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October 28, 2013

Panel finds modern pro bono lessons in 1962 film

Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
By Marc Karlinsky  | Law Bulletin staff writer

Many of the lawyers that gathered at a North Side theater Friday hadn’t read or watched To Kill a Mockingbird since their high school years.

When they did finally revisit the 1962 classic film last week they watched it for credit just as they did years ago.

About 200 attorneys assembled at the Music Box Theatre to cap off Pro Bono Week by viewing the screen adaptation of Harper Lee’s 1960 novel, then discussing how the ethical challenges in the story translate to the real-world practice of law.

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October 17, 2013

A Win-Win for the Legal Community and Access to Justice

CBF Report October 2013

Planting the Seeds for Pro Bono Partnerships and Collaborations

When it comes to pro bono, lawyers in the Chicago area have good reason to be proud of the many talented and creative pro bono advocates at legal aid organizations and law firms, exemplary judicial and bar leadership, and the active participation and support from thousands of attorneys in our legal community.Working together with these partners to ensure that pro bono service most effectively meets community needs is one of the key ways that the CBF is helping to make the justice system more fair and accessible for people in need. As a core part of the CBF’s overall mission to bring the legal community together to improve access to justice, the CBF’s pro bono program works to ensure that attorneys can easily find and connect with pro bono opportunities, promotes best practices and incubates and provides key funding for innovative new pro bono programs.

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October 16, 2013

Legal-aid lawyers learn, then teach

Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
By John Flynn Rooney | Law Bulletin Staff Writer

On a Monday and Tuesday last week, 15 legal-aid leaders went through a training program on the ins and outs of trial skills.

The following three days, they taught the same program on opening statements, direct examinations, cross-examinations and closing arguments to about 40 legal-aid […]

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October 11, 2013

More than 50 Legal Aid Advocates Get Complimentary, Top-Notch Trial Skills Training For Free Through Innovative Partnership

Dozens of legal aid advocates from throughout the Chicago area are participating in an acclaimed NITA (National Institute of Trial Advocacy) trial skills training this week thanks to an inventive partnership of NITA, The Chicago Bar Foundation, and the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

There are two components to the training. On Monday, sixteen experienced legal aid trial attorneys completed a two-day teacher training program where they learned the NITA methodology so that they ultimately will become NITA certified instructors. These attorneys then have been teaching alongside experienced NITA instructors during a three-day Advocacy Skills Program, where forty legal aid lawyers have the opportunity to hone their trial advocacy skills. Thanks to Skadden, these programs are taking place in state of the art facilities.

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May 31, 2013

Chicago Bar Foundation sets fundraising record

Chicago Volunteer Legal Services plans to use a $90,000 grant from The Chicago Bar Foundation for the most essential part of its budget electricity, rent and the copy machine.

“General operating funds are incredibly important to us €¦ A lot of foundations don’t want to pay for general (expenses), they want to pay for a special project, something they can put their name on,” said Margaret C. Benson, executive director of CVLS.

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April 19, 2013

Moving forward past indifference to provide equal justice to all

When we talk about The Chicago Bar Foundation’s (CBF) 7th annual Investing in Justice Campaign, we talk about making a difference. In a sense, though, it’s just as much about standing up to indifference. As lawyers, doing nothing about the lack of equal access to justice in our legal system for so many people in need is just not an option. We cannot stand silent or still on this issue. We must move forward.

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