Illinois Code § 10

§ 10.

Definitions. For the purposes of this Act: "Foundation" means the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation created by the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association. "Legal information center" means a center in a judicial circuit of this State operated by a not-for-profit corporation that is tax exempt from the payment of federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that serves as an information center for persons considering use of the judicial system in that judicial circuit. Information available at each legal information center may include, but not be limited to, information about the organization of the court system, applicable court procedures, how to obtain legal representation, alternatives to the court system such as mediation or social services, the applicable substantive law, self-help packets explaining the court procedures and applicable law in a particular substantive area, and available self-help assistance desks. "Regional legal services hotline" means a program in this State operated by a not-for-profit corporation that is tax exempt from the payment of federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that (i) provides assistance to legal information centers and this State's residents, and supplements legal information centers by providing information to legal information centers and this State's residents that includes, but is not limited to, information about the organization of the court system, applicable court procedures, how to obtain legal representation, alternatives to the court system such as mediation or social services, the applicable substantive law, self-help packets explaining the court procedures and applicable law in a particular substantive area, and available self-help assistance desks and (ii) coordinates and provides assistance to civil legal services providers operating in this State by providing coordinated intake and referral services. "Self-help assistance desk" means a program operated by a not-for-profit corporation that is tax exempt from the payment of federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that provides legal information and advice about a particular substantive area of the law to litigants or potential litigants in non-criminal or traffic matters who are unable to obtain or do not have legal representation for a dispute involving that substantive area of the law. "Dispute resolution center" means a not-for-profit organization that is exempt from the payment of federal taxes pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is organized to provide mediation services at no charge to disputants who agree to use its services. Disputes handled by a dispute resolution center may include, but not be limited to, disputes referred from the court system. "Mediation" means a voluntary process in which an impartial mediator actively assists disputants in identifying and clarifying issues of concern and in designing and agreeing to solutions for those issues. "Mediator" means a person who has received at least 30 hours of training in the areas of negotiation, nonverbal communication, agreement writing, neutrality, and ethics. "Civil legal services" means legal representation or advice in non-criminal matters provided to eligible clients. "Civil legal services provider" means a not-for-profit corporation that (i) is exempt from the payment of federal income tax pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, (ii) is established for the purpose of providing legal services that include civil legal services, and (iii) either (A) employs 4 or more full-time attorneys who are licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and who directly provide civil legal services or (B) provides civil legal services through an organized panel of pro bono attorneys. "Eligible client" means an individual, not a business entity, who is involved in a non-criminal or traffic matter, who has been found financially eligible for civil legal services by a civil legal services provider, and who has an annual income that does not exceed 150% of the prevailing poverty guidelines issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. "Pro bono attorney" means an attorney who is self-employed, or employed by an entity other than a civil legal services provider, and who represents eligible clients without charge under the auspices of a civil legal services provider. "Recipient" means a legal information center, regional legal services hotline, self-help assistance desk, dispute resolution center, or qualified civil legal services provider receiving moneys under this Act. "Qualified civil legal services provider" means a civil legal services provider that (i) makes financial eligibility determinations before providing civil legal services; (ii) has demonstrated its commitment to the provision of high quality civil legal services to clients and has operated for at least 2 years; and (iii) received and expended cash funds in Illinois in the previous fiscal year in the amount of at least $200,000 for the provision of civil legal services. (Source: P.A. 91-584, eff. 1-1-00.)