The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) is pleased to announce a new program to help increase access to justice for veterans and active military.

The Access to Justice Act, passed in 2013 and amended in 2015, created a pilot program to develop and support a much-needed hotline and network of legal assistance providers to help veterans and active military with their legal needs throughout Illinois.  The pilot program will be developed, evaluated and overseen by a special statutorily created council that will operate under the auspices of the IEJF.  Members of Illinois Access to Civil Justice Council include Patricia McGill, Chair; Bob Glaves; Deborah Golden; Lauren Meachum; George Ripplinger; The Honorable Ronald Spears; and Grant Swinger.

The IEJF is pleased to announce the hire of Zach Zarnow to coordinate this work.  Zach worked with the IEJF as a consultant last Fall and brings program design, grant-making, research and evaluation skills to his new role.  He comes to the IEJF from the Council for Court Excellence in Washington, D.C.

The five-year program will be funded by a temporary $2 add-on to civil filing fees that will sunset at the conclusion of the pilot program in 2020.  The fees began collection September 1, 2015.  The IEJF is working to release these funds in the midst of the state budget impasse.  The IEJF hopes to award initial grants this summer.

For more information on this pilot program, contact Zach Zarnow at 312-938-2106 or zzarnow@iejf.org.