Prairie State Legal Services’ Volunteer Lawyer Courthouse Project provides pro bono attorneys with the opportunity to represent low-income tenants facing wrongful eviction. The Project takes place on Fridays at the Rock Island County Courthouse, 3rd Floor, for the 1:00 p.m. eviction call only. The Project provides training to pro bono lawyers on basic landlord-tenant law and volunteers will work with a PSLS attorney to provide legal advice, negotiate settlements or, if necessary, represent the tenant at trial. This project was created by the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, a group comprised of members of the bench and bar dedicated to promoting pro bono in the Fourteenth Circuit, in collaboration with Prairie State Legal Services and PILI.
PSLS will provide a training for any private attorneys interested in volunteering through this project on Friday, October 24, 2014 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Rock Island County Justice Center in the Jury Courtroom. The training will provide interested volunteers with an overview of basic landlord/tenant law, focusing on tenant rights and eviction defenses. It will include a mock trial in the actual eviction courtroom with Judge Pentuic presiding. Sample Motions and Answers for eviction cases and copies of relevant case law will also be provided. Lawyers participating in the training are expected to volunteer with the program at least twice, and will receive 2.0 hours of MCLE credit for attending. Register by emailing Cherie Myers or calling 309-794-1328 by October 10.
Click here for the Volunteer Lawyer Courthouse Project Training flyer »
Learn more about the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee »