October 22-27, 2012
"Pro Bono: A Gift not a Chore"

The CBA and CBF will sponsor Chicago's 8th Annual Pro Bono Week from October 22-27, 2012. The Week is chaired by Alison C. Conlon, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, and Leslie A. Wallin, CARPLS Legal Aid.

The CBA and the CBF launched our annual Pro Bono Week with the twin goals of honoring lawyers' pro bono efforts and educating the public and the legal community about how these lawyers are improving the lives of the less fortunate. In 2012, Chicago will be joined by communities across the county in the American Bar Association's National Pro Bono Celebration.

Pro Bono Week features several events for the legal community, including:

19th Annual CBA Young Lawyers Section's Pro Bono and Community Service Fair
Co-sponsored by The Chicago Bar Foundation and Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Tuesday, October 23, 2012; 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Register now.

Meet with representatives from 50 of Chicago's legal aid, pro bono and community service organizations to network with likeminded professionals and uncover the volunteer opportunity you have been seeking. The event will be held at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 300 N. LaSalle St., Chicago. Refreshments will be served. Please note: This complimentary event is open to law students and lawyers of all levels of legal experience. The evening's program will indicate the level of experience required by a particular organization. See a list of participating organizations (in PDF).

MCLE Programs at The Chicago Bar Association
Complimentary MCLE programs will be held at the CBA (unless otherwise noted). In the spirit of Pro Bono Week, attendees are expected to accept a pro bono case in any area of law within the next six months following the MCLE. Seminars include:

• Everything You've Wanted to Know About Representing People with Disabilities But Were Afraid to Ask (and how to get involved with pro bono)
  Monday, October 22, 2012; 3:00-5:00 p.m. (2 IL PR or MCLE Credit, subject to approval)
  Register Now.
  
  Speakers: Barry Taylor, Equip for Equality; more speakers added soon.
  This program will provide practical guidance about representing clients with disabilities on a wide range of topics. See full details under registration link.
  
  
• Using Legal Skills to Protect Voting Rights
  Wednesday, October 24, 2012; 9:00-11:00 a.m. (2 IL MCLE Credit)
  Register Now.
  
  Speakers: Marissa Liebling, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; and Terrence J. Dee, Kirkland & Ellis
  
  This program is designed to provide lawyers with all of the information they need to volunteer on election day through the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights’ nonpartisan Election Protection Program.  We will provide an overview of the essential election laws, including the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. See full details under registration link.
  
  
• Walk a Month in My Shoes
  Thursday, October 25, 2012; 2:00-5:00 p.m./St. Peter's in the Loop, 110 W. Madison Street (basement) (2.25 IL Professional Responsibility Credit, subject to approval)
  Register Now.
  
  Speaker:  Tiela Chalmers,  Tiela Chalmers Consulting
  
  This interactive training program is designed to help the legal community better understand the hardships faced by their low-income clients. As lawyers, we are trained to evaluate and address legal issues, but being an effective advocate requires us to understand our clients’ circumstances beyond the legal issues.  In this thought-provoking workshop for the Chicago legal community, each attendee will be assigned a life circumstance and try to make it through a simulated month, dealing with issues of transportation, child-care and unexpected events. This workshop offers the chance to better understand how to work effectively with low-income clients, and to consider critically the ways in which we deliver services.  If you have questions about this program, email Kelly Tautges.

Pro Bono Opportunities:

• Wills for Heroes
  Saturday, October 27, 2012 • 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. • Geneva Fire Department, 200 E. Side Dr., Geneva, IL
  
  Volunteers are needed to create complimentary wills, living wills, and other estate planning documents for local emergency first responders and their spouses or partners. There will be a brief volunteer training from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. and document preparation will take place from 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. To volunteer, click here to fill out RSVP survey. Since November 2001, the Wills for Heroes program has prepared over 6,000 estate-planning documents for first responders.

To learn more about pro bono opportunities, visit www.chicagobarfoundation.org, www.illinoisprobono.org or contact Kelly Tautges at 312-554-8356.