Our Blog
Just Because We Can Doesn’t Mean We Should, and Just Because We Should Can Never Again Mean We Can’t—Part Two
Our Heartfelt Thanks to Dina!
JEP Applications are Now Open
New Supreme Court Rule Expands the Use of Electronic Signatures
Gil Soffer to Chair 2021 Investing in Justice Campaign
August 19, 2019
Voluntary Bar Associations and Adapting to a Changing World
Bob Glaves is my friend and mentor. So, while skeptical, I grant him the benefit of the doubt when he tells me that the Bobservations readership numbers millions, spanning continents. “Huge and fabulous and, many people are saying, the best ever,” Bob observes of Bobservations.
In any event Bob’s taking a well-deserved break. He’s asked me to contribute a post. Presently, I believe Bob is traipsing about the Wisconsin woodlands. I hope he’s relaxed of mind and surely not reliving the double-doink, ad nauseam.
Tags: Future of the Profession read more ...August 1, 2019
Justice Entrepreneurs Project Accepting Applications
Are you a newer lawyer interested in obtaining the skills and resources necessary to build an innovative and successful law practice? Are you interested in making a positive impact on your community as a social entrepreneur? If yes, consider applying to the Justice Entrepreneurs Project!
Tags: Apply or Nominate | JEP read more ...July 30, 2019
What’s Your Story?
When someone asks us what we do as lawyers and legal professionals, what story do we tell them? Do we frame the answer in the loftier ideals of our profession and the good we do in the world, or in the day-to-day grind that the practice of law sometimes can feel like?
That question was the driving force behind the selection of this year’s theme song at the CBA and CBF’s 21st Annual Pro Bono and Public Service Awards Luncheon last week, The Story by Brandi Carlile.
Tags: Awards | Pro Bono & Public Service Awards Luncheon read more ...July 30, 2019
CBF Welcomes New Board President and Members
The CBF is excited to welcome Steven A. Weiss as our 38th Board President for the 2019-2020 term. A Partner and Co-Leader of the Complex Commercial Litigation Practice Group at Honigman LLP, Steve provides advice on a wide variety of business litigation issues for companies and business people.
Steve has a strong commitment to […]
Tags: Board of Directors read more ...July 30, 2019
Congrats and Thanks to Justice Mason!
There was a significant milestone in our legal community last week: Justice Mary Anne Mason retired from the bench after a stellar 19-year career as a Judge, first in the Circuit Court of Cook County and since 2013 on the Illinois Appellate Court.
The Appellate Lawyers Association was among many paying tribute to Justice Mason’s […]
Tags: Board of Directors read more ...July 23, 2019
Honoring Careers of Dedication and Service
Seven attorneys recognized for outstanding work at the CBA and CBF Pro Bono and Public Service Awards Luncheon
Seven unsung heroes in the legal profession were recognized and celebrated for their extraordinary service to our community at The Chicago Bar Association and The Chicago Bar Foundation’s 21st Annual Pro Bono and Public Service Awards Luncheon on July 23, 2019.
Tags: Anderson Fellowship | Awards | Events | Morsch Award | Pro Bono & Public Service Awards Luncheon read more ...June 26, 2019
Are You Ready for Some Football?
Jim Harbaugh came through town last week, but not on a recruiting trip for Michigan. He was here in his role as a member of the Leaders Council for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), where he joined in a fitting tribute to LSC’s board chair and long-time champion for the cause, John Levi.
In the course of his heartfelt toast to Levi, Coach Harbaugh used a football analogy to illustrate what it means when someone has to fend for themselves in a contested court case: it is like a game where one team has to play without helmets and pads. You don’t have to stretch your imagination to recognize that team would get routed and end up with some serious injuries.
I thought this was a great analogy that most everyday Americans can connect to and understand, and it also offers an interesting framework for tackling the broader barriers to equal access to justice.
Tags: LSC read more ...June 26, 2019
New Incubator Launches in Colorado with Helping Hand from the CBF
Earlier this month, the CBF and our Justice Entrepreneurs Project (JEP) gained a new partner in the cause with the official launch of the Legal Entrepreneurs for Justice (LEJ) incubator in Denver.
Over the years since the CBF developed and launched the JEP, one of our goals for the program has been to identify successful […]
Tags: Incubator | JEP | Legal Innovation read more ...May 30, 2019
Investing in Justice Campaign Sets New Record, Leverages Hundreds of Thousands More
Tens of thousands of people in need will receive critical legal assistance thanks to more than 5,200 individual contributors at 150 participating firms, companies and organizations
The Chicago Bar Foundation is proud to announce record-breaking results for the 2019 Investing in Justice Campaign. More than 5,200 individuals joined together to contribute $1.56 million, the highest amount […]
Tags: Investing in Justice Campaign | Legal Aid Funding | Success! read more ...May 24, 2019
Celebrating Ten Years of A+ Training
For the past ten years, the CBF Legal Aid Academy has provided free, high-quality training and professional development opportunities for hundreds of legal aid attorneys to develop valuable skills so that they can better serve our community. With the help of generous pro bono contributions of time and expertise from attorneys, law firms, and CLE providers, the Academy has been able to continuously provide these professional development opportunities for Chicago’s legal aid community.
Tags: Legal Aid Academy | Training read more ...