Our Blog
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
New CBA/CBF Task Force Aims to Lead Our Profession into the Future
March 22, 2017
Improving Financial Stability One Tax Dispute at a Time
Mark was awarded a settlement from a wrongful death suit, but his legal problems did not end when he received the money. The IRS processed this money incorrectly, treating it as taxable income. At the point when Mark turned to the Center for Economic Progress (CEP) for assistance, he had an IRS balance exceeding $130,000 and a levy on his wages. A Taxpayer Advocate at CEP’s Tax Clinic was able to help him correct his account with the IRS. Because of CEP’s help, the IRS ended the wage levy, eliminated Mark’s balance, and refunded him over $16,000 for wrongfully levied proceeds. Almost half of this money has gone to cover Mark’s student loan debt.
Tags: Investing in Justice Campaign | Legal Aid Organizations read more ...March 21, 2017
March becomes fundraiser time for pro bono aid
A March 21, 2017 article in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin features the CBF’s Investing in Justice Campaign. Now in its 11th year, the annual campaign brings the entire legal community together to help ensure that everyone has access to necessary legal help, not just those who can afford it. The Campaign runs throughout the month of March and is chaired this year by Jesse Ruiz, partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.
Tags: CBF in the News | Investing in Justice Campaign read more ...March 20, 2017
Bills Up in Springfield on Wednesday
Take Action for Equal Justice Today!
Hearings are set this Wednesday, March 22nd in the Illinois House of Representatives for two of the CBF’s priority legislative initiatives this year:
- In the House State Government Committee at 2pm in support of HB2591, a bill to reform the civil and criminal court fees and fines system in Illinois
- In the House Civil Judiciary Committee at 8am in support of HB3359, a bill to simplify the law governing evictions in Illinois
Please take three minutes to fill out a virtual witness slip in support of each of these two bills.
Tags: Advocacy | Take Action read more ...March 17, 2017
Bar groups unite to save aid program
An article in the March 17, 2017 edition of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin focuses on the President’s elimination of all Legal Services Corporation funding in his recently proposed budget and the devastating effects this funding loss would have on legal aid services in Illinois. The article highlights the response of LSC-funded organizations in Illinois and national and local bar groups, including the CBF.
Tags: Advocacy | CBF in the News | Legal Aid Funding | LSC read more ...March 16, 2017
Counsel People in Police Custody
Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans recently signed an order designating that individuals in police custody have access to an attorney. Prior to this, less than 1% of arrestees in Chicago police custody had an attorney. The Cook County Public Defender’s office and First Defense Legal Aid (FDLA) are joining forces to meet this need. FDLA needs your help to cover the shifts outside work hours. You can get trained to help on Tuesday, March 28th at noon at the ACLU office (180 N. Michigan).
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March 7, 2017
Chicago Legal Community Rallies Around Fundamental and Unifying Principle of Equal Access to Justice
Thousands of individual attorneys and legal professionals at more than 150 area law firms and companies are participating in the 2017 CBF Investing in Justice Campaign, which raises awareness and critical funding for pro bono and legal aid services in the Chicago area. Chaired this year by Jesse Ruiz, partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, the Campaign officially kicked off with an evening reception for Campaign leaders at Drinker Biddle’s Chicago office on March 6th. The Campaign runs throughout the month of March.
Tags: Investing in Justice Campaign read more ...February 28, 2017
Immigration and Access to Justice: A Much Bigger Problem Than It Needs to Be
People come to America for the same basic reasons now as they have from the time of our nation’s founding: to seek economic opportunity and the American dream, to join their families, or to flee persecution or terror. We truly are a nation of immigrants, and from the start of our country to today, immigrants have played integral roles in our economy and in our communities.
Even if we had a well thought out and well-functioning immigration system that reflects these fundamental truths which no rational observer would mistake our current system for immigrants would have some unique needs for legal help, and many would also face additional challenges due to the language and cultural barriers they often confront.* Unfortunately, however, immigrants face far greater access to justice challenges today because we have a broken immigration system. These added challenges are unnecessary and ultimately counterproductive for all concerned, and expanding immigration enforcement without fixing the underlying systemic flaws will only make things worse.
Tags: Advocacy | Immigration read more ...February 27, 2017
YLS Miami Nights 80’s Fun while Supporting the CBF
On February 24, the CBA Young Lawyers Section hosted Miami Nights, an event to benefit the CBF. Nearly 150 people from the legal community came together at the University Club for an 80’s-themed night of casino games, a poker tournament, fun, mingling, and charity. We’re extremely grateful to the YLS, and special thanks to YLS Public Service Manager Alex Memmen, the event committee, the volunteers, and YLS Director Jennifer Byrne. The YLS plays an important role in making the CBF’s work possible.
Tags: CBA | Events read more ...February 27, 2017
Promoting Justice and Due Process for Immigrants for Over 30 Years
Growing up in El Salvador, sisters Maria and Ana lived in constant fear. A gang had forcibly recruited the older sister by threatening to harm the younger sister. On top of that, both siblings suffered significant child abuse from a family member. The sisters fled the country and sought safety in the U.S. Once in the Chicago area, they were connected with the National Immigrant Justice Center, one of the many outstanding organizations you support through the Investing in Justice Campaign. NIJC’s staff spent extensive time earning the children’s trust and learning their story. With NIJC’s legal assistance, Maria and Ana were granted asylum and can now begin their recovery in the United States.
Tags: Immigration | Legal Aid Organizations read more ...February 24, 2017
Immigration Pro Bono Opportunities
Interested in learning more about the ever-changing landscape of immigration-related pro bono opportunities? Check out Illinois Legal Aid Online’s roundup of volunteer opportunities assisting Chicago’s immigrant and refugee populations. You can also get trained on deportation defense on Thursday, March 16, 1:00-5:30 at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
Tags: Immigration | Pro Bono | Volunteer read more ...