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January 23, 2014

Chicago Tonight Spotlights CBF’s New Incubator Program

The Justice Entrepreneurs Project was featured on the January 23rd broadcast of WTTW’s Chicago Tonight. Carol Marin interviewed CBF Executive Director Bob Glaves and JEP participant Katrice Hall, who discussed the goals of the program and how it is reinventing the traditional legal practice. Watch the video…

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January 21, 2014

Better Funding News for Legal Services Corporation and the Federal Courts

For the first time in years, the final budget agreement for 2014 that Congress just approved this week has some better news for both Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funding and funding for the federal courts (including the federal defender), two priority issues on which the CBF focuses its advocacy efforts. Because Congress has already agreed on the top line numbers for next year’s budget, this funding should also have some stability through 2015, a relief amid all the cuts and uncertainty of the last three years.

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January 17, 2014

What Do You Get When You Mix A Lawyer With An Incubator?

A Chicago Grid article about the Justice Entrepreneurs Project focuses on some of the innovative new practice models like fixed fees and a la carte services that the program participants are using to build sustainable practices. JEP lawyers Conor Malloy and Trevor Clarke are featured. Read the article here.

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January 13, 2014

Training New Lawyers to Start Affordable Law Firms

A January 13th Bloomberg Businessweek article about the Justice Entrepreneurs Project (JEP) describes how the new CBF project is translating the tech incubator concept for the legal community. JEP participant Nora Endzel is featured. Read the full article here.

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January 8, 2014

Patrick Fitzgerald to Chair the 2014 CBF Investing in Justice Campaign

Patrick Fitzgerald, a Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, will lead the CBF’s 8th Annual Investing in Justice Campaign, which kicks off March 3rd and runs throughout the month.

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January 7, 2014

Four Firms and Companies Team Up to Make Major Gift to Advance Access to Justice

For the fifth year in a row, four firms and companies came together to make a $100,000 gift to the CBF. Pierce & Associates, Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Law Bulletin Publishing Company and Codilis & Associates each contributed $25,000 again this year.

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November 21, 2013

Hatching an Incubator

CBF Report October 2013

CBF Justice Entrepreneurs Project Will Launch Start-up Solo and Small Firms to Expand Access to Affordable Legal Help

Earlier this month the Justice Entrepreneurs Project (JEP) officially opened its doors in the West Loop, creating a program where at any given time 30 socially conscious and sustainable solo and small firm law practices will have the opportunity to grow and thrive.With this new collaborative office space, the CBF officially launches its incubator to help newer graduates develop practices that will serve a sizeable gap in our legal market€“clients who earn too much to qualify for free legal aid but not enough to pay traditional lawyer rates. The inaugural group of 10 talented, entrepreneurial newer lawyers started in June and is nearing the end of the first segment of an 18-month program, having collectively contributed nearly 5,000 hours of pro bono service. Already, they are forging connections with one another and the larger legal community while developing and expanding innovative law practices designed to meet real community needs.

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November 15, 2013

CBF Unveils Innovative West Loop Incubator

Justice Entrepreneurs Project will help new lawyers launch practices serving low and moderate income clients

Chicago’s growing reputation as a hub for innovation once again was on display today as The Chicago Bar Foundation formally unveiled Chicago’s newest incubator in the West Loop, the Justice Entrepreneurs Project (JEP). Through this CBF program, a group of talented and entrepreneurial new lawyers will have the opportunity to launch solo and small firm practices that provide affordable legal services to low and moderate income Chicagoans.

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November 15, 2013

Bridging the €˜justice gap’

Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
By Roy Strom | Law Bulletin staff writer

As a master’s degree student studying theology, Conor Malloy wanted to help large groups of people liberate themselves from oppression.

But ministry wasn’t his thing. So he chose what he said is the next-most pervasive way to impact social justice: Helping low-and-moderate income families handle legal problems.

The Jesuits really wanted to see me throw on a collar one day, said Malloy, a former Loyola University Chicago theology student and IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law graduate. I don’t think I was meant for it. But I think I am doing something similar, just with a little more freedom.

With the help of an initiative announced today by The Chicago Bar Foundation, Malloy might also end up with a little more money in his pocket. He is one of 10 inaugural members of the CBF’s Justice Entrepreneurs Project.

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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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