Post Authored by Kenny Matuszewski
Ready for a casino themed party that also raises money for legal aid? On February 20, 2020, the Chicago Bar Association will be roaring into a 20’s casino party–Gatsby’s Casino Night. In addition to hosting our annual Casino Night, we will celebrate the anniversary of the day congressional action was completed to repeal Prohibition. Now turning a lucky 13, Casino Night will feature casino table games, a Texas Hold’em tournament, food, drinks, live music and a wide range of prizes. The link to register for Casino Night can be found here.
Guests are guaranteed to have a good time at Casino Night and are encouraged to participate in as many of the festivities as possible. But Casino Night is more than just having a whiskey and dancing both the tango and the foxtrot. It also shines a brilliant green light on important work that this Metropolis’ legal aid community is able to accomplish through the Chicago Bar Foundation.
Founded in 1948, the Chicago Bar Foundation brings the legal community together to increase access to justice, and ensure the legal system is fair for all. Through individual, law firm, and corporate donors, the Chicago Bar Foundation is able to directly provide more than $1.5 million in grants per year to more than 33 legal aid organizations across the Chicagoland area. It also provides training to legal aid attorneys and staff through its Legal Aid Academy and empowers younger attorneys to develop innovative, class-conscious legal practices that best serve low- and middle-income people through the Justice Entrepreneurs Project.
As of 2018, the Lost Generation is no more. Yet, for many pro se litigants, accessing the courts and defending their rights can feel like a life-or-death battle. Their trust in the legal system, as a result, erodes. Supporting the Chicago Bar Foundation and attending Casino Night provides much-needed aid to these people and shows the sun also rises for them.