Legal Services Information
The staff of the Law Library does not give legal advice. If you need legal advice, contact a private attorney or one of the legal service organizations below.
If you are a University of Illinois student and need landlord-tenant information, contact the Tenant Union at the address/phone number below.
Legal Services
Consumer
Office of the Attorney General
Lisa Madigan, Attorney General of the State of Illinois
500 South Second Street
Springfield, IL 62706
800/243-0618Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:45 a.m. — 4:45 p.m.
Staff: approximately 270 attorneysCosts: none
Low Income
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Champaign Office
202 West Hill Street
Champaign, IL 61820
217/356-1351Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.
Staff: five attorneysAssistance: the office provides assistance to residents of Champaign, Ford, and Vermilion counties whose income meets federal poverty guidelines. Areas of law covered are family, health, housing, public entitlements, and public utilities. The office does not provide assistance in criminal law matters. Students of the University of Illinois are NOT eligible for assistance from this office. See Students below.
Costs: none
University of Illinois College of Law Clinic
Room 241 (second floor)
504 East Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820
217/244-9494Hours: Monday-Friday, 12:00 noon — 4:00 p.m.
Staff: Senior law students supervised by staff attorneysAssistance: the Clinic provides services to residents of Champaign County, excluding students of the University of Illinois, whose income is less than or equal to 125% of the federal poverty level. In addition, it provides counseling to community organizations considering incorporating as not-for-profit corporations. Assistance to individuals includes non-criminal matters, mainly in the areas of housing, public aid, unemployment benefits, consumer issues and domestic violence.
The Clinic screens potential clients by telephone for eligibility before scheduling appointments and does not accept walk-in clients.
Costs: none
Senior Citizens
Office of the Attorney General
Lisa Madigan, Attorney General of the State of Illinois
500 South Second Street
Springfield, IL 62706
800/243-0618Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:45 a.m. — 4:45 p.m.
Staff: approximately 270 attorneysAssistance: the office assists senior citizens with any legal concerns.
Costs: none
Students
Student Legal Services
324 Illini Union
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL 61801
217/333-9053Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. — noon, 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., by appointment
S taff: three attorneysAssistance: the office serves University of Illinois students who meet the financial criteria established by the Dean of Students and who have paid their activity (SORF) fees. The office handles both civil and non-felony criminal cases but does not process student v. student, student v. University of Illinois, or student v. state matters. The attorneys do not provide advice by telephone. To assure timely attention, call two to three days prior to the desired appointment date.
Costs: students pay filing fees but do not pay attorney fees
Private Attorneys
Local/State
Illinois Lawyer Referral Service
Illinois State Bar Association
Illinois Bar Center
Springfield, IL 62701
217/525-5297Hours: Monday-Friday, excluding holidays, 9:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.
Assistance: the office works from a rotating list of participating attorneys to refer each caller to the attorney at the head of the list for her/his geographical area. Participating attorneys may decide not to handle cases in certain practice areas, must carry professional liability insurance, and must be in good standing with the Supreme Court of Illinois.
Costs: the attorney will provide thirty minutes of initial consultation for no more than $15. Beyond that time, the fee will be as agreed by the attorney and client. Attorneys frequently charge their regular (undiscounted) rates.
Ameritech Pages Plus Telephone Directory
Names of lawyers are listed in the yellow pages under "Attorney," by practice area, and under "Patent Lawyers."
National
Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Law Library call no.: KF 190 .H813
This multiple volume set, alphabetical by name of state, gives practice area and professional biographical information for individual attorneys and for members of and associates in law firms. All volumes reside in the Reference Alcove.
Sullivan's Law Directory, Law Library call no.: KF 192 .I4 S95x
A two volume directory, Sullivan's lists most active members in good standing of the Illinois Bar. The volumes reside in the Reference Alcove.
Complaints against Attorneys
Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission
700 East Adams Street, Suite 201
Springfield, IL 62701-1625
800/252-8048
or130 East Randolph Drive, Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60601
312/565-2600Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.
Assistance: the Commission will assist anyone with a complaint against an attorney. Interested parties may obtain complaint forms from the Commission.
Attorney Fee Disputes
Illinois State Bar Association
Illinois Bar Center
Springfield, IL 62701
217/525-1760Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.
Assistance: the Bar provides fee arbitration services.
Champaign County Law
Champaign County State's Attorney Office
Champaign County Court House
101 East Main Street, Room 301
Urbana, IL 61801
217/384-3733Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. — 4:30 p.m.
Assistance: the office primarily engages in prosecution of criminal cases referred by law enforcement officers. Attorneys will also take questions from the public regarding county matters, including taxes on real property and county nuisances. Not included are consumer fraud or landlord tenant questions.
Landlord-Tenant-University of Illinois Students
Tenant Union
Illini Union, Room 326
1401 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801
217/333-0112Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.
Assistance: the office provides information and advocacy, not legal assistance, to prevent and resolve landlord-tenant conflicts in which the tenant(s) is/are University of Illinois students. Students may visit the office to examine complaint histories on local landlords.
Costs: the service is free to students who have paid their SORF fees.
