CBA Record

What a privilege we have as attorneys to take on this role and offer the possibility of hope to those who gave up on this concept a long time ago. At the end of the day, doesn’t this kind of service to others begin to define a life of meaning? It is not based on a pursuit of our own self-gratification. And our worth will not ultimately be determined by our fleeting successes. Rather, it is only when we choose to exist in a world in which the needs of the Julios, or the duties of citizen- ship, or the call of God, or something else of this order crucially matters to us that our lives will rise above the trivial and strive towards the authentic. And isn’t this the challenge that faces each of us who has been given so much? The Julios are out there. The only ques- tion is, what will be our response when we find them knocking at our door? Serving Our Seniors: In 2009-10, the CBA helped the ABA to launch Serving Our Seniors. The programdesigned to assist young lawyers in providing low-income seniors with legal advice regarding the creation of basic estate plans, including powers of attorney for healthcare and property, living wills, and simple wills. Estate planning experience is not needed. Visit the Serving Our Seniors Committee page at www.chicagobar.org for information about upcoming events. YLS Volunteer Opportunities Law Explorers: The YLS Law Explorers Project sponsors lectures and activities for young men andwomen between the ages of 14 and 20who are interested in careers in lawand government. Volunteer attorneys meet with students from 100 Chicago area high schools every other Wednesday evening and participate in role plays concerning legal and ethical questions. Visit the Law Explorers Committee page at www. chicagobar.org for more information.

Congratulations to all the recipients of the 2016 CBA and CBF Pro Bono and Public Service Awards Kimball R. Anderson and Karen Gatsis Anderson Public Interest Law Fellowship Amanda Walsh, Legal Council for Health Justice

Exelon Outstanding Corporate Counsel Award Eric Carlson, McDonald’s Corporation Leonard Jay Schrager Award of Excellence Shaye L. Loughlin, DePaul University College of Law Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Service Award Lawrence A. Wojcik, DLA Piper LLP (US) Maurice Weigle Exceptional Young Lawyer Award Andrew F. Merrick, Jenner & Block LLP Richard J. Phelan Public Service Award Deborah Hagan, Office of the Illinois Attorney General Thomas H. Morsch Public Service Award Timothy J. Hufman, Legal Assistance Foundation

I am saying about myself true for most, if not all, of us in this room? We are here not because of what we have done, but because of what we have been given. We are the privileged ones, and yet, the unfairness of life is also part of our stories. Some of you have experienced that unfairness in the form of discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Still others have struggled with chronic depression or unexpected tragedies. And yet, notwithstanding these strug- gles, all of you are in this room today as successful attorneys or other professionals. And you are here because each of you has refused to let the unfairness in your own life have the last word. You have persevered. And with the compassion that can come from such struggles, as attorneys we can stand with our clients and reach out to the Julios of the world and say, “that unfairness and injustice in your life does not have to be the last word.”

New York City. When Julio came to me, he was 15 years old and terribly scarred over his entire face and body due to third- degree burns he suffered as a boy when he was trapped in his Bronx apartment during a fire. Thereafter, whenever he did anything wrong, his parents punished him by holding a lit candle to his face. That abuse continued until his parents threw him out of the home at the age of 15 to fend for himself. So here was this teenage kid knocking at my door—homeless, and scarred both physically and emotionally while growing up in one of the worst and poorest parts of the Bronx. Life had truly been unfair. Over the years, when I have thought about Julio, I have wondered where I would be in my life today if I’d had to endure even one of the challenges he faced. Is my presence before you today because of my accomplishments, or is it because of my good fortune? I think we all know the answer to that question. And if we are will- ing to be honest with ourselves, isn’t what

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