The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission) and the Access to Justice Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) are accepting proposals for the new Reducing Barriers to Meaningful Access in Court Grant.
The grant encourages new programming that increases the public’s ability to participate in the court system. Organizations like administrative agencies, universities, foundations, legal aid organizations, community-based organizations, and social service organizations are eligible to apply.
The press release notes that projects must be aimed at connecting self-represented court users who are low-income, don’t speak English as a first language, are disabled, or are otherwise vulnerable with:
- Self-help resources, legal advice, and/or legal representation, and/or
- Limited scope representation services or provide legal information to an area of the state that is considered a legal desert.
Proposed projects must also reflect the ATJ Commission’s mission, as outlined in Illinois Supreme Court Rule 10-100, and its current strategic plan.
Examples of projects included in the Request for Proposals are courthouse help desks or early resolution programs, call centers or hotlines giving legal advice, community-based legal centers (clinics, lawyer in the library, summits), limited scope representation outreach, document drafting workshops, and remote appearance programs for rural counties.
Completed grant proposals must be submitted before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, by online application at https://forms.office.com/g/Szytm7mMMq.
Grant recipients will likely be announced in mid-April 2025. The grant year will begin May 1, 2025.
For questions about the grant program, contact Jill Roberts, Deputy Director, Access to Justice Division, AOIC at jroberts@illinoiscourts.gov.
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