CBA Record September-October 2022

YOUNG L AWYERS S EC T I ON : BU I LD I NG BR I DGE S

and violence), employment discrimina f tion cases, and housing discrimination cases. If you are interested in providing these services for the TJLP, please contact Carolyn Wahlskog at carolyn@tjlp.org. Promote LGBTQ+ Safety with LASP ;PU Z`";? #0)Of6O/LU0WU s0V =sSU)n Project (LASP) is a recently established Equal Justice Works fellowship program operating out of Legal Aid of Chicago. Z#=@ -+/'OVU* W+O)OWsL OVU0)O)nfsSu+2O0Q legal services, outreach, and education )/ L/pfO0W/2U Z`";?h *(+'O'/+* /S domestic violence. The focus is mainly on serving LGBTQ+ youth and their families. LASP represents these indi f viduals in protective order litigation, divorce and child custody cases, disputes O0'/L'O0Q *WP//L *sSU)n s0V OVU0)O)nf based harassment or bullying in schools, and cases requesting name and gender marker changes. Attorneys can pro f 'OVU 2(WPf0UUVUV PUL- O0 )PO* *-sWU rn donating and acting as a pro bono refer f ral resource to help with these matters or other matters that cannot be referred to Legal Aid of Chicago. For more infor f mation on the program, how you can help, or to refer individuals to LASP, please email lasp@legalaidchicago.org. Assist the Elderly and LGBTQ+ Folks Living with Disabilities with CDEL Several underserved organizations work with and directly impact LGBTQ+ com f 2(0O)OU* U'U0 )P/(QPg s) u+*) rL(*Pg /0U might not traditionally expect them to do so. One such organization is the Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL). CDEL provides free legal services to L/pfO0W/2U ULVU+Ln /+ -U+2s0U0)Ln VO*f abled residents of Cook County, often including members of the LGBTGQ+ community. Starting in 2019, CDEL launched its Proud to Thrive program, which provides legal services to elderly LGBTQ+ individuals who need help drafting advance directives or assistance with estate planning, housing, or prop f erty tax and title issues. CDEL is always looking for volunteer attorneys to assist

directly with their caseload or to act as a pro bono referral source for the previ f ously mentioned areas and other areas, including adult guardianship, collections, and divorce. For more information about CDEL, the Proud to Thrive program, and how you can help, please visit the CDEL website at cdelaw.org/volunteer. Other LGBTQ+ Groups Many more local grassroots organiza f )O/0* 0UUV /(+ u0s0WOsL s0V '/L(0)UU+ help, too. For example, Chicago House provides medical, legal, social, employ f ment, sexual health, and housing services to members of the LGBTQ+ commu f 0O)n LO'O0Q pO)P /+ '(L0U+srLU )/ _^6d AIDS. Another is Brave Space Alliance, s "LsWMfLUV s0V )+s0*fLUV /+Qs0Oms)O/0 /0 )PU =/()P =OVU )Ps) -+/'OVU* sSu+2f ing and culturally competent resources, programming, and services to predomi f nantly Black, Indigenous, or other people of color who live on the South and West sides and who identify as LGBTQ+. Identify an organization that interests you and volunteer your legal services pPU+U'U+ 0UUVUVe y/( Ws0 u0V 2s0n /S these organizations simply by doing a quick Google search, contacting the CBA, /+ U2sOLO0Q )PU !"#5* Z`";?#h !/2f 2O))UUe A0WU n/( u0V )Ps) /+Qs0Oms)O/0g reach out directly to ask what help you can provide. Then take the time to listen )/ )PUO+ 0UUV* s0V VU'/)U s* 2(WP u0s0f cial or pro bono assistance as possible.

Protect Transgender & Gender Non Conforming Rights with TJLP AS -s+)OW(Ls+ O2-/+)s0WU O0 )PU uQP) S/+ LGBTQ+ rights is the battle for the rights /S )+s0*QU0VU+ s0V QU0VU+ 0/0fW/0S/+2f ing (GNC) individuals. It is no secret that even before Dobbs , trans and GNC youth and adults have been subjected to unconscionable discrimination (and even violence) in schools, workplaces, and other public settings across the country. @/*)f Dobbs g )PU uQP) S/+ )PU*U +OQP)* Ps* become even more critical and urgent. One local organization that provides 2(WP 0UUVUV QU0VU+fsSu+2O0Q *(--/+) to the trans and GNC communities is the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois (TJLP). The TJLP was founded )/ -+/'OVU

Nikki Marcotte, an asso ciate at Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC, pri marily practices general commercial litigation in state and federal courts throughout the country, is passionate about pro

bono work that directly impacts LGBTQ+ indi viduals and other historically marginalized com munities, including working with the Midwest Innocence Project to free wrongfully incarcerated individuals and representing other indigent pris oners in state and federal postconviction matters.

CBA RECORD 45