Legal Aid Chicago

TO PROVIDE FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.

THE IMMIGRANTS AND WORKERS' RIGHTS PRACTICE GROUP IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT FOCUSES ON FOUR AREAS OF LEGAL EXPERTISE: EMPLOYMENT LAW, IMMIGRATION LAW, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND MIGRANT FARMWORKER LAW. IWR CLIENTS ARE OFTEN LOW-WAGE WORKERS, AND IMMIGRANTS, BOTH NEWLY-ARRIVED AND LONGSTANDING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE. WE REPRESENT CLIENTS SEEKING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS, CLIENTS WITH WAGE CLAIMS, AND CLAIMS OF EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION INCLUDING SEXUAL HARASSMENT, RACIAL AND NATIONAL ORIGIN DISCRIMINATION, DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION, AND CLAIMS OF WRONGFUL TERMINATION. THE TEAM ALSO REPRESENTS IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF CRIME AND MENTAL CRUELTY TO OBTAIN LEGAL STATUS UNDER THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT, THE U.S. VISA PROCESS, ASYLUM, AND OTHER IMMIGRATION REMEDIES. THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROJECT PROVIDES VICTIM ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION TO CITIZEN AND IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF LABOR AND/OR SEX TRAFFICKING. OUR MIGRANT PROJECT PROVIDES DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES AND OUTREACH TO MIGRANT FARMWORKERS, BOTH DOMESTIC WORKERS TRAVELING IN THE MIGRANT STREAM FROM TEXAS AND OTHER STATES, AND THOSE HERE ON SPECIAL, SHORT-TERM AGRICULTURAL WORK VISAS. OUR IMMIGRATION, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND MIGRANT PROJECT EXTEND THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS.

THE PUBLIC BENEFITS PRACTICE GROUP ASSISTS CLIENTS WITH SSI, VETERANS' BENEFITS, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, TANF, SNAP (FORMERLY FOOD STAMPS), CRIME VICTIM BENEFITS, AND SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE. THE PRACTICE GROUP'S GOALS ARE: 1.) TO OBTAIN, RESTORE OR INCREASE BENEFITS FOR ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES; 2.) TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN TERMS OF PUBLIC BENEFITS AND TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS SO THEY CAN HELP THEIR CLIENTS; AND 3.) TO IDENTIFY EMERGING PUBLIC BENEFITS ISSUES AND TRENDS AND PROACTIVELY LEAD ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THEM AND WORK TO ENSURE THAT THE AGENCIES ADMINISTERING THE PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAMS ARE RESPONSIVE TO CLIENTS AND PROVIDE THE BENEFITS TO WHICH CLIENTS ARE ENTITLED TIMELY AND ACCURATELY.

THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PRACTICE GROUP HANDLES OUR FAMILY LAW WORK (ALMOST ALL OF WHICH INVOLVES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE) WHICH INCLUDES ORDERS OF PROTECTION, ELDER ABUSE, DIVORCE, CHILD CUSTODY, AND CHILD SUPPORT. ITS ATTORNEYS ALSO WORK ON BEHALF OF RELATIVE CARETAKERS AND FOSTER PARENTS IN ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES, AND DO SPECIAL EDUCATION WORK FOR YOUTH WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE.

INCLUDES HOUSING, CONSUMER RIGHTS, PCG (FORMERLY PRO BONO AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT), CLIENT SCREENING UNIT, AND OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES.