Representing Yourself in Court
You have a right to represent yourself in any kind of legal case. If you do decide to represent yourself, you may hear yourself referred to as a “pro se” or “self-represented” litigant. That means you are representing yourself in court without an attorney.
If you are representing yourself, please know that you will be held to the same standard as a lawyer — that means you will be expected to understand and follow the law and all local court rules. These include the Code of Civil Procedure and the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, as well as the Rules of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Disclaimer
The information presented in this section is not legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of legal counsel. Please read the Circuit Court's disclaimer by clicking here before continuing on in this section.
Please note that judges, clerks, and court employees cannot give you legal advice
Apply for a Free Attorney
If you are looking for free legal help in Chicago or Cook County, in most cases, the best place to start is by calling the CARPLS Legal Aid Hotline at (312) 738-9200. The hotline is staffed by lawyers who can give you free legal advice by phone. If there is a free legal aid or pro bono organization that may be able to offer more help, the CARPLS lawyers will tell you who else to call. You can also apply for free legal help online at Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO).
You can learn more about free and affordable legal help in the Chicago area in the Free and Affordable Legal Help in the Chicago Area guide.
Find a Private Attorney
You may be able to hire a private lawyer to help with all or part of your case. A lawyer referral service can help you find a lawyer who has experience in a certain area of law.
The Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service is the largest lawyer referral service serving Chicago and Cook County. You can learn more online or by phone at (312) 554-2001.
The Chicago Bar Foundation’s Justice Entrepreneurs Project is a network of independent lawyers offering flexible and customizable legal services for fixed fees. You can learn more online or by phone at (312) 546-3282.
Other lawyer referral services or lawyer directories covering Chicago and Cook County include:
Get Free Information and Help
Depending on the location and type of your case, you may be able to get help at a court-based help desk or law library. Check the Cook County Law Library website to learn more about the library branches, hours, and services. You can find more information about help desks at the courthouse below.
Important: To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, most help desk services are no longer being provided in person at the courthouse. You can find more information about how to access help desk services remotely below.
Get Free Information and Forms Online
If you want to learn more about your legal problem, you can also use Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO). ILAO is a free website that offer information, court forms, and videos on over 30 areas of civil and criminal law. You can also use ILAO to apply for free legal services at local legal aid and pro bono organization. Online navigators can help you find the information and forms you need.
Find Blank Court Forms
Depending on your legal problem, you may need to file paperwork with the court. You can find free court forms from the Illinois Supreme Court or the Circuit Clerk of Cook County. You can also find free forms and a free computer program to help you fill out some common forms in the Illinois Legal Aid Online Form Library.
File Completed Court Forms
E-filing is now mandatory in Illinois for most people. You can e-file from any computer or you can use the free computers available for e-filing at the courthouse. You can learn more about e-filing here or by asking in the Circuit Clerk’s office.
You may not have to e-file if you:
- Have a disability that makes e-filing difficult
- Do not speak English
- Cannot read or write in English
- Are filing a sensitive document (like an Order of Protection)
- Cannot easily access a computer with Internet
- Have tried to e-file but cannot because equipment or assistance needed is unavailable
You can learn more about e-filing exemptions online or by asking in the Circuit Clerk’s office. To request an exemption, you will need to complete an E-Filing Exemption Certificate.
Filing Fees and Fee Waivers
You may have to pay to file your paperwork with the court. You can find a list of court filing fees online or by asking in the Circuit Clerk’s office. If you are low-income or receive public benefits, you may be able to ask the Court for a waiver or reduction of your court fees. You can learn more about applying for a court fee waiver online or by asking in the Circuit Clerk’s office. To apply for a fee waiver, you will need to complete an Application for Waiver of Court Fees (also called a “298 Petition”).
Request an Accommodation for a Disability
The Office of Accessibility and Education Outreach handles requests for reasonable and appropriate accommodations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) from persons with disabilities.
Request an Interpreter
The Office of Interpreter Services provides foreign language court interpreters to litigants who do not speak English or have limited English proficiency.
The Office of Accessibility and Education Outreach provides sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, and other accommodations for court patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Find a Lactation Room
Lactation rooms are available for nursing mothers in all Circuit Court of Cook County courthouses upon request.
Childcare in the Courthouse
Children’s Advocacy Rooms provide free, on-site childcare to children whose parents or guardians must attend court. Childcare is available for bathroom-independent children between the ages of 2 and 12.
Important: To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, childcare is not currently available at most courthouses. You can find more information about the childcare available at each courthouse by calling that courthouse’s Child Advocacy Room office.