Our Blog
Judge Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird (1949 – 2020)
Making Law Better By Looking Outside of Law—The Wrap
CBA/CBF Task Force Preparing to Release Draft Report for Public Comment
A Time for Our Legal Community to Reflect and Act
Illinois Supreme Court Enters Order Supporting CARES Act Housing Protections
November 19, 2019
Fourteenth Cohort of JEPers Kick Off 18-month Incubator Program
A few weeks ago, the CBF Justice Entrepreneurs Project welcomed five fantastic attorneys into the program. The “Fab Five,” as they’ve come to be known, are excited to build the type of client-centric firms that embody the principles of the JEP, committed to providing affordable services to the underserved. The new JEPers will join over […]
Tags: JEP | Pro Bono read more ...November 18, 2019
Kudos to Amanda Insalaco!
The CBF extends a hearty congratulations to Amanda Insalaco, our 2016 Marovitz Public Interest Law Scholar! Amanda, who graduated from DePaul College of Law last May, received a prestigious Borchard Fellowship in Law & Aging for 2019-2020 hosted by the Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL), a CBF grantee.
The Borchard Fellowship will give Amanda […]
Tags: congratulations | Fellowships & Scholarships | JusticeCorps | Marovitz Scholarship read more ...November 16, 2019
Long-time CBF Leader Austin Hirsch Recognized by Bulletin of Atomic Scientists
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists this month honored one of our long-time CBF partners and leaders, Austin Hirsch, with a lifetime achievement award. The award recognizes individuals who make major contributions in the fields of journalism, science, advocacy, and art to create a healthier, safer planet.
Austin is a former CBF board member who remains an […]
Tags: Awards | CBF Supporters | congratulations read more ...November 12, 2019
New CBA/CBF Task Force Aims to Lead Our Profession into the Future
The CBA and CBF earlier this month launched a new Task Force on the Sustainable Practice of Law & Innovation with the interconnected goals of making legal services more affordable and accessible for the public and making the practice of law more innovative and sustainable for lawyers. Building on the CBA and CBF’s prior leadership on these issues and similar efforts in other jurisdictions, the Task Force will reimagine the way we regulate the business of law in Illinois and ultimately make recommendations to the Illinois Supreme Court to modernize the Rules of Professional Conduct to advance these goals. Learn more…
Tags: Future of the Profession | Legal Innovation | Sustainable Practices | Task Force read more ...October 28, 2019
Pro Bono Week 2019—Connecting with Communities
Last week, during the CBA/CBF’s 15th Annual Pro Bono Week, hundreds of lawyers and other legal professionals in Chicago came together to celebrate the important pro bono work being done in our community and to learn more about new opportunities to make an impact in the year ahead. Whether you were able to participate in one of the events or not, there are countless ways to get involved and make a difference, and the CBF is here to help.
Tags: Events | Pro Bono | Pro Bono Week | Success! | Training | Volunteer read more ...October 21, 2019
Ambitious New Strategic Plan to Guide Illinois Courts
The Illinois Supreme Court earlier this month formally released a comprehensive new Strategic Agenda for the Illinois Judicial Branch. The new plan, developed and approved by the Illinois Judicial Conference, sets a forward-looking agenda for the coming years with strong commitments to advancing access to justice and innovation among the centerpiece goals.
“The CBF commends […]
Tags: Courts read more ...October 18, 2019
Pro Bono Week to focus efforts on city communities in need
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
By Maddie Kilgannon
The Chicago Bar Association and The Chicago Bar Foundation are geared up to host Pro Bono Week 2019 starting Monday, honoring lawyers’ pro bono efforts and highlighting the impact of their work in the community.
Read the article at Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
Tags: CBF in the News | Pro Bono | Pro Bono Week read more ...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 ...