About Us

The Young Lawyers Division of the Illinois State Bar Association has, for a decade now, assisted in providing financial assistance to help establish and maintain child-friendly courthouse waiting rooms and other worthy children's projects in various counties throughout the State of Illinois. The YLD has been a leader in supporting child-friendly courthouse waiting rooms, a service that allows parents to drop off their children in a supervised environment while they attend to their courthouse business. Federal and state studies have shown that child-friendly waiting rooms serve as a "safe haven" to protect children from unnecessary exposure to proceedings and testimony concerning criminal, divorce and abuse cases. The YLD has also sponsored initiatives through such wonderful organizations as Jamal Place, DuCap and the Salvation Army, which cater to the needs of our disadvantaged youth and provide safe and nurturing environments for them to learn and grow.

In 1998, Frank DiVito, Franco Coladipietro (both ex-officio's of the YLD) and Scott M. Guetzow organized a small but concerted effort to raise some money and toys to help subsidize the efforts of the Young Lawyers Division. The initial Holiday Party for Children was at a small Irish Pub on Grand & Milwaukee that raised roughly $2,500 and a small handful of toys. Years later, the Holiday Party now plays host to hundreds of guests annually, has raised well over $120,000 and has collected countless toys that are donated to the Illinois State Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division.

Each year our event is hosted by our friends at Joe's Sports Bar on Weed Street. This year, the party will be held on December 5th, from 6 to 10 pm featuring an open bar with food and appetizers. The YLD puts together quite an evening for the requested $45 donation! Open Bar, Finger Foods, and music. In a very short time, the Holiday Party has developed quite a loyal following among both our loyal ISBA supporters and non-lawyers and the legacy that we have created has made the Holiday Party an annual tradition.

Our Holiday Party is supported each year, in true ISBA fashion, by many of the bar association leaders that reads like a "Who's Who" of the ISBA, including current officers, past presidents, Board of Governors and Assembly members. The ISBA's Executive Director Bob Craighead and Associate Director Dave Anderson have been true friends and supporters of the Holiday Party since it's inception and always take time from their busy schedules to either drop in to say hello or lend their support and encouragement to our efforts.

The success of the Holiday Party is due in no small part to the substantial and generous support of so many people. In addition to the Holiday Party ticket sales campaign, the YLD solicits donations and sponsorships ("Friends of the Children") from law firms, businesses and individuals in the amounts of $5000, $2500 and $1000. The success of this event, in no small part, is the result of so many people who, on an annual basis, support this event and the Children's Assistance Program and we thank you for your continuing support over the years!

This program is sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division Council to benefit the Illinois Bar Foundation/Children's Assistance Fund.

If you're 36 or under - or out of law school five years or fewer -
become a member of the Young Lawyer's Division automatically
when you join the ISBA!

Please feel free to print, post or distribute our holiday party flyer.