Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court

Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois

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Biography/Photos

The 21st Century
Clerk's Office:
A Blueprint for Change
Transition and Strategic Planning
Committee Final Report

Clerk's 2000-2007 Review - 1st and 2nd Term through 11/30/2007 (PDF:10.2MB)

HP Cover Story. Clerk Dorothy Brown modernizes Cook County Circuit Court. Click to go to full story.

Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County featured in HP magazine click image for full story.

Services and Resources

Finding an Attorney

A Guide to the Legal Services in Cook County

Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, created this brochure (in Adobe PDF format) as a guide to assist qualified customers in finding free or low cost legal assistance in Cook County.

1. Bar Associations

Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service. The Chicago Bar Association operates a Lawyer Referral Service. It also operates a Call-a-Lawyer program via telephone at (312) 554-2001. Check the Call-a-Lawyer for additional details. The Chicago Bar Association also publishes a Finding The Right Lawyer which provides an overviews of the Lawyer Referral Service, lists situations that may require a lawyer's assistance and some of the areas of law for referrals.
Click here to view the brochure in .pdf format

Illinois State Bar Association operates a statewide online lawyer directory and telephone referral service called Illinois Lawyer Finder.

American Bar Association . On its website, the American Bar Association provides a Consumer’s Guide to Legal Help in Illinois. This resource also provides valuable information and tips on hiring, using and paying a lawyer as well as information on the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary which handles attorney licensing.

2. CARPLS (Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services). As Cook County's legal assistance hotline, CARPLS strives to help lower income individuals address their legal needs in a timely and cost effective manner. If you need legal assistance, live in Cook County and cannot afford a lawyer, call the CARPLS Legal Assistance Hotline at 312-738-9200 Monday through Friday 9:30 am to 4:30 pm and Wednesdays until 7:30 pm. Staff and volunteer lawyers provide advice and referral services over a telephone hotline. CARPLS does not provide assistance through e-mail or letters. For more information, visit CARPLS website.

3. Free Legal Assistance
The Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago provides free legal assistance for income eligible persons (eligibility depends on family income and size) who live in Chicago. Call the closest neighborhood office listed below for an appointment

Main Office
111 W. Jackson
(312) 341-1070

Southside Office
10 W. 35th Street
(312)949-5390

Northwest Office
1212 North Ashland Ave.
(Spanish Speaking)
(773)489-6800

Westside Office
3333 Arthington
(733) 638-2343

In addition, agencies that offer free legal assistance for income eligible persons are:

Chicago Volunteer Legal Service
100 N. LaSalle, Suite 900
(312) 332-1624

Legal Aid Bureau
14 East Jackson
(312) 986-4200

4. Other legal clinics and agencies located in Chicago that will help income eligible persons for no fee or a moderate fee, are listed below. Call for an appointment .

Center for Disability and Elder Law
710 N. Lake Shore Drive
(312)908-4463

De Paul Legal Clinic
23 East Jackson, Suite 1050
Fee based on family income and size
(312) 341-8295

IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law Legal Service Center
565 W. Adams Street
Chicago, IL 60661-3601
312-906-5050
Fee based on type of case and time spent, some retainer required, some cases taken on a contingent fee basis

Northwestern Legal Assistance Clinic
303 E. Chicago Ave.
(312) 908-8035

Cook County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
175 W. Jackson, Room #1542
(312) 554-2073

Loyola Community Law Center
1 E. Pearson
(312) 915-7830