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Legal nonprofits see drop in grants
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, January 29, 2013

Nonprofit organizations need to "do more with less" money this year because of a 20 percent reduction in state funding, the head of a legal aid group said.

"We had to cut over $300,000 out of our grant budget," said Leslie Corbett, executive director of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation. "For all of these programs, it really pulls the vice tighter."

The foundation award about $1.3 million in grants to 14 nonprofit organiations this year. Its board of directors approved the grants last month. Money for the grants comes from the Illinois Equal Justice Act, which created the foundation to distribute the money.

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Macoupin County courts to launch online self-help center
The State Journal-Register, September 14, 2012

  

More people go to court without representation
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, August 21, 2012

  

Groups cope with less money, staff this year
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, August 16, 2012

  

Legal aid groups report lower level of funding, greater need
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, July 17, 2012

  

Clay County Library to Host New Online Clay County Legal Self-Help Center
Advocate Press, July 10, 2012

Flora, Ill. — Judge William Robin Todd, Circuit Clerk Rita Porter and Flora Public Librarian Donna Corry have announced the opening of a new internet-based Clay County Legal Self-Help Center that is designed for use by lower income residents of Clay County who need to go to court but cannot find or afford an attorney to represent them. The Flora Public Library will serve a public access location for the new online Clay County Legal Self-Help Center.

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Legal aid goes online in Woodford County
Peoria Journal Star, July 8, 2012

Legal self-help center can be accessed from personal computers, local libraries.
EUREKA — Legal assistance for low-income residents of Woodford County is as close as their personal computers. Or, absent those, their local library. The Woodford County Legal Self-Help Center came online last week. The website is designed to provide information and answers to questions about simple, civil legal issues.

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Panel looks to break barriers
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, June 19, 2012

  

New study shows several benefits of supporting legal aid programs
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, June 18, 2012

  

Two bureaus avoid layoffs to legal staff
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, June 14, 2012

  
Letter: Circuit judge describes a new commission
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, June 13, 2012

For millions of Illinoisans, access to justice in civil cases remains a promise, and a largely unrealized promise at that. To the working poor and the immigrant, the destitute and the disabled, the vulnerable and the forgotten living on society's edges, the steps to the courthouse can be incredibly steep and slippery.

The Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice (ICEJ) felt a sense of urgency for the creation, under the auspices of the Illinois Supreme Court, of a permanent commission responsible for assessing and influencing statewide access issues. (ICEJ is a joint project of The Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Foundation, and funded by the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois. ICEJ's major endeavor has been arranging self-help legal centers in county courthouses and local libraries throughout Illinois.

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Chief Justice Kilbride and the Illinois Supreme Court annouce new initiative to ease access to courts
Supreme Court of Illinois, June 13, 2012

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Wednesday the formation of a commission to remove barriers and increase the ease of interacting with courts by those persons who can’t afford lawyers to represent their interests and needs.

It will be known as the Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission and is made up of 11 persons, seven of whom are appointed by the Supreme Court. The Illinois Bar Foundation, the Chicago Bar Foundation the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois and the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation appoint one member each. Those groups are all active in raising and distributing funds to legal aid organizations.

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Woodford County Libraries to Host New Online Woodford County Legal Self-Help Center
Power Peoria , June 2012

The El Paso Public Library, the Eureka Public Library and the Illinois Prairie District Public Library will serve as public access locations for the new online Woodford County Legal Self-Help Center. To read more, click here

Study shows how legal aid gives economic boost
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, May 31, 2012

  

Lawrence Public Library celebrating National Library Week
Daily Record, April 10, 2012

  

Officials unveil new legal self-help center
Daily Republican Register, March 30, 2012

  

Legal Self-Help Center opens at local library
McLeansboro Times-Leader, March 29, 2012

  

Foundation gives $1.66M in grants to legal aid groups
Chicago Law Bulletin, January 11, 2012

  

I-Team Report: Defenseless | abc7chicago.com
ABC7 News, January 11, 2012
Metro Chicago's poor and newly-poor are defenseless as funding is cut for legal aid. [Read online at abc7chicago.com]

Whiteside County roll out new website
Saukvalley.com, September 28, 2011

  

Effingham County Circuit Court Opens New Legal Self-Help Center
97.9 XMF, August 24, 2011

  

Illinois legal website puts court information in public's hands
The Hawk Eye, July 5, 2011

  

Hancock County offering assistance to litigants in need of representation
Daily Gate City, July 5, 2011

  

New legal self-help center available to county residents
McDonoughVoice.com, June 30, 2011

  

State legal agencies face funding cuts next fiscal year
Chicago Law Bulletin, June 13, 2011

  

Grant awarded for Immigration Detention Project
The Saluki Times, January 11, 2011

  

State legal aid groups awarded $1.66M in grants
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, January 7, 2011

  

Legal aid groups getting squeezed by the bad economy
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, April 22, 2010

  

Community uses site to appeal to governor
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, March 2, 2010

  

Foundation eliminates grant funding to 8 organizations
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, December 7, 2009

  

For those facing time in court, a way to prepare
Journal-Gazette Times-Courier online, August 12, 2009

  

Legal aid programs seek ways to cope with funding decrease
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, July 30, 2009

  

New state budget crimps justice agencies
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, July 17, 2009

  

New state bar president encourages diversity
The Daily Herald, July 8, 2009

  

St. Clair County Circuit Clerk's office provides help for pro se litigants
The Madison Record, February 25, 2009

  


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