COVID-19 Updates

In the summer of 2022, the farmworker project at Legal Aid Chicago, with the support of a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), … Continued

By Roshan Abraham July 28, 2023, 10:04am   IMAGE: JEREMY POLAND VIA GETTY IMAGES Legal aid groups in Chicago filed a lawsuit and a complaint with … Continued

Affiliate: ACLU of Illinois July 25, 2023 11:49 am CHICAGO – In two historic filings, housing advocates are challenging policies of two large landlords in … Continued

Illinois isn’t reimbursing allegedly stolen SNAP benefits Illinois lawmakers are debating a measure to reimburse benefits skimmed from people who need financial help buying … Continued

Melissa O. Picciola, Director of Pro Bono and Community Partnerships at Legal Aid Chicago spoke with WBEZ today about the complexities of cannabis expungement.  … Continued

The Legal Services Corporation Housing Task Force has released their brief on housing insecurity and the role of civil legal aid in helping low-income … Continued

Legal Aid Chicago’s Pro Bono & Community Partnerships Supervisory Attorney, Regina Hernandez joins WTTW Channel 11’s FIRSTHAND: LIFE AFTER PRISON project to discuss and … Continued

Legal Aid Chicago was recently featured in the local news. Click here to see consumer reporter Jason Knowles’ interview with our client.  

New $2.6 million pilot project will help patients and families focus on healing as lawyers navigate public benefits, housing assistance, employment and more The … Continued

Publisher: The Chicago Tribune Published: December 1, 2022 Written: Melissa Staas (Legal Aid Chicago) and Candace Moore (Ascend Justice) For the past 25 years, more … Continued

Legal Aid Chicago to partner with first Illinois center focused on farmworker health and safety opening in Chicago. The University of Illinois Chicago will … Continued

The Circuit Court of Cook County Committee on Domestic Violence Court makes recommendations for expanded service for domestic violence victims. The committee, which was … Continued

In 2021, our client, a survivor of domestic violence, was wrongfully denied a Plenary Order of Protection; despite her abuser, a trained in MMA … Continued

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: From Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) April 5, 2022, Chicago, IL – Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) today announced it will … Continued

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: From the office of Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) March 30, 2022, SPRINGFIELD, … Continued

USA TODAY December 17, 2021 By Maria Pérez What led to a migrant worker’s death from heatstroke? He was just 24. And no one … Continued

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of our dear friend and colleague Barbara “Barb” Richardson. Barb came to … Continued

Twenty-four Agricultural Construction Workers Allege RICO, Human Trafficking, and Federal Wage Violations against Illinois H-2A Employers in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.  AUGUST 10, 2021, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – Legal Aid Chicago, with the Law Offices of Jordan & … Continued

              Chanque Jones’s lawyers had to convince her landlord in Warsaw, Ind. that she was not an eviction … Continued

Changes are underway at Cook County’s domestic violence court, following an outcry from advocates about the treatment of survivors and barriers to court access … Continued

Three weeks after Esmeralda De Luna got an order of protection against the father of her four children, he returned to their apartment in … Continued

A year after the murder of George Floyd sparked worldwide protests, legal aid experts say that there has been a noticeable and sustained increase … Continued

Update (April 14, 6:10 p.m): After this story was published, the Illinois State Board of Education sent Injustice Watch a heavily redacted copy of … Continued

This week our hosts, Colleen Connolly and Naeem Nulwala, speak to Susan Theiss, an attorney in our Housing Practice Group, and Rae Kyritsi, Programs … Continued

Foot traffic from within the Juvenile Center and proximity to its partners fueled a momentum that resulted in more people visiting the Juvenile Expungement … Continued

One client, recently let go from a job due to COVID-19, was besieged by hospital bills. His dire medical situation didn’t help. Another lived … Continued

This week our hosts, Colleen Connolly and Naeem Nulwala, speak to Lauren Dana and Katie Johnson, members of our Immigrants & Workers’ Rights practice … Continued

CHICAGO, IL — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today kicked off the newly established Gender-Based Violence Advisory Group. Part of the City’s overall violence reduction strategy, the … Continued

Lawrence Wood is the funniest man in America. “Oh, God, no,” he protests. “You can’t say that.” Why not? The University at Buffalo law … Continued

Just before the new year, Gov. JB Pritzker announced his administration expunged nearly 500,000 cannabis arrest records and issued thousands of pardons for low-level marijuana convictions. … Continued

CHICAGO – During the afternoon of July 23, 2019, a helicopter sprayed toxic pesticides on migrant farmworkers working in central Illinois’ cornfields, clearly visible in neon orange hats and … Continued

For people with past arrests or convictions, expunging or sealing their records can open back up access to social services, housing, eligibility for jobs … Continued

WASHINGTON – The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today that Legal Aid Chicago will receive a $163,679 Technology Initiative Grant (TIG) to improve the … Continued

On October 15th community members interested in learning about the timely topic of eviction will come together virtually to join Housing Opportunities for Women … Continued

The Chicago Rents Initiative aims to “recruit and support landlord partners to fill their units with a purpose”. This initiative aims to house more … Continued

Downloadable flyer with form: Replacement Snap Benefits

On Monday, a judge granted Legal Aid Chicago’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Clerk of the Circuit Court requiring she … Continued

Clerk’s Office failure to comply with the law puts survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at risk. (Chicago, IL) July 31, 2020 — Legal … Continued

There is a common misperception that eviction cases are simple and routine matters involving relatively low stakes. This misconception leads some to conclude that … Continued

The horrifying murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others have wrenched hearts across our nation and caused enormous pain, suffering, and trauma. A … Continued

Dear Friends of Legal Aid Chicago: As our country confronts the pandemic, the leadership here is taking all appropriate steps to ensure the health … Continued

        Legal Aid Chicago ReceIVes $600,000 NOVO Foundation Grant TO ADVANCE SYSTEMS-BASED SOLUTIONS TO COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION New Funding Will Support … Continued

CHICAGO — Even though recreational marijuana use will be legal in Illinois, some people are still paying the price for low-level cannabis cases. “You … Continued

As chief operating officer, Ruby Smith oversees human resources and training at the nonprofit with a staff of 150. Smith enhanced the performance management … Continued

Firm: Legal Aid Chicago 120 S. LaSalle St., Suite 900 Chicago Law School: Loyola University Chicago School of Law Area of Practice: Housing law, … Continued

Rachel Zemke 28 | Staff attorney | LAF Chicago legal aid lawyer Rachel Zemke has carved out a necessary practice at the intersection of … Continued

By Emma Cueto of Law 360 www.law360.com Walking into a Chicago eviction courtroom can be intimidating — it’s crowded, noisy, chaotic, and the average … Continued

If Chicago Public Schools (CPS) decides to close your school, you get two minutes. Whether you are a parent, a student, or a community … Continued