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Lawyers in the Classroom

Build It and They Might Not Come

Fourteenth Cohort of JEPers Kick Off 18-month Incubator Program

Kudos to Amanda Insalaco!

Long-time CBF Leader Austin Hirsch Recognized by Bulletin of Atomic Scientists
September 14, 2018
Local Challenges, State and National Solutions
Many of the access to justice issues we face in the Chicago area require action on the state or federal level to resolve. Working with many dedicated partners on the local, state and national levels, the CBF’s advocacy and community leadership extends well beyond the borders of Cook County, along with its impact.
A good example […]
Tags: Advocacy | CBF 70th Anniversary | Immigration read more ...September 13, 2018
Helping Ensure It’s Substance Over Form in the Courts
Forms go along with the court process like peanut butter goes with jelly. And when it comes to access to justice, well-designed court forms can be a welcoming and helpful resource for people without lawyers, or forms can be a huge barrier when they are complicated and full of legalese.
Prior to 2012, people in Illinois […]
Tags: Access to Justice Commission | CBF 70th Anniversary | Courts | Pro Se | Simplification read more ...September 11, 2018
How a Gift to the CBF Becomes a Grant with Exponential Impact
Grants to support pro bono and legal aid organizations have been a central part of the CBF’s work since its inception. Last year, the CBF awarded over $2 million in grants, investing in the entire pro bono and legal aid system in our community. A lot goes into determining how the CBF allocates these grant […]
Tags: CBF 70th Anniversary | Grants | Legal Aid Funding | Legal Aid Organizations read more ...September 7, 2018
A Life Changer for Children and Their Caregivers
Tuesday was the first day of school for thousands of Chicago Public School students. Imagine that you are caring for your grandchild because the child’s parents are not able to do so. You try to enroll your grandchild in school but the school refuses until you provide proof of guardianship. What is that? Where and […]
Tags: CBF 70th Anniversary | Court Help Desks | Courts read more ...September 5, 2018
Investing in Justice: More Than a Catchy Tagline
Chicago is fortunate to have more than 30 impressive pro bono and legal aid organizations that collectively provide often critical legal services to more than 150,000 people in need in our community each year. The CBF has supported many of these organizations from the time of their inception, and virtually all of them for many […]
Tags: CBF 70th Anniversary | Investing in Justice Campaign read more ...August 31, 2018
Justice for Youth Campaign Called Attention to a Budding Crisis
Back in the early 1990’s, the juvenile court and juvenile welfare systems were fighting an increasingly losing battle to protect and care for thousands of abused, neglected or troubled children in Cook County and elsewhere in Illinois. The CBF saw this budding crisis as an opportunity and, in partnership with The Chicago Bar Association, launched […]
Tags: Advocacy | CBF 70th Anniversary read more ...August 30, 2018
Expanding Practices and Access through Limited Scope
Across the country, the civil justice system is undergoing a transformation. More and more litigants are appearing in court without lawyers, making up well over half of the civil litigants in Illinois and closer to 75% nationally. Self-representation is no longer limited to the poorest users of the court system; growing numbers of middle-class people […]
Tags: Access to Justice Commission | CBF 70th Anniversary | JEP | Legal Innovation | Limited Scope | Resources read more ...August 28, 2018
If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, You Might Not Get There
That was one of the legendary Yogi Berra’s many great quotes, and it has particular resonance in the nonprofit arena. For organizations seeking to make a difference in the world, having a clear idea of who you are, what you are trying to accomplish, and how you will know if you are making progress is […]
Tags: CBF 70th Anniversary read more ...August 24, 2018
A Gift Becomes a Legacy
2018 CBF Moses Scholarship recipient Angela Kilgore
Throughout our 70-year history, the CBF has been fortunate to receive a number of planned gifts from generous members of the legal community. A good example was a gift Eleanor Moses made to the CBF in 1975 in memory of her husband and in honor of her […]
Tags: CBF 70th Anniversary | CBF Supporters | Fellowships & Scholarships read more ...August 22, 2018
A Roadmap to Resources in the Courts
Throughout the thirty floors and 120 court and hearing rooms of the Richard J. Daley Center, you can frequently hear court patrons asking the same question over and over again, Where do I go? The building is big, the largest courthouse in the state, and it can seem overwhelming with its multiple elevator banks and unclear signage. While many helpful resources are located in the building, its sheer size and scale can make it challenging to keep track of who they are and what they do. Court patrons in a need of a specific service may not be able to find it easily, and Illinois JusticeCorps volunteers can’t cover the entire building.
The CBF saw an opportunity to improve the navigation process within the building by working with the Circuit Court of Cook County Pro Se Advisory Committee to develop a referral sheet for people without lawyers.
Tags: CBF 70th Anniversary | Courts | Referrals | Resources read more ...