Investing in Justice

Publications and Research

 

cover--final_id_design_report_may_2012-page-001

Increasing Access to Justice for People without Lawyers

The CBF partnered with three graduate students from the IIT Institute of Design to study and develop recommendations for a central starting place/resource center for people without lawyers at or near the main civil courthouse in downtown Chicago (the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington, Chicago). After conducting in-depth observation, research and analysis on existing services for people without lawyers in the Circuit Court of Cook County, the majority of the report identifies specific concept recommendations for features and services that the central starting point/resource center could include.
View Full Study 

 

 

 

legal_aid_impact_study_final_cover_page

Legal Aid in Illinois: Selected Social and Economic Benefits

In addition to the fundamental impact of legal aid in helping to ensure equal access to justice, a new study published by The Chicago Bar Foundation and the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation found that legal aid in Illinois produces almost a 2:1 return on investment.  Using a limited sample, the study found that legal aid services produced economic benefits of more than $70M in a year.
View the Study
View the Press Release    

 

 

 

 

cover--final_zorza_sustainable_law_library_report-page-001
The Sustainable 21st Century Law Library: Vision, Deployment and Assessment for Access to Justice

Law libraries can play an integral role in the courts and justice system in the 21st Century, but only if they focus their orientation towards helping the public access the legal system.  This report, which was released by Zorza & Associates and was co-sponsored by The Chicago Bar Foundation and several other state access to justice commissions across the country, identifies changes to the law library landscape over the past twenty years and the potentially critical new role they can play as an access to justice resource for people without lawyers.
View the Report
View the Press Release  

 

 

  

lac_highlights_2011_cover

 

 

 

Legal Aid Committee Selected Highlights from the Field 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

legal_aid_report_cover

 LEGAL AID IN COOK COUNTY: A Report on Basic Trends
in Need, Service and Funding

This 2010 report addresses the current demand for legal aid services, how services are being provided and where funding comes from for this work.
View the Report
View the Press Release

 

 

 

 


INVESTING IN JUSTICE: A Framework for Effective Recruitment and Retention of Illinois Legal Aid Attorneys
This 2006 study published by The Chicago Bar Foundation and the Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice takes an in-depth look at the work of legal aid attorneys and the recruitment and retention of this group of dedicated lawyers.
View the Study

 

THE LEGAL AID SAFETY NET: A Report on the Legal Needs of Low-Income Illinoisans
The 2005 Legal Aid Safety Net report examines the legal needs of the poor, the effectiveness of current legal aid in meeting these needs, and identifies steps that could be taken to maximize the effectiveness of legal aid.
View the Study
View the Executive Summary