Download and complete Motion and Notice forms from the Illinois Office of the Courts. Illinois has focused the prejudice prong on requiring that a defendant show that he could be found innocent or acquitted at trial.123.Veach, 2017 IL 120649 Constitutional claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are forfeited unless raised on direct appeal. If you are a pro se litigant, this guide will help you to understand some of the legal terms you are likely to hear as your case proceeds. Steps to file a petition after appealing your case from where to file the petition for your evidentiary hearing. Many incarcerated people appeal their convictions based on a claim of "ineffective assistance" of counsel. You can make a motion for ineffective assistance of counsel during your trial if you feel that your lawyer is not performing their duties. Discover Illinois' ineffective assistance of counsel standards for a claim involving trial, appellate, or plea agreement counsel. If possible, you should write your complaint in the form of numbered paragraphs, with each paragraph covering a separate point of your case. My son's attorney gave him an Ineffective Assistance of Counsel form to fill out but failed to tell him where to send.