Posted by Post authored by Tracy Brammeier
If you’re feeling frustrated by the hardships faced by sexual assault survivors, the availability of quality mental healthcare, the care and living situations of many seniors, equal access to justice for all, or other issues, now is your chance to get involved. Each year the Chicago Bar Foundation teams up with The Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section to get over 40 legal aid organizations into one room so you can easily discover new opportunities to make a difference.
In addition to providing much-needed legal services to the underserved public, finding the right pro bono opportunity will let you fulfill the supreme court’s pro bono reporting requirements without scrambling at the end of the year. As the Comments to the amended Rule 756(f) of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules underscore, the pro bono reporting requirement is intended to serve as an annual reminder to Illinois lawyers that pro bono legal service is an integral part of a lawyer’s professionalism. Rule 756(f) requires all attorneys licensed in Illinois to report, in connection with the attorney’s annual ARDC registration, pro bono legal services provided and qualified monetary contributions made.
If you’re a law student, the Pro Bono & Community Service Fair is a great place to find organizations that could use your help and will give you hands-on experience in an area of the law that interests you. There is no better way to figure out if a practice area is right for you than to talk to clients, go to court, or negotiate a deal yourself.
This year, Skadden Arps is generously providing the space and refreshments for the 25th Annual Pro Bono Fair on Thursday, October 25 from 5-7 p.m. Visit each organization’s table to meet with representatives and learn about the volunteer assistance they need and the time commitment from you to help. Discover other Pro Bono Week events and register for the Pro Bono Fair at https://chicagobarfoundation.org/probonoweek.
About the Author:
Tracy is an attorney at Clifford Law Offices, P.C. Her practice focuses on aviation, transportation, premises, and construction liability in addition to other areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation. She obtained a certificate in advocacy from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and has served as a judicial extern in the Northern District of Illinois. Tracy volunteers for the 100 Club of Chicago, a not-for-profit organization that assists the families of police officers and firefighters throughout Cook and Lake Counties, by providing the families with a legal resource following the death of a loved one killed in the line of duty. Tracy is the Public Services Manager of the YLS. Previously, she served as a project coordinator and enjoys participating in the YLS Wills for Heroes project. She also serves on the Board of Managers of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.