Self-Help Legal Resources
Eldorado Memorial Library offers access to a Legal Self-Help Center.
A legal self-help center is a place where you can learn about the law, your legal rights, and how to go to court. If you have a legal issue, you can go to a legal self-help center in your community to use a computer for free, search online for answers to your legal questions, find and prepare court forms, and get other help depending on your location. No registration or library card is required.
*Eldorado Memorial Library staff does not offer any legal advice, and cannot file any legal documents for you.
Filling out or filing legal paperwork online? Click below to view a list of Case Type abbreviations from the Illinois First Circuit Court.
ABA Home Front
ABA Home Front provides legal information, resources, and a directory of legal programs for veterans, service members, and military families. Programs listed include military legal assistance offices, legal aid and pro bono organizations, lawyer referral and information services, and military-specific programs where available.
ABA Military Pro Bono Project
The ABA Military Pro Bono Project accepts case referrals from military attorneys on behalf of junior-enlisted, active-duty military personnel facing civil legal issues, and it works to place these cases with pro bono attorneys.
Access to Justice
The ATJ Commission focuses on improvements, resources, and programs within the judicial system that help self-represented litigants and limited English proficient litigants access our courts, assist legal aid and pro bono attorneys in representing their clients, and support the judiciary and other court staff in ensuring justice for all. Find legal information, court forms, and referrals to free or low-cost legal help here. This website does not give legal advice and is not a substitute for having a lawyer.
Eviction Help Illinois
Eviction Help Illinois provides free legal aid, mediation services, and connections to other resources including rental assistance to increase housing stability. Mediation is an opportunity for landlords and tenants to resolve issues with the help of a knowledgeable and neutral person.
Illinois Court Help
Court guides help you understand and go through the court process, wherever you are in Illinois. Court guides DON’T give legal advice. They CAN connect you to local legal aid and community resources to help you solve your problem.
Illinois First Judicial Circuit Court
Find online forms, resources, and FAQs about the Circuit Court. Specific information can be found for each county in Southern Illinois on this website.
Illinois Second Judicial Circuit Court
Find online forms, resources, and FAQs about the Circuit Court. Specific information can be found for each county in Southern Illinois on this website.
Illinois Legal Aid Online
ILAO offers tools and resources to solve legal issues. Complete free and easy legal tutorials to successfully learn more about the legal steps you need to take.
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid
“Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Inc. is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation. We provide free civil legal services to low-income individuals and senior citizens in 65 counties in central and southern Illinois. We believe all people of central and southern Illinois should have access to justice, income security, adequate housing, quality education, healthcare, safety from violence and exploitation, and the opportunity to improve their own lives.”
Public Interest Law Initiative
Through its programs, PILI is advancing equal access to justice by connecting members of the legal community with those in need of legal assistance.
SIU Simmons Law School Civil Practice Clinic
The Legal Services to Older Persons program is part of the Legal Clinic at the Simmons Law School at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Through this program, senior law students, working under the supervision of experienced lawyers, are given the opportunity to provide legal assistance to persons who could not otherwise secure representation.