Prairie State focuses on providing legal services to the most vulnerable groups in our society, including the poor, people with disabilities, and people 60 and older. We select clients to ensure they are eligible for services and that their issues align with Prairie State priorities, which target basic human needs. They can help bridge the gap between funding and need. Every year, Prairie State Legal Services is forced to refuse thousands of requests for legal assistance from the most vulnerable members of our community because our paid employees cannot meet the demand. With current funding, Prairie State Legal Services can only help 1 in 25 people in need. As an intern at Prairie State, you can help bridge the justice gap and change lives. You can invest in your community. Every hour of legal aid benefits many people. Legal aid allows low-income people to work towards self-sufficiency, which helps reduce costs to our economy, our legal system and our communities. Prairie State focuses on helping clients who have legal issues affecting their basic human needs such as housing, basic income, and security. Typical cases for us include preventing evictions or mortgage lawsuits, helping victims of domestic violence get protection orders to keep them safe, and helping people with disabilities receive public services such as medical assistance and additional security income.
Prairie State Legal Services offers free legal aid to low- and middle-income individuals. Prairie State offers substantial practicums for law students, paralegals, and undergraduates. Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. is a not-for-profit law firm that provides free civil law services to the poor, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Prairie State has 12 offices serving 36 counties in northern and central Illinois. The offices are staffed by full-time lawyers, many of whom have more than ten years of legal experience and others more than 25 years of experience. Prairie State Legal Services is one of the leading civil service providers in the Midwest. We provide excellent opportunities for students to do meaningful work and gain valuable experience while dealing with the issues of the poor, the disabled, and the elderly.
The availability of a civil lawyer can make all the difference for our neighbours struggling to stay home, escape domestic violence, get benefits for veterans or people with disabilities, or many other legal challenges that are central to their safety and well-being. Prairie State Legal Services is an organization that provides free legal advice to low-income individuals and people 60 years of age and older who have serious civil law problems and need legal help to resolve them. The mission of Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. is to ensure equal access to justice and fair treatment before the law by providing legal advice and representation, advocacy, education and awareness to protect basic human needs and uphold or safeguard rights. You must meet our income and wealth guidelines or be at least 60 years old. Generally, a client is eligible if their household income is less than 125% of the federal poverty line. Prairie State can help people whose income is up to 200% of the poverty line if the household has certain expenses. We do not deal with criminal, immigration, personal injury, misconduct, employee settlements, traffic violations or probate. Prairie State`s regular hours of operation are 8:30 a.m.
Monday to Friday until 17:00. The Galesburg office serves Henderson, Knox, McDonough and Warren counties. Approximately 690,000 people in our service area live in poverty. They have families, hopes and dreams. They are your neighbors. They live in the communities they call home. Our churches are a better place for all of us when help is available, when it is needed. I gave custody to my ex-husband because I was facing difficulties and I thought it would be in my daughter`s best interest.
I overcame the problems and still get the help I needed. I am willing and able to take care of my 14-year-old daughter. Her mother-in-law made her uncomfortable. She is at the age where she needs her mother. Over the past year, Prairie State has assisted more than 16,000 clients, benefiting 30,000+ adults and children on issues such as family law, housing, protection from abuse and exploitation, and benefit protection among many others.
