• General Links
  1. DCBA Home
  2. Contact Us
  3. Disclaimer
  4. Site Map
  5. DCBA Store
• For Members Only
  1. My DCBA
  2. Membership Directory
  3. Civil/Criminal Court Calls
  4. Join Lawyer Referral
  5. Law Concentration Listings
  6. Join Speakers Bureau
  7. Online Change of Address
  8. Member Site Program
  9. Mentor Program
  10. DCBA Staff Directory
  11. Rule Amendments
• For the Legal Community
  1. About the DCBA
  2. Officers & Directors
  3. Join the DCBA
  4. Join Lawyer Referral
  5. Bar Foundation
  6. Continuing Legal Education
  7. Calendar of Events
  8. Press Releases
  9. DCBA Newsletter
  10. Classified Advertising
  11. President's Page
  12. Young Lawyers
  13. Location Map
  14. Juvenile Diversion Program
  15. DCBA's Brief
  16. Legal & Related Links
  17. Court Assignments
  18. Law Library Index
  19. BarSmarts
  20. Area Phone Numbers
• For the Public
  1. DuPage Legal Aid
  2. Find a Lawyer
  3. Pro-Se Assistance Center
  4. Area Phone Numbers
  5. Getting to DuPage Government Complex
  6. Jury Duty
  7. Law Day
  8. Legal Action Video Series
  9. Legal FAQ's
  10. LegalTerms
  11. DCBA Member Web Sites
  12. Small Claims Information
  13. ISBA Pamphlets
  14. Criminal Justice Pamphlets
  15. DCBA Speakers Bureau
  16. Location Map

© 1996-2008
All Rights Reserved
DuPage County
Bar Association

Press Release - Thursday, September 8, 2005

American Bar Association approves DuPage Bar's Lawyer Referral & Mediation Service

Public Service Lawyer Referral Program is one of two in Illinois to meet ABA standards

WHEATON, Illinois -The DuPage County Bar Association's Lawyer Referral & Mediation Service has been approved by the American Bar Association as meeting its rigorous "model rules" for the operation of public service lawyer referral programs.

"Our LRS Committee spent two years revamping the DuPage Bar's Lawyer Referral & Mediation Service policies and procedures to achieve the goal of ABA approval," said DCBA President Keith E. "Chuck" Roberts, Jr. "The only other such service in Illinois to earn this distinction is that of the Chicago Bar Association."
Lawyer referral services have operated in the United States for more than fifty years. They were first established in response to requests from mostly middle-income citizens in obtaining legal counsel. Today, these services help those who can pay legal fees but are unable to locate appropriate legal representation. Established in 1974, the DuPage Bar's Lawyer Referral Service assisted a total of 9,375 callers in 2004.

In 1993, the American Bar Association's House of Delegates adopted "The Model Supreme Court Rules Governing Lawyer Referral Services." Of the 280 state and local bar association lawyer referral programs operating throughout the country, just 70 display the "Meets ABA Standards" logo that certifies the service is recommended by the ABA.

How the Lawyer Referral Service Works
Prospective clients may telephone the Lawyer Referral Service at 630-653-9109 to request a referral. A representative will help determine if there is a legal issue, direct the caller to other service agencies as necessary, or refer them to an attorney with experience in a relevant area of law.

The service puts residents in touch with local attorneys specializing in such practice areas as bankruptcy, business law, civil rights, consumer protection, criminal law, employment law, estates, trusts and wills, family law (adoption, child custody, child support, marriage dissolution, domestic violence), insurance, mental health, personal injury, real estate, taxation and workers' compensation.

The caller may receive up to a 30-minute initial consultation with the lawyer at no cost to learn about his or her legal rights and responsibilities. There is no obligation to hire the attorney referred, nor is the attorney obligated to provide representation. The goal of the Lawyer Referral Service is to match a prospective client with an appropriate attorney.

The Lawyer Referral Service is a public service of the DuPage County Bar Association. The phone-in hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday. The LRS is also available on-line 24 hours per day, 7 days a week at www.dcba.org, by clicking on "Find a Lawyer."