Illinois Legal Aid Online

“The 990 is submitted to the finance director and treasurer and distributed to the board for review. Upon completion of their review, the tax return is signed by the treasurer.”

“In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interes ted person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be gi ven the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and me mbers of committees with governing board delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement.”

“Compensation is reviewed and approved by the board of directors.”

“Compensation for key employees is reviewed by the executive director.”

“Documents are available upon request.”

“Illinois legal aid online (ilao) opens opportunities for justice by educating illinoisans about their rights and connecting them to lawyers, solutions, and each other, especially people for whom the legal system was not designed. Through innovation and allyship, we make the law actionable and accessible. In the u.s., people facing civil legal challenges, such as eviction, debt, domestic abuse, and child support, do not have a right to a lawyer. Justice is scarce for those who need it most. We believe that, with the right knowledge and guidance, people can be their own best advocates. We mobilize people with plain-language, 24/7 tools and services - in two languages - so people can understand and assert their legal rights. Ilao helps people who are unable to find or afford lawyers open opportunities for justice. Since its inception in 2001, ilao has used technology and partnerships to lower barriers to the law so that people facing barriers to justice can understand their options, make informed decisions, and represent themselves in court.”

“To people lying awake at night, with nowhere to turn except their mobile, ilao offers a light in the night. Over half of those we serve come from their mobile phones, and between 5pm-9am or on weekends, when traditional legal offices are closed. Ilao partners with illinoisans facing injustices by providing 24/7 free, accessible, plain-language legal tools and direction, including plain-language self-help guides, interactive legal forms, triage and eligibility screening for free legal aid services, and know-your-rights education. In fy25, 2 million illinoisansapproximately 15% of the states population sought illinoislegalaid.org for guidance and help with over 600 legal issues, such as eviction, food insecurity, domestic abuse, criminal records, divorce, child support, deportation, discrimination, and debt. Our highest volume of services relates to family law, where people without lawyers most commonly encounter our complex legal system, and where they are least likely to find a legal aid lawyer to assist them. In addition to its library of civil legal education and solutions, ilao provides other important services. First, interactive apps called easy forms, similar to turbotax, help people without lawyers create free, personalized, accurate court forms and legal papers, using a simple question-and-answer format. In fy25, 88,636 people customized more than 160,000 legal documents (a 54% increase over fy24). Second, a triage, intake, and referral system (get legal help) directs peoplevia internet or smsto the best available resources: forms, self- help guides, lawyers, and human service providers. For people seeking a lawyers help, ilao matches them with local services based on an individuals legal issue, zip code, and general income. In fy25, ilao matched almost 12,000 eligible applicants to 12 legal providers.”

“Debt help illinois is a newly released, free, interactive service that diagnoses a persons debt problems, tailors a plan to their specific facts and location, and connects them to human assistance when needed. Consumers facing debt challenges start by answering questions that guide them to personalized options for their debt problem. A structured knowledge base (glossary, court locations, and creditor list), combined with an ai- authoring tool, generates plain-language information and action steps tailored to the users debt profile and location. Debt help illinois goes beyond a static website by guiding consumers through the next steps, taking into account their specific situation, tracking their progress, and connecting them to helpful resourcesso they move from confusion to concrete action.”

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