First Defense Legal Aid Employee Directory
Legal ServicesIllinois, United States11-50 Employees
First Defense Legal Aid operates in the legal services sector, focusing on indigent defense, police accountability, and civil rights protection in Chicago. The organization provides free legal assistance to individuals arrested in Chicago, guiding them from the moment of arrest through the point where a Public Defender is assigned, and it also documents evidence of police conduct, advocates for medical care, and informs detainees’ families. In addition to direct legal aid, FDLA conducts educational programs—such as Street Law—designed to help residents understand and exercise their Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights during encounters with law enforcement. Based in Chicago, Illinois, the organization emphasizes both access to legal representation at custody and public education about constitutional rights, aiming to promote accountability within policing and equal justice for people in custody. The nonprofit entity has been active for over 15 years and serves the local community through both in-custody support and civic education initiatives.