Equal access to justice is central to our democratic society and integral to the effective functioning of our justice system. Ensuring this fundamental principle of our nation is a reality for all people in our country is one of the core obligations of our government. Indeed, the very Preamble to the US Constitution affirms that its central purpose is to "establish justice." Each day, thousands of school children across the country affirm our national promise of “liberty and justice for all” by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Yet for millions of our nation’s most vulnerable residents, including many thousands in Illinois alone, equal access to justice remains an elusive ideal.

While the CBF recognizes that lawyers and legal professionals are the guardians of our justice system and must take a leadership role to ensure that all people have access to that system, the legal community cannot close the gap in access to justice alone. Government bears the primary responsibility for ensuring equal access to justice, and all levels of government—federal, state and local governments and the courts—need to be a meaningful part of the solution.

The CBF’s advocacy efforts focus on four (4) key areas where government and the courts each need to do their part to ensure equal access to justice for all:

Advocating for adequate and effective funding for legal aid and related access to justice initiatives at the federal, state and local government levels (more)

Making our courts more user-friendly and accessible to all (more)

Advancing other supportive access to justice policies that promote and enhance the justice system (more)

Ensuring that the courts and administrative bodies have processes and procedures that respect our nation’s core values of fairness and due process for all litigants (more)

For more information on The Chicago Bar Foundation's advocacy initiatives and how you can get involved, please contact Danielle Elyce Hirsch at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 312-554-4952.