CBA Record September-October 2022

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From left to right: Timothy Tomasik, CBA President; Shelisa Thomas, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; Patrick Yingling, Reed Smith LLP; Dean Jennifer Rosato Perea, DePaul University College of Law; Chantal Kazay, Discover Financial Services; PatWrona, CARPLS; Nicole Smith, Cabrini Green Legal Aid; Judge Catherine Schneider, Circuit Court of Cook County; and Gregory Boyle, CBF President.

]/O0O0Q zO*W/'U+ O0 JcJKg [smsn W/f WPsO+* zO*W/'U+5* O0fP/(*U -+/ r/0/ -+/f gram. She leads by example, spending many pro bono hours ranging from advo f cacy for the elderly and disabled, to crimi f nal record expungement, to immigration. Currently, she volunteers monthly with Communities Partnering 4 Peace, a com f 2(0O)nfrs*UV O0O)Os)O'U W/0'U0UV rn YU)f ropolitan Family Services that provides a W/2-+UPU0*O'Ug L/0Qf)U+2 s--+/sWP )/ reducing gun violence and gang activity among individuals and communities. Thomas H. Morsch Public Service Award For more than 25 years, Pat Wrona has dedicated her legal career to legal aid. She N/O0UV !#>@Z= O0 KCCG s* s -s+)f)O2U attorney, and in 2007 became the Direc f tor of Legal Services. 4+/0s *(--/+)* s Gcf-U+*/0 *)sSS that delivers services in 13 practice areas )P+/(QP !#>@Z=5 P/)LO0U*g sV'OWU VU*M*g and statewide projects that collectively provide over 80,000 legal consultations a year. Over the past 15 years, with Wro f 0s5* LUsVU+*PO- s0V Q(OVs0WUg !#>@Z= has become a national leader in legal ser f vice delivery innovation. As an expert in employment law, she made a particular

impact after the onset of the pandemic by helping create BennyFits Illinois, a virtual assistant that has helped thousands navi f gate the unemployment process. 4+/0s U2r/VOU* !#>@Z=5 W/+U 2O*f *O/0B )Ps) 0/ /0U *P/(LV Ps'U )/ SsWU s legal problem alone. Learn more about the CBA/CBF Lun f cheon and these inspiring lawyers and N(VQU* s) P))-*BddWPOWsQ/rs+S/(0Vs)O/0e /+Qdsps+V*fWULUr+s)O/0 .

than 750 hours annually to pro bono cases while maintaining a busy practice at )PU u+2e _U Ps* /r)sO0UV *U'U+sL 'OW)/f ries for LGBTQ+ rights, including court +UW/Q0O)O/0 /S *s2Uf*Uo 2s++OsQU s0V the invalidation of rulings that prevented transgender individuals from changing their names. He has also taken on cases to protect voting rights and fought against the gerrymandering of political maps. yO0QLO0Q5* WLOU0)* s0V W/LLUsQ(U* describe him as an understanding advo f cate who is experienced but not cynical. _U O* s */(+WU /S W/0uVU0WU S/+ PO* WLOf ents, and their testimonials commend him for listening and responding to their concerns. His drive and dedication to improving access to justice embody the spirit of what it means to be a lawyer. !Ps0)sL [smsn5* L/0Q*)s0VO0Q W/22O)f ment to pro bono work dates to her time s) Z/n/Ls 90O'U+*O)n !POWsQ/5* =WP//L of Law. Kazay has continued that com f mitment throughout her corporate legal Ws+UU+g u+*) s) #/0 s0V 0/p s* s zO+UW)/+ and Senior Counsel for Litigation in Dis f W/'U+5* Zsp zU-s+)2U0)e Exelon Outstanding Corporate Counsel Award

Mehroz Mohammed is a J.D. Candidate at the University of Illinois College of Law.

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