CBA Record April-May 2019

NITA, and other firms has allowed a version of this very popular training to be provided almost every year since 2013. Social Media as an Investigative Tool: In June 2018, the Academy hosted a seminar on the access and risks that come with using social media within the legal industry. Part- nering with local law librarians, attorneys learned about the privacy risks associated with using social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Training the Trainers: In partnership with PLI and Baker & McKenzie LLP, David Cruickshank from Edge International partnered with the Academy to present a two-day program inMarch 2019 that relayed innovative teaching methods to make train- ing programs for pro bono attorneys more effective. Participants were able to create their own templates for training programs and receive feedback from their peers and instructor. This popular program was also provided in 2014 with the support of Sey- farth Shaw LLP. Attendees will use these new techniques to collectively train hundreds of others, amplifying the volume and effective- ness of training in the legal aid community. Vicarious Trauma Seminar. Legal aid attorneys and staff commonly work with clients in crisis who describe their trau- matic stories in detail, which places a heavy burden on practitioners. In November, 2016, the Academy partnered with Dr. Nancy Zarse from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology on a seminar where participants learned how to identify second- ary trauma and the personal effects that can come from interactions with clients in crisis. Those who attended learned strategies to mitigate and address this stress and trauma. Looking Ahead Over time, the CBF hopes that the Legal Aid Academy will not only continue to provide these necessary connections and trainings but will increase our capacity to delve into the higher-level professional development needs of Chicago’s legal aid community.

participated in a role-playing simulation where they assumed the persona of a real homeless youth. The simulation required the navigation of various public institu- tions, so participants were left to figure out the rules for themselves. Of course, the simulation was incred- ibly daunting and unforgiving, and no one was able to complete their assigned tasks. During the course of two hours, every participant experienced the frustration and hopelessness that youth experiencing homelessness can feel when dealing with unhelpful systems. After the simulation, all participants contributed to a group reflec- tion session, where people could share their own experiences and insights. Ultimately, everyone who participated in this program is better equipped to advocate for homeless youth. Examples of Programming In addition to the programming provided year-round through partnerships with PLI, the CBA, Pincus, National Business Insti- tute, and others, the CBF partners with experts nationwide to present customized legal aid programming a few times a year. Below are just a few recent examples of the excellent programs that the Academy pro- vides with the help of our dedicated partners. Negotiation Skills Training: In May 2019, the Academy is partnering with K&L Gates LLP to run a customized train- ing session on negotiations skills. Legal aid attorneys will get the opportunity to develop both their litigation and transac- tional negotiations skills in this hands-on, interactive program. Deposition & Trial Skills Training: In September 2018, the Academy partnered with Kirkland &Ellis LLP to host a custom- ized Trial and Deposition Skills Training program. More than 40 lawyers attended this three-day session, where they trained on topics like examining witnesses and taking/ defending a deposition. With the help of volunteers from PWC, this training pro- gram used mock expert witnesses to realisti- cally replicate a court setting. Participants had the opportunity to sharpen their skills with mock depositions and witness exami- nations while receiving immediate feedback. An ongoing partnership with Kirkland,

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programs through law firms or CLE providers The Academy also partners with the CBA to provide free CLE Advantage mem- berships to all legal aid attorneys working at CBF grantee organizations (more than 350 in all). Additionally, all attorneys within the Academy have year-round access to over 2,500 hours of both live and on-demand seminars, webcasts, and other programs donated by the Practising Law Institute (PLI). Another ongoing generous partner- ship with Pincus Professional Education provides spaces in all Chicago-based pro- grams—from depositions to presentation skills—to legal aid attorneys in Chicago. All of these resources are free to the legal aid attorneys and staff who participate, making it possible for them to get training without cutting into the already-stretched budgets of legal aid organizations. Legal Aid Academy programming is available year-round, and promoted to legal aid law- yers through a training calendar on Illinois Legal Aid Online and a special quarterly e-newsletter. The value and utility of accessible, high- quality training opportunities should not be underestimated. For example, this April on my very first day as a CBF intern, I was able to observe a three-hour program that focused on the experiences of young people in the justice system. The program was a partnership between the CBF Legal Aid Academy, the CBA Legal Aid Com- mittee, and Baker &McKenzie’s pro bono partner, Angela Vigil. Over 40 attendants If you have any problems, call 312/554-2135 or email kbryan@chicagobar.org. Thank you! A Personal Take on the Value of the Academy If you recently moved, joined a new firm, cre- ated a new email account, got a new phone number, etc. please take a moment to update your member profile. You can do this online at www.chicagobar.org.

Patrick Wu is a sophomore at Northwestern University and interned at the CBF this spring.

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