CBA Record March-April 2024

THE YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION

Innovation in Action: The CBF Justice Entrepreneurs Project By Samoane Williams

S ince its launch in 2013, the Chi cago Bar Foundation’s Justice Entrepreneurs Project has been empowering lawyers to lead socially con scious law firms and innovative businesses that make legal services more affordable and accessible to everyday people. Core principles of the JEP Network include setting predictable prices rather than using the traditional billable hour, offer ing unbundled and flexible services, and leveraging technology to create efficien cies. The JEP also draws on the principles of entrepreneurship and experimentation to encourage market-based models and improve access to quality legal services. This article provides some background about what the JEP does, how to get involved with the JEP, and how involve ment in the JEP can significantly benefit your career. Training The JEP’s 18-month training curriculum focuses on business development and innovation, starting with a week-long boot camp where attorneys learn how to start their business from scratch. Thereaf ter, participants have access to top-notch weekly trainings on an array of business topics such as marketing, technology, client services, risk management, and pro fessionalism.

Ashley Rodriguez of Second Chance Law and co-chair of the YLS Criminal Law Committee joined the JEP at the height of the pandemic in June 2020. “Boot camp and weekly trainings were

her placement at the Center for Disabil ity & Elder Law. “I gained experience in an area that I had known nothing about but which is increasingly affecting more seniors: consumer debt. Working with CDEL, I’ve gotten a better sense of the limits of legal aid and of the many people who need access to the legal services that JEP attorneys can provide.” Resources Since its inception, the JEP has benefited from the incredible generosity of its many partners who have provided JEP par ticipants with free or low-cost access to information and technology, as well as a wealth of knowledge from experts in the field who continue to donate their time to training and developing our network attorneys. The JEP offers access to free or reduced price practice management software and technology tools, malpractice insurance, and other resources needed to run a suc cessful practice. The JEP also offers afford able office space to its members. Located in the center of the Loop, the JEP office is equipped with private meeting rooms, mailboxes, individual desk space, and other typical office amenities. Community Legal entrepreneurs join the JEP program

Ashley Rodriguez, Second Chance Law

the most helpful because they gave me the knowledge and skills necessary to build a solid foundation for my business,” she commented. “The experienced attorneys and lawyer-focused business professionals facilitating the trainings made the educa tional content more relatable and allowed me to create a realistic vision of what an innovative firm looks like.” Participants gain

hands-on legal train ing by completing a pro bono residency with a legal aid part ner to gain experience in their desired area and build relationships within Chicago’s legal

Stacia Frens, Frens Elder Law & Estate Planning

community. Stacia Frens of Frens Elder Law & Estate Planning joined the JEP while finishing her LLM degree in elder law in 2022. Frens was eager to gain prac tical experience in adult guardianship, but she received much more than that from

38 March/April 2024