CHICAGO LEGAL CLINICS BOAST HISTORY OF CARE FOR COMMUNITIES (11-15-04)

We all know that criminal defendants charged with significant crimes who can not afford to pay for a private attorney have the right to a public defender. BUT: what happens when you are involved in a civil matter or a minor criminal charge and can not afford a lawyer? What if the matter is very serious, could subject you to contempt of court or the loss of your children, job or home?

These are matters in which the various legal clinics and low-cost public interest law firms in the Chicago area can step up to provide you services if you can not afford a private lawyer. If you saw the article on the new David Cerda Legal Clinic in this issue of the Lawndale News, you know that right here in the neighborhood, at Farragut high school, there is a place you can go for help! You can reach the Clinic at (773) 534-1943.

Realize before you contact one of these groups that most of them are tremendously overloaded with clients and overextended with their resources, and often will not be able to provide you the close attention and level of service you would receive were you to contact a private attorney, so – if it is at all possible for you to pay for your own attorney – it is usually a good idea to do so. A private lawyer will more likely spend the time with you and your case that it needs. Below is a sampling and description of the various organizations that can assist you, if you’re short on funds:

THE CHICAGO LEGAL CLINIC has provided assistance to tens of thousands of low-income Chicagoland residents for many years, and it has offices throughout Chicago, offering legal services in a variety of areas, including but not limited to immigration, housing, family law and civil rights. It’s founder, Ed Grossman, has dedicated his career to providing legal services to those most in need and least able to pay. You can contact the Chicago Legal Clinic at (773) 731-1762 or via their website at www.clclaw.org.

THE LAWYER’S COMMITTEE FOR BETTER HOUSING provides representation to indigent renters who are in conflicts with their landlords, usually in eviction proceedings. If you need information about your rights as a renter, or feel you are being mistreated by your landlord, call LCBH at (312) 347-7600 or at www.lcbh.org. You can also contact the John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Clinic at (312) 786-2267.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL CLINIC CHILDREN AND FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER has for years provided legal services for children who are facing legal problems of all sorts. If you are under 18 and need any legal help, call (312) 503-0396. The NU Clinic has a counterpart at the LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHILD LAW CLINIC which you can reach at (312) 915-7927.

THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION (LAF) is the largest clinic providing a wide range of services, next to the Chicago Legal Clinic. They are well known for providing representation in the area of family law, but also handle other cases. The LAF has offices all over the Chicago area, including the West Side of Chicago. Contact the LAF at (312) 341-1070 or at www.lafchicago.org.

CHICAGO VOLUNTEER LEGAL SERVICES serves as a hub for area lawyers to donate pro-bono, or free services to needy clients. This is the place to go if the traditional clinics can not service you. Call them at (312) 332-1624 or visit their website at www.cvls.org.

CHICAGO-KENT COLLEGE OF LAW LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC is a center of help for indigent taxpayers who need help with their IRS filings. Contact them at (312) 915-7176.

Again, if you can not afford a private attorney, please do not feel that all is lost! These clinics and others are available to service you, many of them are funded in part by the federal government with your taxes, so please step up to be helped!

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