Justice is scarcest for those who need it most. At Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO), we believe people can use the law to seek justice. We believe that, when empowered with knowledge and direction, people can be their own advocates. We design plain-language, 24/7 tools so families can understand and assert their legal rights.

IllinoisLegalAid.org provides free, actionable tools in English, Spanish and Polish. Our tools address 600 issues that most impact lower-income families, such as job loss, eviction, domestic abuse, and debt.

ILAO’s other essential services include:

• A triage, intake, and referral system that directs people to the best available resources, including forms, self-help guides, and lawyers. In FY20, nearly 10,000 people applied online for legal aid.
• Interactive apps, similar to TurboTaxⓇ, that help people without lawyers create personalized, accurate court forms and legal papers, using a simple question-and-answer format. In FY20, clients customized over 18,000 documents.
• A real-time, chat service where remote volunteers help people navigate IllinoisLegalAid.org. LiveHelp use has increased 105% since May, helping 90 people/day.
• Community navigators, who are grassroots leaders, educating their neighbors on legal rights. In 2020, ILAO has trained more than 30 community members, who have educated more than 6000 Illinoisans.