About Illinois Access to Justice
Illinois Access to Justice (ILA2J) launched in 2020 to expand effective, holistic, community-based legal services. Co-administered by The Resurrection Project (TRP) and the Westside Justice Center (WJC), we support a growing network of 80+ partner organizations. Together we:
Funding is provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Office of Welcoming Centers for Refugee and Immigrant Services.
- Expand legal services where people live and work
- Train and elevate Community Navigators—local leaders who connect neighbors to their rights and resources
- Share best practices to build capacity in nonprofits across Illinois.
Funding is provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Office of Welcoming Centers for Refugee and Immigrant Services.
Rooted in Chicago’s Pilsen community for more than 30 years, TRP’s Immigrant Justice team strengthens Illinois’ immigrant justice ecosystem through community legal services, know-your-rights education, and advocacy that advances pro-immigrant policies. TRP combines direct representation with empowerment programs to keep families informed, protected, and together.
Learn more
Learn more
WJC is a non-profit legal aid organization providing legal services and education dedicated to community justice. We provide direct representation for criminal records relief, landlord/tenant disputes, estate planning (wills, power of attorney, transfer on death instrument) and immigration (bond hearings, temporary protected status and employment authorization documents).
WJC works to reduce barriers to justice, mitigate the consequences of criminalization, and ensure underserved communities across Chicagoland can access a fair legal system.
Learn more
WJC works to reduce barriers to justice, mitigate the consequences of criminalization, and ensure underserved communities across Chicagoland can access a fair legal system.
Learn more
Local Leaders, Real Support
Trusted local leaders who share Know Your Rights information, assist with referrals, and provide accompaniments.
Powered by Community Navigators
Criminal Record Relief
Clear or seal eligible records to unlock jobs, housing, and stability.
Family & Other
Family legal services and other common civil needs from trusted partners.
Know Your Rights information, consultations, and representation for immigration cases.
Immigration
TYPES OF HELP
We provide community-based legal services to reduce the impact of the justice system. Areas include criminal, civil, administrative, and immigration law.
Subscribe
Funding Opportunities
We provide funding opportunities each year to support organizations that serve diverse communities, with a particular focus on immigrant populations. These opportunities aim to expand access to legal literacy and navigation services.
Download the details of the upcoming funding opportunity below. If the new information is not yet available, you can review previous opportunities for reference. Subscribe to receive alerts about upcoming funding opportunities.
Download the details of the upcoming funding opportunity below. If the new information is not yet available, you can review previous opportunities for reference. Subscribe to receive alerts about upcoming funding opportunities.
Subscribe for funding alerts today
Opportunities for partners and providers
ILA2J providers have supported protesters through legal services, conducted mutual aid campaigns, and provided resources to community members.
We have witnessed ten of thousands of people throughout the country come together to call for racial justice and police accountability.
Trained 916 emergency community navigators in response to COVID-19 to share critical information and resources in the hardest hit community areas.
2024 Report
2023 Report
2022 Report
Annual Reports
See our impact and how the coalition is growing
Our Trusted Partners
We proudly collaborate with 80+ community-centered organizations statewide, building stronger connections and supporting diverse communities.
- Acclivus, Inc
- Alianza Hispanoamericana
- Ascend Justice
- Beyond Legal Aid
- Binational Institute of Human Development
- BUILD, Inc.
- Cabrini Green Legal Aid
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
- Centro de Información
- Centro de Trabajadores Unidos
- Centro Romero
- Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance
- Chicago Community and Workers' Rights
- Chicago Torture Justice Center
- Chicago Urban League
- Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS)
- Chicago Workers’ Collaborative
- Children's Legal Center
- Cornerstone
- East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center
- Ecker Center for Behavioral Health
- Equip for Equality
- Erie Neighborhood House
- Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago
- Farmworker & Landscaper Advocacy Project
- First Defense Legal Aid
- FirstFollowers
- Greater Chicago Legal Clinic
- Haitian American Museum of Chicago
- HANA Center
- Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center
- Hispanic American Community Education and Services (HACES)
- Illinois Legal Aid Online
- Illinois Prison Project
- Immigration Project
- Indo-American Center
- Instituto del Progreso Latino
- Jewish Child & Family Services
- Land of Lincoln
- Lawndale Christian Legal Center
- Lawyers Committee for Better Housing
- Legal Aid Chicago
- Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services
- Legal Council for Health Justice
- Metropolitan Tenants Organization
- Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance
- Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project (MICA)
- Moran Center
- Muslim Women Resource Center
- North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic
- Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors
- Northwest Side Housing Center
- Palenque LSNA
- Partners for Our Communities
- Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action, Inc. (PLCCA)
- Public Interest Law Initiative
- Raise the Floor Alliance
- Refugee One
- Safer Foundation
- Southwest Organizing Project
- Spanish Community Center
- Syrian Community Network
- Teamwork Englewood
- The Evans Exoneration Project
- The Monroe Foundation
- The Resurrection Project
- United African Organization
- University YMCA New American Welcome Center
- Uptown People’s Law Center
- Valley Immigrant Advocates
- Vietnamese Association of Illinois
- Warehouse Workers for Justice
- Western Illinois Dreamers
- Westside Justice Center
- World Relief Chicago
- YWCA Northwestern Illinois, La Voz Latina
