicago focuses on accessing and protecting benefits for basic human needs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medical Assistance (Medicaid, Medicare), and more.

Immigration - Legal Aid Chicago focuses on obtaining protected status for victims of crime, including U-visa, VAWA (for victims of domestic violence), and T-visa (for victims of human trafficking).

Legal Aid Chicago has a dedicated Volunteer Services Unit that spends its time hosting clinics and bringing legal information and tools to people around Cook County. Legal Aid Chicago has a centralized Client Screening Unit that provides fair and culturally competent access to people who need legal help. Through litigation and advocacy, our 230-person team of full-time lawyers, paralegals, and staff fight to secure individual rights to affordable housing, basic healthcare, fair working conditions, protection from abuse, and economic stability.

In 2022, Legal Aid Chicago assisted over 22,000 clients and immediate family members. The total financial impact of our services grew from $18 million in 2018 to $27 million in 2022. This included increased assets, income, and reduced debt for our clients. The average impact per client was $19,000.

LAC staff helped over 1,120 people avoid homelessness, helped over 350 clients gain access to education or work opportunities, and improved the health and safety of over 700 clients.

Clients represented by Legal Aid Chicago's Housing Practice Group remained in their homes over 90% of the time. The overall success rate of Legal Aid's client cases is 95%.