In 2002, Illinois had a dubious distinction when it came to funding legal aid for low-income residents. Of the 10 most populous states in the nation, Illinois ranked last, spending $490,000 annually, compared to an average of $6.8 million. The Chicago and Illinois Bar Foundations hired CG&A to use its expertise in legislative support initiatives and develop the Equal Justice Illinois Campaign, an effort to increase state funding of civil legal aid, from the ground up.
	As managers of the campaign, CG&A developed and implemented various communication tools such as an interactive Web site where supporters can directly contact their elected officials, legislative briefing binders, brochures and a newsletter to effectively deliver the campaign’s main messages. CG&A also produced two award-winning annual reports for the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation that highlighted the work of legal aid groups around the state, as well as an award-winning video that underscored the need for increased funding. In addition, the team organized a media roll-out for the first major statewide legal needs study in more than 15 years. In building the coalition, CG&A assembled more than 30 leaders, including co-chairs Governor Jim Thompson and former Illinois Senate President Phil Rock, Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Secretary of State Jesse White for the campaign’s Blue-Ribbon Committee. CG&A managed outreach to dozens of legal aid organizations, law firms and bar associations in the state, and scheduled meetings with individual legislators and state officials. Legal aid open houses were held throughout Illinois to introduce state legislators to the critical services that these organizations provide to local constituents.
	CG&A helped increase Illinois’ funding of civil legal aid in 2005 to $2 million. And in 2006, funding for legal aid was increased once again to $3.5 million. This represented a six-fold funding increase in the face of two of the worst budget crises in Illinois history. CG&A placed several dozen media stories on the Campaign, as well as profiles of legal aid attorneys and programs throughout the state. CG&A also received multiple prestigious awards for our work on the campaign.