There are many barriers to receiving decent legal services, and unfortunately, money is one of them. Community member, Michelle, chose to fight her custody battle without representation for this reason. However, after a few months, she felt the case remained stagnant; that’s when she was referred to Beyond Legal Aid by a friend.

When people think of slumlords, they tend to think of landlords with multiple large properties. However, in Chicago, we’ve seen that there are small landlords that you have to be wary of, as well. Many small landlords don’t know the eviction process, or they prey on tenants that don’t know their rights. Luckily, community member Jorge knew his.

Financial stress is something many people experience in their life, and it frequently puts strain on relationships. Unfortunately, community member, Juan, experienced this first-hand. He came to the legal clinic at our community partner, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, in 2018 to receive assistance in collecting unpaid wages.

Some of our cases aren’t always a “success” in the traditional sense, but that doesn’t mean those stories shouldn’t be told. Mr. G is a community member who came to Beyond back when we were still called Community Activism Law Alliance (CALA).

Beyond is proud to announce the promotion of long-time staff member, Bindhu Vijayan, to Co-Director, alongside founder Lam Nguyen Ho. Bindhu came to Beyond with over 10 years of immigration experience, immediately making her an invaluable member of the team.

Sometimes the only thing that can keep you going is having a little hope. That’s exactly what community member, Rosalina, did throughout her time working with Beyond.

Back in 2011, community member Davetta Brooks fell and fractured her hip, which caused her to lose the ability to walk. She received her first wheelchair that same year, paid for by Medicare, and it lasted about 10 years.

Friends are meant to support you in a crisis, but not everyone has the best intentions. Community member Adriana had just gone through some domestic challenges and was looking for a place to live when her friend of 9 years offered her an apartment in the property she owned.

It goes without saying that not all attorneys are created equal, and Beyond is well aware of that. Unfortunately, this fact often discourages community members from seeking legal aid. Thankfully, Ruben never gave up on himself.

Housing continues to be a real issue here in Chicago, which is why Schanel’s story is so important to share. In 2021, Schanel toured an apartment and had a few concerns from the start, but the landlord assured her that they would be resolved before she moved in.