CBA Record January-February 2023

Chicago Bar Foundation Report

Building a Fairer and Better Justice System Together in 2022 By Emme Veenbaas Y ou continue to make a tremen dous impact through The Chicago Bar Foundation by making it pos

groundbreaking program to provide criti cal legal help for people facing consumer debt challenges, evictions, foreclosure, and other housing issues. The program has helped more than 32,000 people since its launch and has been recognized as a model by the White House and other national organizations.

real opportunities to continue to recruit and retain a diverse, talented, and com mitted group of legal aid advocates to serve our community. The full report and its key findings and recommenda tions is available on the CBF website.

sible for thousands of people to get criti cal legal help. Below are some examples of how members have continued to make a real difference over the past year while building a fairer and better justice system for the future. As we begin 2023, the work you are making possible through the CBF is more important than ever. Learn more about the impact of the CBF and how you can continue to support that work on the CBF website, chicagobarfoundation.org.

Investing in Justice Raises More than $1.4 Million

More than 4,000 lawyers and legal professionals came together to con tribute more than $1.4 million to the 2022 Investing in Justice Campaign. With the exemplary

New Illinois Legal Aid Recruitment & Retention Study A comprehensive new study of the legal aid community in Illinois conducted by Mercer for the CBF gives a sobering yet inspiring view of what it is like to be a legal aid lawyer today and what we can do to better support these dedicated lawyers and those interested in pursuing these vital careers in the future. Building on a 2006 CBF study, the new research identifies both significant challenges and

Carrie Di Santo

leadership of Carrie Di Santo of CME Group, 130 law firms, corporate legal departments, and other law-related orga nizations participated in the campaign to help raise awareness and much-needed funds. The campaign has raised almost $20 million to date while leveraging mil lions more in additional support for the pro bono and legal aid organizations serv ing the Chicago area.

Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) Program The CBF continues to be a lead partner with the Cook County Circuit Court and many other legal aid, government, and community partners in managing this

Learn more about the CBF and its programs at www.chicagobarfoundation.org.

14 January/February 2023