Access to Justice Commission to accept proposals for grant initiative

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission), and the Access to Justice Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) launched the application process for a grant initiative.

The grant program, called Reducing Barriers to Meaningful Access in Court Grant, asks organizations such as administrative agencies, universities, foundations, legal aid organizations, community-based organizations, or social service organizations to think about what programs they can implement to increase a court user's ability to meaningfully participate in the court system.

Proposed projects must have a clear connection to ATJ Commission's mission and duties under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 10-100 and its current strategic plan and the goal of connecting self-represented court users who are low-income, don't speak English as a first language, are disabled, or are otherwise vulnerable (such as elderly adults, people of color, native Americans and veterans) with either (or both):

1. self-help resources, legal advice, and/or legal representation, and/or
2. limited scope representation services or provide legal information to an area of the state that is considered a legal desert.

Applications for the grant are open now through March 2, 2026. The Request for Proposals and Grant Policy are available here.