Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services

What Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services does

Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services (LAS) is a nonprofit legal aid organization headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1886 as the legal aid arm of Metropolitan Family Services. It is the oldest legal aid provider in Illinois and the second oldest in the nation, serving low-income individuals, domestic violence survivors, the elderly, immigrants, victims of human trafficking and labor exploitation, and tenants facing housing crises across Cook and DuPage Counties, the Decatur area, and statewide Illinois with respect to anti-human trafficking work. The organization employs 21 staff and operates through five practice groups: Safety & Family, Health/Housing/Economic Stability, Individual Rights & Social Justice, Community Lawyering, and Impact Litigation & Advocacy, with sub-programs including the CP4P Justice Corps, the Elder & Disability Justice Initiative, and the recently launched (2026) Chicago Project addressing civil rights violations.

The organization delivers services through a community-based distribution model: a phone intake line (312-986-4105), the Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) referral platform, monthly legal clinics at 15 community partner organization sites covering Chicago neighborhoods with the highest gun violence, onsite services at Metropolitan Family Services community centers, and dedicated offices in Chicago, Wheaton, and Decatur. Auxiliary programs include a Pro Bono Program (with MCLE-accredited training, malpractice insurance, and matching through the Paladin platform), an Internship & Fellowship Program for law students, and Know Your Rights workshops. The core technology stack is described as standard website and IT infrastructure, with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance and no proprietary AI capabilities.

Revenue is generated entirely through grants, donations, government funding, and cy pres residual funds from class action lawsuits (for which LAS holds formal eligibility from the Chicago Bar Foundation). All legal services are provided free of charge to qualifying clients; no revenue is publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors composed of attorneys from major Chicago law firms and corporations, with Miguel Keberlein Gutierrez serving as Executive Director and Loren Gutierrez as Deputy Director.

Name

Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services

Legal name

Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services

Website

https://laschicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services is a Chicago-based nonprofit legal aid organization founded in 1886, providing free civil legal services to low-income individuals, domestic violence survivors, elderly, immigrants, and human trafficking victims across Cook County, DuPage County, Decatur, and statewide Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAM

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAIAFAC

Public Defense & Legal Aid Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Justice System (Courts, Prosecution & Corrections)

SECONDARYBPAGAFAB

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAEAN

Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Legal aid services
• Civil legal services
• Pro bono representation
• Legal advocacy
• Immigrant legal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Cy Pres Awards: Residual funds from class action lawsuits distributed by trial courts to eligible not-for-profit organizations promoting access to justice for low-income Illinois residents. The Chicago Bar Foundation has determined LAS is an eligible organization.
2. Grants and Donations: Funding from government grants, foundations, and charitable donations to support free legal services operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families across Cook County, DuPage County, and the Decatur area. Services are organized into practice groups covering safety and family law, health/housing/economic stability, individual rights and social justice, community lawyering, and impact litigation and advocacy. The organization supplements direct representation with community legal education, pro bono programs, and targeted initiatives for immigrant rights, elderly and disabled clients, and survivors of harassment.

Product overview

Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services is a legal aid organization offering comprehensive civil legal services through five practice groups: Safety & Family (domestic violence, family law, elder abuse), Health, Housing & Economic Stability (eviction defense, housing advocacy), Individual Rights & Social Justice (human trafficking, immigration, labor exploitation), Community Lawyering (civil rights), and Impact Litigation & Advocacy (systemic change). The organization provides direct legal representation, Know Your Rights workshops, legal clinics, and volunteer/pro bono programs. Sub-programs include the CP4P Justice Corps serving gun violence-affected communities and The Chicago Project launched in 2026 addressing civil rights violations from federal enforcement actions. Services are primarily delivered in-person at offices in Chicago, Wheaton, and Decatur, with intake via phone (312-986-4105) and online referral through Illinois Legal Aid Online.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Communities Partnering 4 Peace Justice Corps (CP4P Justice Corps): The legal aid arm of Metropolitan Peace Initiatives, providing free neighborhood-based civil legal services including criminal records expungement, employment, housing, public benefits, and immigration assistance to participants of CP4P community partner organizations.
• The Chicago Project
• Elder & Disability Justice Initiative (EDJI)

