CBA Record January 2018

Chicago Bar Foundation Report

Bringing Lawyers Together to Make a Difference Your Foundation at Work in 2017

By Elena Dennis, Development and Events Coordinator T he Chicago Bar Foundation is the one place where you can come together with your colleagues in Chicago’s legal community and make a powerful impact that none of us could on our own. Below are just a few highlights of the impact you made possible over the past year. You can learn more about this important work and how you can get involved by visiting chicagobarfoundation.org. Advocacy Efforts Making an Impact at All Levels The CBF’s advocacy work urging legisla- tors and government officials to support key access to justice issues has never been more important. Highlights include the CBF playing a lead role to pass a bill to simplify the legal process for eviction cases in Illinois and to make the case to our Illinois delegation at the federal level for adequate funding for the Legal Services Corporation. Justice Entrepreneurs Project a Model for Innovation in Access to Justice It was another impactful year for the Justice

Senator Dick Durbinmeets with CBA/CBF delegation during ABA day inWashington in April 2017.

bar program and other pro bono programs serving the court. Based on recommenda- tions from the Committee, the full court recently adopted a series of changes to the Local Rules that will help improve access to justice in federal court. 2017 Investing In Justice Campaign Sets New Records This year’s Campaign set new records while raising awareness and critical funding for pro bono and legal aid services. 153 law firms, corporate legal departments, and other law-related organizations partici- pated in the Campaign, which was chaired by Jesse H. Ruiz of Drinker Biddle &Reath LLP. Nearly 5,100 individual attorneys and legal professionals contributed more than

Entrepreneurs Project, an internationally recognized incubator program to launch innovative, market-based law practices that provide affordable legal help to low and moderate income Chicagoans. The JEP welcomed its 8th and 9th cohorts and now has more than 50 lawyers who are part of the JEP network. The JEP is regularly consulted as a model legal incubator, and was recognized with a national access to justice award for its Pricing Toolkit. Improvements to Federal Court Pro Bono Programs The CBF continued its leadership with the Northern District of Illinois and the distinguished Pro Bono Advisory Commit- tee to update and improve the court’s trial

You can find photos and more information on CBF events at chicagobarfoundation.org/events.

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