DuPage Legal Answers
SELF-HELP
if you can't find a lawyer to help you navigate through the legal system in a given case, or if your problem is one you're handling yourself for whatever reason, you should know there are resources available to help you, including the DCBA's help desks (for cases involving family law questions, civil actions and guardianship), a robust law library at the DuPage County Judicial Center, and two particularly useful online resources, Illinois Legal Aid Online and Illinois Free Legal Answers.
DCBA Help Desks. 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.
Family Law Helpdesk. Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM in Room 2017 of the DuPage Judicial Center. Click here for Scheduling.
Guardianship Helpdesk. Tuesday from 8:30 AM 12:30 PM in Courtroom 2009 (YOU MUST HAVE A CASE FILED AND UP FOR HEARING ON THAT DAY)
Civil Law Help Desk. Thursday from 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM in Room 2017 of the DuPage Judicial Center. Click here for Scheduling.
Illinois Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice clinic in which qualifying users submit civil legal questions by email, at no cost, to be answered by pro bono attorneys licensed in their state. Question topics include Family, Divorce, Custody, Housing, Eviction, Homelessness, Consumer Rights, Financial, Work, Employment, Unemployment, Health and Disability, Civil Rights, Income Maintenance, Juvenile and Education Law. The national "Free Legal Answers" is a project of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. In Illinois, the program is sponsored and hosted by the Public Interest Law Initiative. For more information,
CLICK HERE.
The DuPage County Law Library, located on the second floor of the DuPage County Judicial Center, the DuPage County Law Library has a great many resources available to self-represented litigants. The library currently maintains a core print collection of some 26,000 volumes of material. The library also provides access to electronic databases and internet resources for legal research. These materials include compilations of state and federal statutes, state and federal cases, digests, encyclopedias, regional reporters, treatises, forms and legal periodicals. There is also a bank of desk-top computers available both for legal research and from which to appear for court proceedings via Zoom. CLICK HERE for more information.
Illinois Legal Aid Online is an easily accessible internet database designed to make the law actionable and accessible. The program provides people with plain-language tools, accessible 24 hours a day in three languages, so families can understand and learn how to assert their legal rights. Over three million people a year use this program to research the law and find resources to help them with crises such as eviction, debt, food insecurity, domestic abuse, deportation, and divorce. ILAO's Form Library provides over 70 apps from which you can generate the paperwork you need in a great many kinds of courthouse disputes and other legal matters. For more information, CLICK HERE.
