Vision
A just society where all people have equitable access to opportunities.
Mission
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) opens opportunities for justice by educating Illinoisans about their rights and connecting them to lawyers, solutions, and each other.
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) is open to all. Working with and helping people with a wide variety of lived experience brings us closer to meeting our ideal of a society where all people can get justice. Because our services and products—like the law—are for everyone, we believe in including everyone. We know that justice is scarcest for those who need it most. People with intersectionalities of historically oppressed identities face the greatest barriers to justice. ILAO seeks to break these barriers. ILAO believes that, equipped with the right tools, opportunities, and connections, people can shift the power differentials and use the law to get justice.
Inclusion, equity, and diversity are key in our work to champion opportunities, equality, and justice for those who need it most. As a community and individuals, we honor and respect differences; practice equity; and support the professional development and wellness of our colleagues.
In June of 2022, ILAO completed a comprehensive strategic planning process involving more than 1,100 stakeholders including community members, volunteers, staff, donors, and other partners. The resulting plan consists of three pillars.
REFINE AND GROW SERVICES
Goal: With input and partnership from those served, further simplify, enhance and create new, relevant content and resources to optimally, equitably, adaptively and effectively meet their needs.
EXPAND VISIBILITY
Goal: Promote ILAO’s visibility and equity focus with primary audiences to broaden brand awareness, strengthen marketing return on investment (ROI) and grow revenue with an emphasis on diversifying and enhancing the donor base.
DEEPEN CONNECTIONS
Goal: Develop, strengthen and institutionalize community and internal organizational partnerships to equitably address the needs of those served and each other, particularly in communities with less access to the legal system.
