Guides
Before you hire a lawyer
General information for Chicago-area readers. Not legal advice.
How to check a lawyer's registration in Illinois
Every lawyer licensed in Illinois registers with the ARDC each year. Here is how to look a lawyer up yourself, and what the result does and doesn't tell you.
Updated 2026-10-03
Hourly, flat and contingency fees: what the terms mean
The three common ways Illinois lawyers charge, what a retainer is, and which rules apply to contingency fees.
Updated 2026-10-03
What to ask at a first consultation
A short list of questions that make a first meeting with a lawyer useful, and what to bring with you.
Updated 2026-10-03
Where Cook County courthouses are
Which Circuit Court of Cook County courthouse hears what, with addresses, plus the federal and collar-county courthouses Chicagoland cases often end up in.
Updated 2026-10-03