CBA Record September-October 2022

PRO BONOWEEK 2022 – EMPOWERING PEOPLE, EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES

Being onsite and within the community increases access to legal services, which +UV(WU* s *OQ0OuWs0) rs++OU+ )Ps) WLOU0)* may have in addressing their legal concerns. <;PU p/+M )Ps) +U*/0s)U* )PU 2/*) pO)P our clients is the expungement and seal f ing of their criminal backgrounds. Both -+/WU**U* LUsV )/ S+UUV/2 S/+ /(+ WLOU0)*g: *sOV =/00n ;Ps)WPe <4O)P Uo-(0QU2U0) and sealing services, we empower people to take control of their record and expand )PUO+ LO'U*e A(+ 'U+n u+*) Q+s0)UV -U)O)O/0 was for driving without a license. The client had never been issued a license and had been prevented from doing so because /S s KcfnUs+f/LV U0)+ne ;Ps0M* )/ )PU ](*f tice Corps, this mother is now working to lawfully gain her license and secure rU))U+ U2-L/n2U0) )/ *(--/+) PU+ Ss2OLne: Pro Bono Lawyers a Key Component The Justice Corps is fortunate to be assisted by a dedicated team of pro r/0/ '/L(0)UU+*e 6/L(0)UU+* W/2U S+/2 a variety of legal backgrounds, but with training from Justice Corps staff, can provide comprehensive services during /0f*O)U WLO0OW*e ;PU -+/ r/0/ '/L(0f teers enable the Justice Corps to offer Uo-s0VUV *U+'OWU*g *(WP s* +UWU0) <[0/p y/(+ >OQP)*: WLO0OW* s) 9!#X s0V expungement clinics at ONE Northside.

A walk-in clinic held by Legal Aid Society and Justice Corps.

to gun violence in Chicago. By forging WL/*U -s+)0U+*PO-* pO)P /(+ W/22(0O)nf based organizations, we are able to make O2-+/'U2U0)* /0U +U*OVU0) s) s )O2Ug: *sOV >OWPs+V*/0e <4PU)PU+ O) O* PUL-O0Q residents to navigate interactions with the police, or helping residents expunge criminal records for minor offenses to unlock job opportunities, CP4P is making a huge difference in the lives of people O2-sW)UV rn Q(0 'O/LU0WUe 6/L(0)UU+O0Q s) !@H@ O* )PU rU*) -s+) /S 2n *WPUV(LUe: As the work of the Justice Corps has expanded, its volunteer pool has, too. Chantal Kazay serves as a Director and Senior Counsel for Litigation in Discover aO0s0WOsL =U+'OWU*5 Zsp zU-s+)2U0)e Kazay is also an LAS Board Member and was recently honored by the Chicago Bar Foundation with a 2022 Pro Bono Award. She and her team at Discover have made *OQ0OuWs0) W/0)+Or()O/0* )/ )PU VU'UL/-f ment and facilitation of the criminal record expungement clinics at ONE Northside. OQP)* )+sO0O0Q )/ )PU W/2f munity. While legal assistance is only a small fraction of the services CP4P pro f vides, I am thankful I was introduced to such a wonderful program through my Board work at LAS. I am dedicated to !@H@5* 2O**O/0g s0V ^ L/'U PUL-O0Q s0V *U+'O0Q )PU W/22(0O)n O0 s0n psn ^ Ws0e:

Pro Bono Opportunities to Give People Second Chances Through Expungement/Sealing Pro bono attorneys empower people in many ways to take control of their lives by assisting with expungements and sealing of their criminal records. 6/L(0)UU+ s))/+0Un* O0)U+U*)UV in working with the Legal Aid Soci f ety and their Communities Partner f ing 4 Peace Justice Corps program can contact the Director for the Pro Bono Program, Elizabeth Gresk, at LASprobono@metrofamily.org or by WsLLO0Q IKJfCDFfHccce Attorneys can volunteer with Legal #OV !POWsQ/5* +U2/)U Uo-(0QU2U0) and sealing work to assist clients with -+U-s+O0Q -U)O)O/0* )/ uLU )PU2*UL'U*e Find out more by visiting their web f *O)U s) pppeLUQsLsOVWPOWsQ/e/+QdQU)f O0'/L'UVd'/L(0)UU+f/--/+)(0O)OU* /+ by contacting Legal Aid Chicago at volunteer@legalaidchicago.org. Attorneys can volunteer with !sr+O0O `+UU0 ZUQsL #OV5* 'O+)(sL Criminal Records Help Desk to pro f vide brief advice and consultations to help people gain relief from barriers to employment, housing, and education that result from past criminal records. To sign up for a required training s0V s* s '/L(0)UU+g -LUs*U 'O*O) !`Z#5* pUr*O)U s) pppeWQLse0U)dQU)fO0'/L'UVe Bridget Hatch is theMedia Relations andMarketing Coordinator, and Elizabeth Gresk is the Director for the Pro Bono Program at the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services.

KnowYour Rights Clinic at UCAN

John Richardson serves as Managing !/(0*UL /S YWz/0sLV5* !/+-/+s)O/05* legal department and is also a member /S )PU ZUQsL #OV =/WOU)n5* r/s+Ve >OWPf s+V*/0 s0V )PU YWz/0sLV5* '/L(0)UU+ )Us2 pU+U /0U /S )PU u+*) )/ -s+)0U+ with the Justice Corps, with a focus on expungement work. Their work with the Justice Corps has served as a model for future volunteer involvement.

CBA RECORD 29