CBA Record September-October 2026

PRO BONO WEEK 2026 – A MORE PERFECT JUSTICE SYSTEM

Building Dreams, Reducing Risk: The Unique Promise of Transactional Pro Bono By Melissa Picciola

“ W hen your business is young and resources are limited, support like this makes all the difference,” reflected Kambua Chema, founder of Kambua Chema Photog raphy. “The volunteer attorneys were instrumental in providing the strongest legal building blocks my business has ever had.” For Chema, those building blocks came in the form of a customized client contract. She had been operating with out a standard customer contract and was worried about her potential risks. Through Legal Aid for New Entrepre neurs (LANE), she was connected to an in-house attorney who helped her draft an agreement she could use immediately and adapt as her business grows. On its face, drafting a contract is a routine task for many transactional attor neys. But for an entrepreneur growing a young business with limited resources, that legal guidance can be transforma tional. The volunteer attorney stepped in at a pivotal moment and helped ensure that legal barriers would not stand in the way of Chema’s growing business. Stories like Chema’s invite us to think differently about pro bono legal services. When people think about pro bono, they often picture a lawyer stepping in during a moment of crisis: preventing an evic tion, securing an order of protection, or helping someone navigate an urgent legal challenge. Of course, those forms of representation are critically important and remain a crucial part of the pro bono ecosystem. But there is another side to pro bono work that deserves attention: one that focuses not only on helping people recover from hardship, but on helping them build something new.

Photo courtesy of Kambua Chema.

Helping Entrepreneurs Build Strong Foundations Every year, countless entrepreneurs across Chicago pursue dreams that have often been years in the making. Some are launching businesses inspired by family tradi tions. Others are turning professional expertise into a consulting practice, opening a neighborhood storefront, or transforming a creative passion into a source of income. For many, entrepreneurship represents more than a business venture. It is a path toward financial stability, self-determination, and generational opportunity. Yet building a business also means navigating a complex legal landscape. Questions about entity formation, contracts, intellectual property, licensing, employment, and governance can create significant barriers for entrepreneurs who lack access to legal counsel. Without guidance, even relatively minor legal issues can grow into obstacles that threaten the sustainability of a business. This is where transactional pro bono attorneys play a uniquely powerful role. Unlike litigation-focused pro bono work, transactional representation often occurs before a legal problem emerges. Attorneys help clients identify risks, make informed decisions, and create structures that support long-term success. For example, a conversation about selecting the right business entity can help protect

26 September/October 2026