Free Legal Help for Tenants and Landlords in Illinois
Legal aid organizations, right-to-counsel programs and official court self-help resources in Illinois, gathered from the state, county and city pages on this site.
Right to a free lawyer in eviction cases
Statewide: No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases was found. The Illinois courts direct tenants to free legal aid and mediation for those who qualify (Eviction Help Illinois outside Cook County; Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt in Cook County). 735 ILCS 5/Art. IX (checked); Illinois Courts eviction self-help
- Chicago: Yes (city program). Full representation for Chicago tenants at or below 80% AMI facing eviction. ERP hotline (855) 956-5763. Source
- Evanston: No. No right-to-counsel program was found; the City contracts with the Metropolitan Tenants Organization and Lawyers Committee for Better Housing for landlord-tenant help. Source
Free legal aid organizations
- Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) — Free; hotline (855) 956-5763.Serves: Cook County (Chicago)
- Prairie State Legal Services — Free civil legal help for low-income residents; West Suburban office; listed by the DuPage court for eviction help (630-690-2130).Serves: DuPage County (Wheaton), Lake County (Waukegan), Rock Island County, DeKalb County
- Prairie State Legal Services (West Suburban office) — Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents; West Suburban office (West Chicago) serves Kane County, (630) 690-2130.Serves: Kane County (Aurora / Elgin / Geneva)
- Illinois Legal Aid Online — Statewide self-help information and forms for eviction cases.Serves: Kane County (Aurora / Elgin / Geneva), Will County (Joliet), Winnebago County (Rockford), Champaign County (Champaign / Urbana), St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis), Madison County (Edwardsville / Granite City / Alton)
- Prairie State Legal Services (Joliet office) — Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents; Joliet office, 14A W. Cass St., 3rd Floor, (815) 727-5123, serves Will County.Serves: Will County (Joliet)
- Prairie State Legal Services (Rockford office) — Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents; Rockford office, 303 N. Main St., Suite 600, (815) 965-2902, serves Winnebago County.Serves: Winnebago County (Rockford)
- Land of Lincoln Legal Aid (Eastern Regional Office) — Free civil legal help for eligible residents; 302 N. First St., Champaign, (217) 356-1351 / (800) 747-5523, serves Champaign County.Serves: Champaign County (Champaign / Urbana)
- Land of Lincoln Legal Aid (Central Regional Office) — Free civil legal help for eligible residents; Dorothy O. Cook Community Law Center, 8787 State St., Suite 101, East St. Louis, (618) 398-0958, serves St. Clair County.Serves: St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis)
- Land of Lincoln Legal Aid (Western Regional Office) — Free civil legal help for eligible residents; 111 E. Fourth St., Suite 330, Alton, (618) 462-0029 / (800) 642-5570, serves Madison County.Serves: Madison County (Edwardsville / Granite City / Alton)
- Prairie State Legal Services - Peoria Office — 101 SW Adams St., Suite 800, Peoria, IL 61602; (309) 674-9831, toll-free (800) 322-2280. Serves Fulton, Marshall, Peoria, Stark and Tazewell counties. Eviction Help Illinois helpline: 855-631-0811 or text 85622.Serves: Peoria County
- Prairie State Legal Services - Bloomington Office — 201 West Olive Street, Suite 203, Bloomington, IL 61701; (309) 827-5021, toll-free (800) 874-2536. Serves Livingston, McLean and Woodford counties. Eviction Help Illinois helpline: 855-631-0811 or text 85622.Serves: McLean County
- Land of Lincoln Legal Aid - Northern Regional Office — Office serving Sangamon County: 1010 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62704; (217) 529-8400 or (800) 252-8629. Housing law information: https://lincolnlegal.org/housing-law/Serves: Sangamon County
- Prairie State Legal Services - McHenry Office — Serves McHenry County. 3929 Mercy Drive, Unit B, McHenry, IL 60050; (815) 344-9113.Serves: McHenry County
- Eviction Help Illinois — Free legal aid and mediation for Illinois renters facing eviction (and some landlords without a lawyer): 855-631-0811, or text 'eviction' to 844-938-4280; evictionhelpillinois.org.Serves: McHenry County
Find a tenant or eviction lawyer in Illinois
If you do not qualify for free legal aid, a bar lawyer referral service can match you with a landlord-tenant lawyer for a low-cost first consultation.
- Illinois State Bar Association - IllinoisLawyerFinder Phone Referral Service — 217-525-5297 (Monday-Friday, 9:00-3:00)Referred lawyers give a special reduced rate for the first half-hour; the page does not state the dollar amount.
Official court and state resources
- Illinois Attorney General — Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws
- Illinois Courts — Approved statewide eviction forms
- City of Chicago — Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance
- Illinois General Assembly — Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705)
Legal aid groups set their own eligibility rules (usually income-based). Call ahead or check their site.
← Illinois landlord-tenant law · Legal help in other states
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.