The goal of discussion groups 

ILAO’s discussion groups connect legal services professionals throughout Illinois who work on similar issues. By sharing questions and information, providers can help each other in better advocating for their clients.

How the discussion groups work 

People may join discussion groups who:

  • Work at a legal services organization in Illinois, including non-prosecutor court staff and employees of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC),
  • Are fully retired legal aid staff, or
  • Are grantee organizations in a specific grant (New Leaf).

 

Some discussion groups also allow Illinois-licensed lawyers who:

  • Do not represent individuals or organizations traditionally adverse to legal aid clients, and
  • Are referred by a current legal aid member.

 

People who do not meet these requirements, including people seeking legal advice, are not permitted to join.

People who meet the membership requirements may join more than one group. Group members can post and answer questions, update the law, share articles, or organize statewide meetings. To respond to an existing discussion or thread, simply “reply” to the email.

To start a new discussion or thread, members can email the group at:  

How to join a discussion group

ILAO discussion groups are hosted on Google Groups. A Google account or ILAO login is not required. Members whose email address is not set up for Google products may follow Google’s instructions for accessing Google Groups without a Gmail address.

People who work at an Illinois legal services organization can:

  • Ask ILAO staff to add their workplace email address using the Contact page, or
  • Request to join through Google Groups if their workplace email account allows access.

 

Personal email addresses are not approved for membership.

Fully retired legal aid staff may ask to be added by contacting ILAO through the Contact page. Retired staff should use the email address they regularly use for professional correspondence.

If approved, members can participate by:

Facilitators for the discussion groups

Each discussion group has two moderators:

  • A facilitator from the legal aid community, and
  • A lawyer who works for ILAO.

 

Together, the facilitators:

  • Set group rules,
  • Approve or deny membership requests,
  • Encourage discussion on the group topic, and
  • Moderate conversations when needed.
     

Discussion Group Membership Rules

By your participation in this Illinois Legal Aid Online discussion group, you must agree to the following:

  1. All communications made in the discussion group should be treated as confidential and, to the extent legally permissible, may not be disclosed to anyone other than a member of the group unless both the fact and content of the communication are clearly not meant to be confidential. All doubts must be resolved in favor of confidentiality. Members should be aware, however, that confidentiality cannot be assured.
  2. Members agree to be respectful and not include offensive or inflammatory messages or language. The discussion group facilitators and ILAO facilitators reserve the right to delete posts in violation of this policy.
  3. By joining the discussion group, you represent that you meet the conditions for membership. You agree to notify the facilitator and  ILAO facilitator immediately if any change results in you no longer meeting those conditions. You agree to abide by the rules of the group.