One of the CBF’s priorities within its larger mission to ensure that all Chicagoans have access to justice is to ensure that the court system is user-friendly and accessible to all, particularly those coming to court without lawyers. In recent years, the number of unrepresented litigants has skyrocketed here and throughout the country, creating challenges and problems not only for them, but for opposing counsel, court staff and judges.
The CBF works with the courts, the legal community, pro bono and legal aid organizations and other justice system partners to foster a continuum of legal assistance for unrepresented people to get the help they need, including:
• Access to online resources and in-person self-help centers that serve as a central starting point for unrepresented people to get basic information and find assistance
• A network of legal advice desks with sufficient levels of capacity to provide brief legal advice and assistance and serve as “triage” points for unrepresented litigants to obtain the appropriate level of assistance
• Pro bono projects, legal aid, and mediation programs to give unrepresented people with more complex issues or needs access to representation and other more in-depth assistance
Within that larger goal, the CBF’s current court-based advocacy efforts focus on the following efforts:
• Developing and nurturing a network of advice desks to provide advice, brief assistance and appropriate referrals to people without lawyers
• Helping develop and supporting the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program to help the large number of homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure proceedings
• Facilitating and supporting the availability of user-friendly web-based information and resources available online on court websites, Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) and other significant online access points
• Working to develop and manage Illinois JusticeCorps, a program to place students in and around courts to help people without lawyers
• Other court-focused initiatives
For more information or to get involved, contact Kelly Tautges at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (312) 554-8356.
