Tell us a bit about yourself!
Thomas Wendt, Northcentral Technical College (formerly with Center for Disability & Elder Law, (CDEL))
How did you first hear about ILAO?
I have been familiar with ILAO since 2001, as it was launching while I was in my third year at Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Why did you get involved with ILAO?
I believe I have been volunteering with ILAO since 2008 or so. I became involved fairly shortly after starting at CDEL. I fully support the ILAO model of People-Centered legal information and completely agree with the need for the services ILAO provides. Once I became involved in ILAO, I never disengaged. The team at ILAO makes engagement seamless. I am contacted with various assignments and can work on them as time permits. It has been a very fruitful and rewarding relationship.
What did you gain from your experience with ILAO?
I really appreciate the opportunity to provide some insight from my many years of experience working in legal aid. I look at legal problems through the lens of my former clients and try to seek practical, effective solutions to those legal problems. ILAO provides some of those solutions. I have a broad base of experience in the normal, day to day legal issues that so many people face and having the opportunity to help supply solutions to some of those issues is very gratifying.
I also greatly appreciate that I can volunteer remotely. Although I no longer live in Illinois, I still maintain my Illinois law license and working with ILAO helps me stay abreast of changes in the law.
Why should others get involved with ILAO?
ILAO is a tremendous resource for the public, especially individuals of modest needs. The programs and services ILAO provide make a meaningful impact in the ever growing legal services divide and are important components of the attempt to increase Access to Justice statewide. Frankly, every state should have an organization like ILAO and the fact that so few do is to the detriment of all and, especially, to the detriment to the Access to Justice movement.
Favorite technology of the moment
I don't know if I have a favorite technology moment, but I cannot emphasize enough how technology is changing the practice of law. ILAO is at the forefront of these changes, especially as it affects individuals of modest means. The fact that people with legal needs can log onto ILAO's site and not only obtain valid, verified legal information, but can also perform some basic legal tasks, at no cost, using technology that is effective, easy to use, and effective is amazing.
There are many pay sites out there, all of marginal quality and most with questionable validity. ILAO is a superior service as all of the information and services provided are vetted through experienced Illinois attorneys, generally practitioners in those areas of law.
Did you ever have an alternative career in mind?
I am actually working in my "alternative career." I became an adjunct professor about 6 months after I started at CDEL in 2007. For 13 years, I did both. When I left CDEL in 2020, I left to pursue teaching in higher education full time. I am the Program Director and full time faculty Legal Studies/Paralegal Program at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, WI.
My current position does not provide that much time to engage in the practice of law in Illinois (taking individual pro bono cases when living 275 north of Chicago is not really practical!). However, I can volunteer through ILAO as my time permits and still contribute to the provision of legal services to low and modest income individuals in Illinois.
