tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24546933.post7415093614294432308..comments2024-03-26T13:05:52.830-05:00Comments on For What It's Worth: Attention Chicago Law Schools: Here's how you can help provide equal access to justice and give law students meaningful clinical experienceJack Leyhanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884163579967286888noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24546933.post-15820289078439048252013-07-03T09:48:02.826-05:002013-07-03T09:48:02.826-05:00For what it is worth
Maybe it sounds like there i...For what it is worth<br /><br />Maybe it sounds like there is a lot of legal help available in IL. Certainly, that is what one expects when one first has a legal problem and starts calling around.<br /><br />The reality is that legal help is abysmal in IL compared to other large population states. <br /><br />Yeah, there are a few law school projects, but the waiting lists are huge and the types of cases they even consider handling are extremely limited.<br /><br />Yes, there is a need to cover smaller civil cases, but in my opinion, the bigger unmet need still remains with criminal cases. Finding representation in criminal cases is virtually impossible, even when you have the big bucks to pay. Good, quality representation is questionable and guidance is poor. The referrals one gets from the bar and other sources are often meaningless. And once convicted, trying to find help past the appellate defender stage is impossible. The big requirement is to have DNA evidence, but if your case is circumstantial only, then no matter how egregious the facts or justice, you are unlikely to find any help out there.<br /><br /> It is sad how few resources in large law firms, bar associations, and schools are available to help the sea of pro se litigants in this state where such a high percentage of it's population is incarcerated under terrible and unsafe physical conditions. The pro bono efforts of every organization, bar, and individual to are so fragmented that they are antiquated and useless. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com