CBA Record March-April 2025

CBA NEWS Liberty Bell Award Honors Community Members During Law Week By Emily Anderson, Director of the Young Lawyers Section

F or over 20 years, the Liberty Bell Award has rec ognized nonlawyers in the profession who render service that strengthens the effective ness of the American justice system. This award has also become a hallmark of the Young Lawyers Section’s Law Week celebration, with program ming consistent with the ABA’s Law Day theme. ABA Law Day is held each year on May 1. The ABA’s theme for Law Week this year is “Out of Many, One,” which honors the differences that make our legal community stronger. This theme serves as an important reminder that the legal community comprises others besides attorneys. The theme reminds us that paralegals, legal assis tants, pro bono coordinators, intake specialists, and every other professional who touches the law in their day-to-day work has a responsibility to promote the ideals of civility and the Rule of Law. Their professional experiences, client- and non-client-facing inter actions, and educational backgrounds are critical to shaping the legal profession. Recent Honorees The 2024 Liberty Bell Award was issued to Carolyn Faller, a para legal with Legal Aid Chicago working in Client Support Services and the Housing Practice Group. Faller’s selection was based on her history of public service and community engagement, and her current role helping low-income individuals navigate

complex legal issues in housing and real estate. The 2023 Liberty Bell Award went to Costa Nikolaides, who was nominated for his work with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) and Able Community. He often volunteered pro bono paralegal hours to assist CVLS in interview ing prospective clients and was vital in moving legal services online in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. As Treasurer of Able Community, he monitors operations, including overseeing tax filings and serving as the liaison to maintain the organization’s Application Details and Logistics Applications for the 2025 Liberty Bell Award are now open and due by April 11. The winner will be selected by a special awards committee and announced in late April. A commemorative plaque will be presented to the winner at the YLS’ Annual Law Day Celebration, which will be held on May 7 from noon to 1 p.m. at Daley Plaza. The Law Day Celebration is open to the public, and all members of the legal community are encouraged to attend. The application form can be found at www.chicagobar.org/ LawWeek, along with details for 2025 Law Week events. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email yls@chicagobar.org or call 312-554-2070. 501(c)(3) status.

Join the CBA Law & Literature Committee for a discussion of The Monkey Trial: John Scopes and the Battle over Teaching Evolution by Anita Sanchez March 28, 2025 | 12:15 p.m. Speakers: Royal Berg & Professor Ann Lousin IL MCLE Credit | Live Webcast or In-person at the CBA, 321 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago Register at Learn.ChicagoBar.org.

10 March/April 2025