September 22, 2025
The Chicago Bar Foundation is proud to sponsor Equal Justice Works Fellow Maggie Bourke, who recently joined Uptown People’s Law Center. In this Q&A, Maggie shares more about her fellowship, what inspires her, and the impact she hopes to make through her work.
Tell us a little about yourself! (where you’re from, college, why law school, etc.)
I am from Winnetka, Illinois and a proud Wisconsin badger! During undergrad at Wisconsin, I had the opportunity to work with individuals in jail, who inspired me to go to law school. I just graduated from Northwestern Law this past May.
Why did you decide to apply for an Equal Justice Works Fellowship?
One of the coolest parts of EJW is the ability to “Design-Your-Own-Fellowship” which meant I could draft up my dream job. EJW provided the rare opportunity to design a project that directly vindicates the civil rights of women in prison. The fellowship allowed UPLC & me to tailor the project to address the pervasive sexual misconduct by correctional staff, an area where legal resources and advocacy have been especially lacking.
What are you working on at UPLC?
As a Fellow, I will work to expose and address the pervasive sexual abuse of incarcerated women in Illinois through litigation, advocacy, and public awareness efforts. In partnership with pro bono counsel and with the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), we will investigate allegations of sexual abuse and take steps to ensure survivors receive the justice they deserve while perpetrators are also held accountable. Legal actions, public education, resource development, policy solutions, and partnerships with organizations devoted to ending sexual violence and exploitation will be pursued to reach these goals.
What’s next?
Now that I’ve graduated, I’m looking forward to passing the bar & getting more hands-on experience with civil litigation*.
*Maggie is already getting that hands-on experience with a recent seven lawsuit “mass action,” part of the collaboration between UPLC, CAASE, and pro-bono partners at law firms to expose the culture of sexual abuse at Illinois’ main women’s prison, Logan.
If your firm or company is interested in launching the career of an aspiring legal aid attorney by sponsoring an EJW Fellow, you can find more information here.