CBA Record October 2018

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

to go to college, then law school, and after gaining skills, to only help yourself seems contrary to the fundamental principles of who we are as attorneys. What can pro bono work do for you? Pro bono opportunities allow you not only to help your career and your community, but they allow you to help you become a better lawyer and a better person. The sat- isfaction gained from helping individuals who would be lost without your assistance is an unparalleled feeling. On a day-to-day basis many young attorneys will not receive the “thank you” from a client or the smile of approval that they deserve. However, undertaking pro bono work allows that attorney the hands-on legal work that might get them that simple, “thank you for your help” that so many lawyers do without. In my role practicing trust, estate, and probate litigation, I often have the opportunity serve as pro bono counsel for individuals in pending guardianship proceedings. One pro bono experience of mine stands out above many others, not because I got that smile and “thank you,” but because of the genuine appreciation that was expressed by the individuals I was able to help. While volunteering for one of the local pro bono organizations in Chicago, I was given the opportunity to serve as the Guardian Ad Litem in a pro se minor guardianship case. Upon my review of the file, it was apparent that a number of issues had yet to be resolved by the pro se petitioner, preventing my ability to fulfill my duties as Guardian Ad Litem. In this instance, both the Court and the pro bono organization graciously gave me full latitude to assist the pro se petitioner in completing the paper work necessary for her to petition for guardianship of her disabled daughter. The guardianship was filed due to the minor’s pending 18th birthday, requiring her par- ents to become the minor’s legal guardian. Upon completion of the paperwork with the minor’s mother, as the Guardian

Law At The Library

The CBA is proud to partner with the Chicago and Evanston public library systems to offer a free monthly legal information series offering practical insight for the general public into a wide variety of everyday legal topics. CBA members will offer their legal expertise in free seminars that will be held each month at Chicago’s Harold Washington Library and the Evanston Public Library. The sessions are free and registration is not required. For a complete schedule of dates for 2018-2019, go to lrs.chicagobar.org.

Ad Litem, I went out to the family home to meet the minor. The fact that I had already established a relationship with the family by simply helping them with the paper- work was apparent the moment I arrived at their home. The family was waiting for me on the porch and from my observations, must have spent hours cleaning the home and preparing for my arrival. I sat with the family and the minor while they described the disabilities that the minor suffered. The family explained in great detail the minor’s general cognitive abilities, including that the minor would not know her birthday, age, year or season, but would know that it is cold or hot outside. Further, the minor had a limited vocabulary and difficulty speaking, specifically, with the pronuncia- tion of specific names. Instead, the minor had come up with shortened versions, or nicknames, for her family members. After speaking with the minor alone, I again sat with the family while they told me about the history of their home and the history of their family living in Chicago. My visit to the family home concluded with a guided tour of the home by both of the minor’s parents. The genuine appre- ciation expressed by the family and the satisfaction I received from knowing that the family truly appreciated my assistance still resonates with me to this very day. In the instance above, the pro bono opportunity not only enabled me to help a family in need, but to help the legal community as a whole. The simple step of

@theBar talks Amanda Knox In this episode, hosts Jon Amarilio and Trisha Rich speak with Amanda Knox’s lead Italian defense lawyer, Carlo Dalla Vedova, and her media consultant, Alex Guittieres, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the trial that gripped the world. Was the media’s portrayal of the murderous“Foxy Knoxy”accurate or was she just an innocent college student caught in a nightmare? Special thanks to One Legal for sponsoring this episode. Listen now at https://legaltalknetwork. com/podcasts/chicago-bar/. CBA Market Insider CBA Market Insider e-Newsletter highlights the latest Chicago Bar Association marketing and sponsorship offerings, along with the recent successes of the businesses and law firms that support our legal community. helping the family prepare their pleadings benefited the judge, the sheriff involved, and counsel for the minor. The vast major- ity of attorneys are not general practitioners and focus on specific areas of law. As a young lawyer when you are presented with an opportunity to not only show off your unique skill set but also to serve the com- munity, it is a no-brainer to jump in. Get your copy at http://eepurl.com/dga-5f

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