Illinois JusticeCorps

AmeriCorps-based program placing fellows in courthouses across Illinois to bridge the gap in civil legal aid by serving as liaisons between self-represented litigants and the court system.

Program Structure:

• Operates under AmeriCorps and the Illinois Bar Foundation
• Places fellows in courthouses around the state
• Both full-time fellows and volunteer positions (as-needed basis)
• Fellows are trained, dedicated public servants

What Fellows Do:

• Help self-represented litigants navigate civil legal cases
• Guide individuals through filing legal documents
• Provide instructions for attending remote court hearings
• Offer legal information to the general public
• Assist with orders of protection, eviction relief, motions to vacate
• Help elderly community members, individuals with language barriers, and working families
• Lighten load for court staff and reduce delays

Focus Areas:

• Civil legal cases (divorce, child custody, eviction, restraining orders)
• Assistance for unhoused individuals
• People with mental health concerns
• People living in poverty
• Students
• Non-English speakers

Key Information:

• AmeriCorps funding terminated June 2025
• Program has been in operation for over a decade
• Members prepare for legal careers
• Serves thousands of people annually
• Unique role in local courthouses
• Members receive AmeriCorps education awards for service
• Current Status (as of June 2025): AmeriCorps funding abruptly terminated mid-year, disrupting program operations statewide

Funders/Partners:

• AmeriCorps
• Serve Illinois Commission
• Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice
• Dunham Foundation

Contact Information:

• Illinois Bar Foundation
• 20 South Clark, Suite 810
• Chicago, IL 60603
• Phone: 312.726.6072
• Email: IBFInfo@illinoisbarfoundation.org