Resources available for Arbitration Cases

This website is intended to help people who do not have a background in the law but are trying to work their way through legal problems in DuPage County, particularly issues involving cases filed at the DuPage County Judicial Center. This page is thus intended to provide specific resources for cases assigned to the Arbitration calendar. If you have concerns not covered by these topics, we recommend a search in the Illinois Legal Aid Online database or writing to the volunteer attorneys at Illinois Free Legal Answers.    

DCBA Civil Law Help Desk. The DuPage County Bar Association, in conjunction with the 18th Judicial Circuit, staffs three helpdesks weekly to assist self-represented (pro se) litigants in the areas of Family Law, Guardianship, and Civil Law (small claims, insurance, eviction, etc.). These helpdesks offer limited services for the purpose of completing documents, reviewing and assisting in the completion of court forms, and answering general questions. If appropriate, the helpdesk may refer litigants to DuPage Legal Aid, the DuPage Lawyer Referral Service, or some other agency that may be able to more effectively address the issues presented. The helpdesk volunteer attorneys will not provide legal advice nor will they represent you in court. This service is exclusively for those representing themselves in court. A scheduling system is provided for you to indicate a time you would like to visit the helpdesk and to share notes and documents related to your issue. The timeslot is not an appointment or reservation, however it will give you preference over walk-ups. 

The DCBA Civil Law Help Desk is available every Thursday from 1:00pm-4:30pm in Room 2017 of the DuPage Judicial Center. Click here for Scheduling.

Why is my case on an "Arbitration" call? Court-annexed arbitration was established in Illinois as a mandatory, but non-binding, form of alternative dispute resolution. The program is a deliberate effort on the part of the judiciary, bar and public to reduce the length and cost of litigation in Illinois. The program applies to all small claims jury proceedings and all civil cases seeking money damages greater than $10,000 and less than $50,000 (cases involving less than $10,000 are discussed on the Small Claims page of this website). Arbitration cases are litigated before a panel of three attorney/arbitrators in a hearing resembling a traditional bench trial. Each party makes a concise presentation of its case to the panel of arbitrators who then deliberate the issues and make an award on the same day as the hearing. The parties to the dispute then have a specific time period within which to decide whether or not to accept the arbitrators' award (you will need to check the rules applicable to your case to confirm what that deadline is). In the event one of the parties is not satisfied with the panel's decision, he or she may reject that award, so long as they do so by whatever deadline is applicable, by making payment of the proper fee and filing the proper form with the Clerk of the Circuit Court (with notice to all other parties). If the court confirms at the next status hearing that the arbitration award was properly rejected, the court will then probably schedule a trial which will proceed as if the arbitration had never occurred. For more information, including copies of the local rules for arbitration and other important information, visit the Arbitration Center's page on the courthouse website: CLICK HERE. DuPage County's Arbitration Handbook can also be downloaded here: CLICK HERE.