Simmons Law Firm Helps Illinois Families Gain Equal Access to the Legal System

Leading asbestos law firm, the Simmons Law Firm, recently made a generous donation to the Building for the Future Campaign organized by the Land of Lincoln, a non-profit organization that provides low-income and senior citizens of 65 counties in central and southern Illinois free civil legal services.  

The Simmons Law Firm, best known for helping patients and families affected by mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos, donated $250,000 to the Land of Lincoln Building for the Future Campaign. In addition to funding their program-wide administration and hotline, this contribution will help the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation establish its East St. Louis office in the Dorothy O. Cook Community Law Center on State Street. The funds collected from this campaign are already assisting low-income families and senior citizens throughout the Metro-East area.  

Land of Lincoln provides services in civil cases that involve problems with housing, family, consumer issues, public benefits and health, disabled persons, and education cases.  Michael Angelides, firm partner, said the Simmons Law Firm’s decision to donate to the fund comes from the firm’s ongoing commitment to provide individuals with equal access to the legal system. “Our asbestos practice has been built around trying to give people a voice that might not otherwise have one. So when this opportunity came up, it just made sense.  We’re thrilled to be able to contribute.”

The Simmons Law Firm was recently recognized for providing free legal services to homeless veterans that greatly complements the work of the Land for Lincoln organization.  Since its establishment in 1999, the Simmons Law Firm has represented thousands of individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.  The law firm has made previous contributions to cancer research as well, including a $10 million pledge to create the Simmons Law Firm Cancer Institute at SIU.  

For more information about the Land for Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation please visit www.lollaf.org.