The Law Project

The Law Project, formerly the Community Economic Development Law Project, is committed to providing the legal services needed to strengthen Chicago communities. Staff and volunteer attorneys provide free, expert legal assistance to support community development efforts led by entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations in Chicago's most underserved communities that generally do not have the resources to pay for legal services. The Project's programs include:

• Nonprofit Assistance Program: The Law Project provides pro bono (free) legal assistance to nonprofit organizations working in low income communities in the greater Chicago area in three ways.First, it provides legal services for existing nonprofits for transactional legal issues, such as corporate structuring, tax exemption, lease and contract review, trademark regulation and employment. Second, it assists startup nonprofits with legal work needed to form a tax exempt organization. Third, The Law Project has a Nonprofit Legal Assessment Program in which attorneys develop a comprehensive overview of a nonprofit’s compliance issues and help to implement changes to mitigate organizational risks. It also provides pro bono legal assistance to existing small businesses on business issues, including corporate structuring, lease provisions, trademark regulations, employment, contracting.
• Small Business Assistance Program: The Law Project provides legal assistance to low income entrepreneurs on business issues, including corporate structuring, lease provisions, trademark regulations, employment, contracting.
• Homeownership Program: The Law Project provides legal assistance to Housing Choice Voucher holders and other first time home buyers who are receiving financial subsidies for purchases of single family homes or condominiums and are working with HUD certified housing counseling agencies.

Click here to learn more about our Client Application Process, Volunteer Opportunities, or how your Support will enable The Law Project to strengthen our communities by supporting nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and first time home buyers.