December 16, 2025
In a year marked by many new legal challenges for people in need and the dedicated organizations that serve them, the CBF was a powerful force for good thanks to your steadfast partnership and support. By joining together with thousands of similarly dedicated colleagues from throughout our legal community, you again helped thousands of people in need get critical legal assistance and continued to build a fairer and better justice system for everyone. Just a few highlights of what you made possible in 2025 include:
Court Access Library Project
This year, the CBF publicly launched the Court Access Library Project, a pilot program to expand access to the courts through public libraries across Illinois. Recognizing libraries as essential community hubs for information and assistance, the project provides library patrons with space and equipment to appear in court remotely, access legal information, e-file documents, and receive guidance from trained librarians.
The initiative is an innovative partnership between the Illinois Secretary of State and the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice, led by Judge Jill Marisie and a dedicated Steering Committee. With their guidance, the project has supported the 18 libraries in the pilot by providing specialized training and resources and to help residents with reliable, plain-language tools to navigate the legal system.
Cook County Legal Aid for Housing & Debt (CCLAHD)
The CBF continues to play a lead role in the Cook County Legal Aid for Housing & Debt program, a groundbreaking countywide initiative serving people facing eviction, foreclosure, consumer debt, and related challenges.
A report released this year from the global advisory firm Stout highlighted how CCLAHD’s Early Resolution Program in the Circuit Court, working hand-in-hand with a City of Chicago “Right to Counsel” pilot for evictions, has created a unique and effective model to ensure unrepresented tenants can access high-quality legal assistance tailored to their circumstances. The report found that this approach is making a clear, positive impact in promoting housing stability and improving access to justice across Cook County. Since its inception, CCLAHD has served more than 110,000 people and continues to help court users more easily connect to legal assistance, mediation when they need it most.
Patton Legal Aid Training Academy
The CBF’s Legal Aid Academy relaunched with a new name and an expanded mission thanks to a transformational gift from Steve and Linda Patton. The Patton Legal Aid Training Academy provides high-quality training and professional development for legal aid lawyers and professionals, helping them deliver exceptional client service, grow in their careers, and strengthen community ties without adding strain to limited budgets.
The Academy offers coordinated training programs and customized courses designed to address the unique challenges legal aid professionals face. Trainings cover a wide range of skills, from trial practice and deposition techniques to presentation skills and effective client service.
Investing in Justice Campaign
In a year marked by significant challenges for pro bono and legal aid, the Chicago legal community came together around our common cause of ensuring everyone has access to necessary legal help, not just people who can afford it, and made a record-breaking impact. With the exemplary leadership of Krist Werling, a Partner at McDermott Will & Schulte, more than 130 law firms, corporate legal departments, and other legal organizations participated in the Campaign to raise both awareness and essential funding. More than 4,200 lawyers and legal professionals contributed a new record of more than $1.57 million, which leverages more than $700,000 in additional funding through the CBF grant process, making it possible to award over $2.3 million in grants to more than 30 pro bono and legal aid organizations.
Nonprofit Legal Support Project
The CBF launched the Nonprofit Legal Support Project in response to heightened federal scrutiny affecting nonprofits’ diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, along with new compliance risks stemming from recent executive actions.
The Nonprofit Legal Support Project is a partnership between the CBF, Forefront, and the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, with a distinguished advisory committee of nonprofit and law firm experts overseeing the initiative and playing key roles. The project is part of a broader Nonprofit Resilience Hub at Forefront and includes a dedicated and curated web page on the Forefront website where nonprofits can go for the latest information and resources on the changing legal environment, as well as connections to pro bono legal advice and assistance.
CBF Advocacy and Events Bring Our Legal Community Together
Thousands of lawyers and legal professionals from throughout our legal community came together for the CBA/CBF Pro Bono & Public Service Awards Luncheon, the annual Fall Benefit, and Passport to Chicago to celebrate the CBF’s mission of creating a fairer and more effective justice system.
The CBF also again led legal community delegations to Washington D.C. and Springfield to advocate for legal aid and access to justice issues.