Over the past 24 years, the Chicago Legal Clinic
has cemented its position as a leader in the provision of legal services to
the poor of the Chicago area. Over 123,000
clients have been represented, with 12,000 receiving affordable, accessible representation
in the last year alone. Additionally, almost 2,800 people attended 97 free seminars
on the law.
SOUTH CHICAGO. Operating since 1981, our office in the community
of South Chicago continues to be the heart of Clinic operations. In FY '05 this
office handled 7,700 cases. In addition to providing direct service to clients,
all intake is done at the South Chicago Office, as well as fund raising and
other administrative tasks.
PILSEN. Operating since 1988 in the Pilsen community, the Office is staffed by three attorneys and one paralegal fluent in Spanish, a host of law student interns and other volunteers. The Pilsen office continues to advocate on behalf of the growing immigrant population by providing representation in a wide variety of immigration matters as well as in the areas of domestic violence and real estate.
AUSTIN. The Austin Christian
Law Center merged into the Chicago Legal Clinic on July 1, 1996. Today, the
staff represents clients in such diverse matters as domestic violence, child support,
guardianships, probate, bankruptcy, housing, adoption, consumer problems and
tort defense. The office benefits from the work of numerous dedicated student
interns and volunteers, and continues to work closely with its landlord, Circle Urban
Ministries, a large, well-respected social service organization. The
office formally implemented its initiative to represent clients in expungement,
sealing and clemency cases, which empowers ex-offenders to obtain jobs, seek
further education, provide for their families and become productive members of
society.
DOWNTOWN. The Chicago Legal Clinic’s Downtown Office
opened on October 1, 1999. The Downtown Office provides representation
to clients seeking assistance with domestic relations, domestic vilence,
adoptions, bankruptcy, probate matters and social security disability. The
Downtown Office is staffed by three full-time attorneys and during the summer
had the assistance of three PILI Fellows and one DePaul intern. The hard
work and dedication of the staff, interns and volunteers at the Downtown Office
enabled them to provide direct legal services to over 663 people in need of
legal assistance in FY05.