Practice resources

These resources are written for legal professionals doing legal aid or pro bono work. If you do not have legal training, they may be difficult to understand. Visit resources from the main menu for legal information written and designed for the public.

During a case Resources
Civil appeals Illinois: state and federal 2022 edition
Manual on state and federal review courts, post-judgment motions, standards of review, cross-appeals, oral arguments. 2022 edition
IICLE
Civil discovery practice 2021 edition
Manual on discovery rules, interrogatories, production of documents, oral and written depositions, etc. 2021 edition
IICLE
Civil practice: Opening the case 2023 edition
Manual on attorney-client relationships, settlement, subject matter jurisdiction, venue, pleadings, affidavits, etc. 2023 edition.
IICLE
Civil Practice: Preparing for Trial 2022 edition
About litigation rights, tax aspects, injunctions, declaratory relief, summary judgment, and pretrial conferences. 2022 Edition
IICLE
Civil Practice: Trying the Case 2022 edition
Handling a case during trial, including traits and skills of an effective trial advocate, the jury, the opening statement, presenting testimony, preserving the record, etc. 2022 edition.
IICLE
Civil Trial Evidence (Illinois)
Manual on sources and evidence for trials such as sufficiency of proof, hearsay, motions, demonstratives, etc. 2022 edition
IICLE
Class Actions
Manual on Rule 23, court proceedings, shareholder derivative suits, attorneys' fees, etc. 2020 edition.
IICLE
Contempt of court
A video about the power of the court to punish someone for interfering with the court process.
Video
Disability Rights Consortium: Access to courts for people with disabilities
Speaker: Meghan P. Carter, Assistant Attorney General, Disability Rights Bureau, Office of the Illinois Attorney General
Video
Employment Termination: Procedures, Grounds, and Challenges
Federal and state regulations; contractual exceptions to the employment-at-will doctrine; employer record-keeping responsibilities; investigation, testing, and privacy of employees; 2018 Edition.
IICLE
Federal civil practice 2020 edition
Manual on federal civil practice including jurisdiction venue, pleadings, motions, discovery, magistrate judge, etc. 2020 edition
IICLE
Federal Criminal Practice
Manual about jurisdiction, grand jury, pretrial discovery and motions, jury selection, habeas corpus, appeals, etc. 2023 edition
IICLE
How to request change of judge in your case
Request that you have a new judge appointed to your case using a motion.
How-To
Inside and outside the jury box: Effective trial strategies 2023 edition
Manual on trial strategy including trial psychology, themes, selecting jurors, post-verdict interviews, etc. 2023 edition.
IICLE
Law basics: filing an appearance and answer
A video explaining what papers you need to file and what you need to do if you're being sued.
Video
Laying Foundations for Introducing Evidence
Increase your ability to get evidence (including digital evidence) admitted. Learn why you should lay proper foundations, how to respond to objections, etc. 2022 edition
IICLE