CBA Record March-April 2021

The 2021 Investing in Justice Campaign Justice People Deserve, Not Just What They Can Afford

This spring marks the 15th anniversary of the CBF Investing in Justice Campaign, a community-wide effort through which thousands of attorneys and legal professionals at more than 150 participating law firms, corporations, and other law-related organizations in the Chicago area come together around our profession’s common cause: ensuring that everyone has access to necessary legal help, not just people who can afford it. Many of the most vulnerable people in the Chicago area count on pro bono and legal aid services when faced with often life-changing legal issues. Over the past year, the need for this assistance has only grown as the pandemic has disproportionately impacted low-income Chicagoans and communities of color who were already facing many barriers to accessing the limited amount of free and affordable legal resources that exist to serve them. Each year, the CBF dedicates 100% of individual Campaign contributions toward the direct support of more than 30 pro bono and legal aid organizations and related initiatives, which has made possible more than $700,000 in additional funding from the CBF’s foundation and government partners. Since 2007, the Campaign has raised more than $18 million to support these critical services, and that has leveraged millions more in additional funding for this work. While we all have important roles to play as individuals, and we all support a wide variety of worthy causes, the Campaign is our opportunity to come together as a legal community and ensure that all people have equal access to our justice system. Through the Campaign, we can make the collective impact that none of us could on our own, and together, we can help build a stronger, fairer, and more just community for all of us. The CBA again is one of the organizations participating in the Campaign, and we encourage all CBA members to contribute at chicagobarfoundation.org/campaign.

California’s most respected neutrals are now offering mediations nationwide using secure video conference technology.

S I G N A T U R E R E S O L U T I O N . C O M

CBA RECORD 19