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JusticeCorps Fellows an Impressive Group
Make Law Better by Looking Outside of Law—A Medical and Dental Examination
JEPY Awards Celebrate Innovation
JEP Accepting Applications for Participants
Governor Pritzker, Chief Justice Burke and Other Leaders Help Inaugurate CBA/CBF Rock Cullerton Access to Justice Award
October 17, 2019
What if I told you…?
…there was a magic potion that will give you a happier, healthier and longer life. Who wouldn’t want that?
Well, it turns out that potion indeed does exist, and all of us who are lawyers and legal professionals can easily take advantage of it. And no magic is required. So, what is it?
Tags: Pro Bono | Pro Bono Week | Volunteer read more ...October 8, 2019
CBA and CBF Aiming for Significant Legal Regulatory Reform with Creation of New Joint Task Force
The Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Foundation have announced the creation of a first-of-its-kind Illinois task force that will work to identify regulatory reform recommendations to provide enhanced access and more affordable legal services to the public, while also working to make the practice of law more innovative and sustainable for lawyers.
Tags: Future of the Profession | Legal Innovation | Limited Scope | Referrals read more ...September 13, 2019
Good for Everyone: Pro Bono and Veggies Go Mainstream
By Margaret Benson | Executive Director, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
Pro bono is like veganism. Although it’s good for you and benefits society, people have been skeptical. But now both practices are popular enough that even people who don’t do them claim they do.
It wasn’t always that way. Back in the stone ages of the legal profession, before email, business processes and data analytics, many law firms didn’t have much interest in providing direct legal services to low-income clients. While some handled pro bono law reform cases through organizations like the ACLU and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, most firms didn’t think their attorneys should handle direct legal services for poor people.
Tags: Pro Bono read more ...September 11, 2019
Pro Bono Network
Want to do pro bono work and looking for training, support, backup, flexibility, camaraderie, and malpractice insurance? Then Pro Bono Network is for you! Come to the Pro Bono Network’s fall training sessions to learn how PBN can help you provide legal services to seniors, veterans, survivors of violence, people with disabilities, and families in […]
Tags: Pro Bono | Volunteer read more ...September 10, 2019
CBF Mourns the Death of Marca Bristo, Disability Rights Leader and Founder of Access Living
We were saddened to learn that Marca Bristo, who founded Access Living in 1980, passed away on September 8, 2019. For nearly four decades under her leadership, Marca built the organization into a leading disability rights and service organization. She was a warrior and a trailblazer. A fearless advocate, Marca fought for […]
Tags: read more ...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 ...