The Illinois Access to Civil Justice Council unanimously approved grants to the 8 non-profit organizations below on June 11, 2026, totaling $1,540,000.
Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Service (CARPLS) ($454,000)
Statewide
Operates a statewide telephone hotline that serves as the primary entry point for the IL-AFLAN. The hotline provides advice, brief services, and referrals to thousands of qualifying active duty military personnel, veterans, reservists, and members of the national guard.
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid ($325,000)
Alton, Champaign, East St. Louis, Carbondale, and Springfield
Funds two medical legal partnerships (MLPs) with the VA Illiana Health Care System via Land of Lincoln’s Champaign office and with the Marion VA via the Carbondale office. Additionally, a staff attorney located in the Metro-East area coordinates with Scott Air Force Base. Land of Lincoln also provides services to hundreds of people and makes and takes referrals from the hotline across Land of Lincoln’s service area.
Prairie State Legal Services ($225,000)
Bloomington, Galesburg, Joliet, Kankakee, McHenry, Ottawa, Peoria, Rockford, Rock Island, St. Charles, Waukegan, and Wheaton
Funds general legal aid services for hundreds of people in Northern and Central Illinois via a designated project point person and portions of several staff attorney salaries spread across PSLS’ offices. Services include cooperation with the Lovell VA Health Care Center and making and taking referrals from the hotline across PSLS’ service area.
Legal Aid Chicago ($200,000)
Cook County
Supports the work of Legal Aid Chicago’s Veterans’ Rights Project, which provides legal assistance in the areas of housing, financial stability/benefits, health and safety, and medical and service record assistance. Legal Aid Chicago also holds legal clinics at several VA-related sites and makes and takes hotline referrals.
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) ($146,000)
Cook County
Operates a general practice pro bono program that accepts and places cases with over 100 trained and supervised pro bono attorneys. CVLS makes and takes referrals to the hotline.
Public Interest Law Initiative ($105,000)
Central and Southern Illinois
Provides legal services in Southern and Central Illinois using a network of pro bono attorneys recruited from PILI’s judicial circuit pro bono panels, conflict panels, and help desks. PILI also makes and takes referrals from the hotline.
Center for Disability & Elder Law ($59,000)
Supports CDEL’s community legal clinics that serve a number of veterans across Chicago and suburban Cook County. Services focus on disability and elder law services, including adult guardianships, estate planning, housing, and more. CDEL makes and takes hotline referrals.
Loyola University of Chicago School of Law Veterans Legal Clinic ($30,000)
Cook County
Operates a Veterans Legal Clinic, housed within the Community Law Center. The Clinic provides legal aid services for family law and guardianship cases, and partners with the School of Social Work to bring social services referrals and services to veterans with legal needs. The clinic makes and takes hotline referrals.