Products and services

• Safety & Family Practice Group Provides free civil legal services to low-income Illinois residents in family safety areas, including domestic violence and elder and disability justice (via the Elder & Disability Justice Initiative).
• Health, Housing, & Economic Stability Practice Group Provides free civil legal services covering health, housing, and economic stability matters for low-income Illinois residents, including Medical-Legal Partnership services.
• Individual Rights & Social Justice Practice Group Provides free civil legal services in individual rights and social justice areas, including immigrant rights, criminal record issues, education, employment, and discrimination matters.
• Community Lawyering Practice Group Provides community-based legal services, including the Chicago Project and Know Your Rights workshops, to educate and empower Illinois residents about their legal rights.
• Impact Litigation & Advocacy Files impact litigation and engages in systemic advocacy to advance civil rights and legal protections for low-income Illinois residents.
• The Chicago Project A community lawyering initiative launched in 2026 to expand rights education and outreach across Chicago neighborhoods, providing community members with information about their legal rights and available services.
• Know Your Rights Workshops Community education workshops that teach Illinois residents about their legal rights on topics such as immigration, housing, family safety, and civil rights.
• Pro Bono Program Engages volunteer attorneys to provide free civil legal services to low-income Illinois residents, expanding the organization's capacity to serve clients across its practice areas.
• Cy Pres & Class Action Residual Funds Program Allows attorneys and class counsel to direct cy pres awards and class action residual funds to Legal Aid Society to support the delivery of free civil legal services.
• Elder & Disability Justice Initiative (EDJI) Provides free civil legal services to low-income elderly and disabled Illinois residents facing abuse, neglect, or discrimination.
• Cyber Civil Rights Legal Project Provides free legal services to victims of online harassment, cyberstalking, and non-consensual pornography in Illinois.
• Immigration Justice Project Provides free immigration legal services to low-income immigrant residents in Illinois, including representation in immigration matters and Know Your Rights education.
• CP4P Justice Corps Community lawyering program that supports pro se litigants and community advocates across Illinois with self-help representation and legal navigation support.
• Medical-Legal Partnership Integrates free legal services with healthcare providers to address health-harming legal needs of low-income Illinois patients.
• CARPLS (Coordinated Advice & Referral Program for Legal Services) Provides legal advice, brief services, and referrals to low-income Illinois residents through a centralized hotline and partner network.
• Decatur Strategic Plan / Decatur Office Services Provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of Decatur and surrounding areas in Illinois through the organization's Decatur office.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Metropolitan Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAS is the legal aid arm of Metropolitan Family Services, a division offering comprehensive services to clients by providing meaningful opportunities to move up and out of poverty. This partnership allows LAS to provide holistic support beyond just legal services.
• Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPI is a division of Metropolitan Family Services that partners with community-based and citywide organizations to help heal Chicago communities experiencing high levels of gun violence. The CP4P Justice Corps is the legal aid arm of MPI.
• Chicago Bar FoundationmajorOthersChicago Bar Foundation has determined that LAS is an eligible organization for cy pres residual funds distributed by trial courts in Illinois to not-for-profit organizations promoting access to justice for low-income residents.
• Alliance of Local Service Organizations (ALSO)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Breakthrough Urban MinistriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Claretian AssociatescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Enlace ChicagocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Institute for Nonviolence Chicago (INVC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• New Life CenterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• ONE NorthsidecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Precious Blood Ministry of ReconciliationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Project H.O.O.D.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Public EquitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Target Area Development Corp.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Think Outside Da BlockcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Together ChicagocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• UCANcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Partner Organization hosting CP4P Justice Corps monthly legal clinics.
• Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerILAO provides an online application program which provides referrals to local legal aid organizations based on the legal issue presented, location, and services sought. LAS accepts referrals through this platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights12 records

Broad incumbents

• Equal Justice Works: National nonprofit that creates fellowships and programs placing attorneys at legal aid organizations. Operates the fellowship pipeline that feeds talent into LAS's internship and fellowship program.
• National Legal Aid & Defender Association: National membership and advocacy organization for civil legal aid and public defender organizations. A broad incumbent peer that shapes federal legal aid funding policy and provides peer benchmarking and best-practice frameworks for organizations like LAS.

Regional players

• Lone Star Legal Aid: Texas-based legal aid provider serving low-income residents across housing, family, consumer, and disaster-related legal issues. Comparable operating model and practice area mix, but in a different regional market.
• Prairie State Legal Services: Illinois-wide nonprofit legal aid organization serving 36 counties outside Chicago. Operates the same legal aid model for low-income residents across downstate Illinois — a regional peer for funding, talent, and statewide policy influence.

Direct peers

• Legal Aid Society of New York: Largest legal aid provider in the U.S. with a similar 'Legal Aid Society' brand and civil legal aid mission. Directly comparable in structure (multi-practice nonprofit law firm for the poor) and serves as a useful operational benchmark at much greater scale.
• Chicago Volunteer Legal Services: Chicago-based nonprofit that coordinates pro bono civil legal services through volunteer attorneys. Directly comparable mission, geography, and pro bono delivery model — competes for the same volunteer lawyers and donor dollars.
• Legal Aid Chicago: The largest civil legal aid provider in Cook County, offering similar free legal services across housing, family, immigration, and consumer law. Directly comparable as a Chicago-area nonprofit legal aid competitor for the same client base, donor pool, and IOLTA/cy pres funding.
• Community Legal Services (Philadelphia): Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing free civil legal services to low-income residents across housing, family, public benefits, and immigration. Operates the same model, funding mix, and practice group structure as LAS.

Others

• Illinois Legal Aid Online: Statewide legal aid referral and self-help platform that routes online applicants to local legal aid providers (including LAS). Functions as both an enabling infrastructure partner and a partial substitute for direct legal services.

Emerging players

• Center for Disability and Elder Law: Chicago-based nonprofit providing free legal services to seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income adults. Directly comparable on elder law and benefits work — overlaps with LAS's Elder & Disability Justice Initiative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLaNrBg0rBhkTHCl7NpJnXI0Vgof2eL2Wq&si=YfjK2SkoI_6FgMDg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/legal-aid-society-chicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/las.chicago

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services