Sixteenth JEP Cohort Kicks Off 18-Month Program

January 23, 2021

On January 11, the CBF Justice Entrepreneurs Project welcomed its sixteenth cohort into the program. Similar to our last cohort, these four attorneys—Daniel Bruce, Amy Cook, Terra Gross, and India Rios—are eager to take on the immense challenges and need created by COVID-19 by starting innovative, socially conscious practices helping everyday people and small businesses. The new JEPers join over 60 attorneys currently in the JEP Network.

The 18-month program kicked off with a boot camp during which participants build a business foundation and learn everything they need to know to hang their shingle for a new kind of practice. After boot camp, participants will meet once a week for six months and receive additional business training that builds on the foundation laid during boot camp.

A recent small business trend continues at the JEP with three of the four attorneys in this cohort focusing their practices on helping small business owners. Amy Cook is building a transactional and mediation practice serving small businesses and non-profits with a focus on healthy food systems and the creative arts. Amy is getting ready to start her pro bono residency at Chicago Lawyers for Civil Rights. India Rios will be launching a practice offering intellectual property, small business, entertainment, and some criminal defense services, and Daniel Bruce will be building a practice focused on helping small businesses and startups with a full suite of intellectual property support. Both attorneys will hopefully be starting a pro bono residency at a CBF partner organization offering similar services soon. Finally, Terra Gross will be launching a practice offering civil litigation services and educational self-help videos for people who encounter legal issues in living and working spaces. Terra will be starting her pro bono residency at Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. 

We’re excited to welcome these four enthusiastic attorneys into the JEP family. Please say a socially distant hello, wish them well, and keep the JEP Network in mind for referrals!