CBA Record October 2018

PRO BONOWEEK 2018– CELEBRATING THE POWER OF PRO BONO

ingly high number of Americans—46%— do not have enough money to cover a $400 emergency expense. In such cases, an attorney’s ability to deliver even seemingly small benefits, like securing more time to move out or sealing an eviction filing, can have a huge positive impact. Considering Chicago’s high rents and the lack of healthy, affordable housing stock, moving out can take time. Without an attorney, most tenants will be ordered to move out within a week, two if they are lucky. With the eviction on their “record,” finding a decent place to live becomes dif- ficult, if not impossible. This insufficient move-out timeframe greatly increases the chances that a tenant will have to move quickly to an unworkable situation risk- ing another eviction, or become homeless, either of which can have devastating, life- altering consequences. Evictions create a domino effect. A tenant who is evicted will not just be forced from their homes, but often their neighborhood, friends, family, and sup- port system. Their children are likely to suffer the negative education outcomes associated with increased school mobility. And when an eviction leads to homeless- ness, everything about a family’s stability is jeopardized—employment, familial relationships, physical and mental health. An attorney’s ability to negotiate sufficient time to find decent housing, while a tenant family can remain safe in their home and not out on the street, has incalculable value. The impact of pro bono representation goes beyond one house, one family, one client. Renters are at a serious disadvantage in eviction court, up against system where the scales of justice are tipped against them. By using the power we have as attorneys to give a voice to tenants, we can level the play- ing field in eviction court, and work to alter the script until the tenant with a cane is not silenced and there are two equal sides with two equal stories in every eviction case. Julie Pautsch is the Pro Bono Coordinator & Staff Attorney at Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing in Chicago.

Landlord Tenant Ordinance. An attorney’s ability to articulate this defense made all the difference for a tenant who had been asking their landlord to make repairs to their rental unit for several months, without success. When the landlord filed an evic- tion against the tenant for falling short on rent one month, the attorney was able to craft a strong defense and get the landlord to agree to two months to move, a waiver of back rent, and the return of the security deposit. With that time and money, the tenant was able to find an affordable and

healthy apartment within their community. Even for tenants without a defense, an attorney can help mitigate the disruptive nature of evictions, which can otherwise destabilize families for years to come. The most common reason tenants land in eviction court is due to unpaid rent. This is often due to circumstances outside of a tenant’s control, such as a lost job, lost wages due to a medical condition or injury, delayed public benefits payments, and funeral expenses, among others. Notably, a Federal Reserve survey found that shock-

As lawyers, we alone have the power to advocate for clients in a legal system that is often not accessible due to cost or complexity and we have a responsibility to give back to those who otherwise may not have access to justice. The most rewarding moments in my career have been

helping my pro bono clients navigate the legal system. Nothing compares to walking out of court and having a client hug you with tears of gratitude in their eyes.

Trish McGill United Airlines

The Chicago Bar Association & The Chicago Bar Foundation 2018 Pro Bono Week Oct 22-26 chicagobarfoundation.org/probonoweek

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