If you are seeking legal assistance, please read below to see if you qualify for our services.
If you do not, visit www.illinoislegalaid.org to find alternative help.
Residency and Income:
CGLA is able to represent individuals who live in the city of Chicago with a household income less than 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and have a legal problem in one of our areas of practice.
Areas of Law
- Family Law: We handle cases involving custody, divorce (where domestic violence is present), orders of protection, child guardianship, and visitation.
- Housing Law: We handle cases involving evictions, Section 8 termination, and security deposit disputes. We cannot handle appeals. Please contact us as soon as you receive an eviction/termination notice.
- Criminal Defense: We represent both adults and juveniles arrested in Chicago and charged with a criminal offense. We cannot represent those who go to court at the 111th and Ellis courthouse. If your loved one is incarcerated (but not yet convicted), please call to set up a jail intake interview.
If you fit the guidelines above, please call 312-738-CGLA (2452) and set up an intake interview. After answering a few questions, we will provide you with either a referral or an intake appointment.
Criminal Records:
We can help clear arrest and conviction records originating in Cook County. If you are seeking to clear your arrest and/or conviction records, you need to:
- Secure your rap sheet from the Chicago Police Department at 3510 S Michigan Ave (open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; a fee is charged).
- Proceed to CGLA’s Expungement Help Desk in Room 1006 of the Daley Center at 50 W. Washington (open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.). The Help Desk is on a first-come, first-served basis and has a limited capacity each day so we recommend coming early. At the Help Desk, we will review your rap sheet and help qualifying individuals complete expungement or sealing forms.
