CBA Record May-June 2021

Y O U N G L A W Y E R S J O U R N A L

Thank you! Thank you! ThankYou! The 2021Young Lawyers Section Fundraiser, CBA’s Got Talent, raised over $18,000 for the Edward J. Lewis II Lawyers in the Classroom Project. We appreciate the generosity of our sponsors and thank all those who shared their talents, including Larry Aaronson, CBA Barristers Big Band, The Bar Show Cast members, Kenny Matuszewski and the Mariachi ND Band, Micah Reeves, CBA Symphony Orchestra, and the Vishneski Family.

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

CBA Insurance Agency Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. Elrod Friedman LLP McDonald’s Corporation Romanucci & Blandin

Aronberg Goldgehn

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard

Banner &Witcoff

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois

Power Roger Smith

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Preferred Capital Preferred Med Network

For over 30 years, the Edward J. Lewis II Lawyers in the Classroom program has placed attorney volunteers into 2nd-8th grade classrooms to help students to better understand the U.S. Constitution, our legal system, and law-related careers. This project is funded through grants and private donations. Learn how you can get involved with the program or provide financial support at www.chicagobar.org/chicagobar/LIC.

The YLS Racial Justice Coalition Committee Update By Ann Glynn, CBA Public Affairs Director

T he YLS Racial Justice Coalition (RJC) was created in response to national discussions on racial injustice, inequality, and police brutality. With a mission to promote social justice, the RJC is harnessing the resources, skills, and voices of younger attorneys to implement meaningful change and reform. In recent months, the RJC has made great progress towards its goal by drafting and presenting a resolution at the ABA Young Lawyers Division Assembly, creating and sharing a weekly video series in honor of Black History Month, and hosting a number of volunteer events and seminars. RJC co-chairs Chastidy Burns, Marty Gould, and Kenny Matuszewski presented a resolution at the ABA Young Lawyers Divi- sion Assembly in February. Drafted by RJC members, the resolution urges the banning of no-knock warrants. It was passed with no opposition. The resolution is now being considered for possible presentation to the ABA House of Delegates at the Annual Meeting. The full resolution is at https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/young_lawyers/meetings/2021/ midyear/21-12yl.pdf. In honor of Black History Month, the RJC created a weekly video series featuring the leaders of African American bar asso- ciations. The series features interviews with Nyshana Sumner, Cook County Bar Association; Mike Wilder, Black Men Lawyers’ Association; Kenyatta Beverly, BlackWomen Lawyers’Association; and CK Hoffler, National Bar Association. View the video series on the CBA’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/chicagobar. To bring additional awareness to various social issues, the RJC hosted several seminars on topics including domestic violence and restorative justice and also provided volunteer opportunities to participate in estate planning workshops for low-income seniors and to provide assistance to individuals applying for public benefits online. In May, the RJC will host additional events including: • A seminar on May 12, “Nuanced Injustice: Collateral Immigration Consequences from Conviction” to examine how criminal convictions affect removal proceedings, often unexpectedly and counterintuitively. • Partnering on May 18 with the Housing Preservation Project at the Center for Disability & Elder Law, to host a free CLE course to learn how to draft Illinois Transfer on Death Instruments (TODI) to keep clients’homes out of probate, conduct title searches, and assist clients with claiming property tax exemptions. The session will be followed by a Volunteer Engagement opportunity on May 20 during which volunteers will assist homeowners in Cook County with a title search and TODI. Seminars will be archived at learn.chicagobar.org approximately 10 days after the live airdate. To learn about joining the RJC or for more information about programs, go to www.chicagobar.org/chicagobar/RJC.

CBA RECORD 35