Legal Aid Chicago was founded on the philosophy that all individuals are entitled to quality civil legal representation, regardless of their income. We work to ensure that poverty is not an impediment to justice by dismantling the legal barriers that perpetuate inequality. Legal Aid Chicago staff live our mission through our core values of equity, excellence, inclusion, kindness, and respect.
LEGAL AID CHICAGO’S STATEMENT ON RACIAL JUSTICE
Legal Aid Chicago witnesses how structural racism thwarts the health and stability of low-income communities and perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Our client population consists primarily of Black and Latinx women and men. The legal services we provide our clients combat generational injustices forced upon them by a world that is often complacent and, therefore, complicit in the suppression of their advancement.
As advocates for people living in poverty, we recognize the unique historical inequities that continue to create barriers for Chicago’s Black residents. Legal Aid Chicago joins with legal aid organizations across the country to speak out and work against racial injustice, including racially-biased policing. We will not be complicit, and we will not be neutral in the fight against systemic racism. Black Lives Matter and our attorneys will continue to use the law as a tool to fight racism in all its forms.
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What Is "Legal Aid" ?
Legal Aid Chicago’s work can be understood through our mission and vision.