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CCLA Services

Catholic Charities Legal Assistance (CCLA) provides services that cover telephone advice/referral, client education and client representation.  The following are CCLA'S Services categories (each category can be expanded or collapsed to view more information):  
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Telephone Legal Advice Line
Legal advice is provided over the telephone to low-income clients who are not represented by a lawyer. As the demand for legal aid increases and funding has become increasingly short, more people find themselves forced into representing themselves in legal disputes. CCLA attorneys help callers identify and understand their legal issues and possible resolutions. Clients are advised of their legal rights and responsibilities, as well as how to navigate the legal process when necessary.  
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Brief Legal Services
In some instances, CCLA attorneys also provide brief legal services in addition to legal advice. Such brief services include the review of court forms and other legal documents, letters written and phone calls made to negotiate solutions to legal disputes.
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Educational Seminars
CCLA offers seminars on legal topics of concern to the low income population including: debtor/creditor issues;  veterans’ rights; immigration rights; powers of attorney for health care and property; criminal expungement; landlord/tenant relations; foreclosure and related housing issues; and domestic violence.  
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Legal Representation

Legal Representation is provided:

  • By CCLA staff attorneys in certain family, housing and consumer matters;
  • Through CCLA’s network of pro bono attorneys;
  • Through one of CCLA’s special projects:
    • Immigrant Survivors Project: CCLA attorneys represent immigrant survivors of domestic violence or other violent crimes in family law matters. These matters include orders of protection, child support and maintenance, child custody and visitation and civil no-contact orders. In addition, CCLA partners with Catholic Charities Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services, Taller de Jose and Mujeres Latinas Accion to provide comprehensive immigration, legal, social and counseling services.
    • Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Project: CCLA represents adults hoping to establish custody or guardianship of minor immigrant children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned, ultimately enabling the child to obtain lawful permanent residency.

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Phone: (312) 655-7525
Email: donations@catholiccharities.net 
Mail: 721 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60654