Criminal Defense for Activists
Arrested at a protest and looking for legal representation? Call the NLG Criminal Defense Coordinator at 872-4NLG-CHI(872-465-4244) and leave a message with your name, phone number, charges, and your next court date, or you can email nlg.chi.crimdefense @gmail.com
**Please note that the above phone number is not staffed 24 hours a day and is not a reliable number to call immediately after being arrested, while you are in a police department lock-up. The Cook County Public Defender’s Arrest Response Division can all be contacted at 844-817-4448. *
The NLG Legal Observer Program is part of a comprehensive system of legal support coordinated by the Guild to enable people to express their political views as fully as possible, without unconstitutional disruption or interference by the government, and with the least onerous consequences from the criminal justice system.
“KYR!” teach-ins are a local service of the National Lawyers Guild, Chicago chapter. Along with the Legal Observer Program and the Mass Defense Committee, the KYR teach-ins are part of a comprehensive system of legal support to enable people to express their political views as fully as possible, without unconstitutional disruption or interference by the government, and with the least onerous consequences from the criminal justice system.
Contact us at nlgchi.knowyourrights@gmail.com to request a training.
Upon request, NLG is also happy to include material on the following topics:
- KYR for non-citizen activists
- KYR for queer and transgender activists
- KYR for members of the military
- KYR for participants in actions with a high risk of arrest (including demonstration organizers)
We offer free CLEs on how attorneys can best support movements.
Labor and Employment Committee
The committee partners with unions, worker centers, and other local organizations to build power amongst workers.
NLG member attorneys practice in many areas of the law, and there are referrals available both nationally and locally.
NLG member attorneys can take part in a year-long mentoring relationship and earn 6 Illinois professional responsibility CLE credits upon completion of the program.
