Even though Chicagoland is home to 65% of the state’s population, 90% of the lawyers practicing in Illinois are concentrated in that area, according to the Illinois Supreme Court Commission. These legal deserts are popping up statewide, leaving rural areas without the proper legal assistance they need. 

Also known as a la carte or flat-fee, unbundled legal services offer clients a middle ground between having no help and hiring a lawyer for an entire case, though some attorneys question whether clients are getting what they deserve — and whether it’s a viable way to earn a living.