The Illinois State Bar Association and its charitable arm, the Illinois Bar Foundation, have launched a cooperative effort to help rebuild the legal infrastructure in the states devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The Association's 30,000 members, other lawyers and the public are encouraged to make financial contributions to the "Illinois Bar Foundation - Katrina Legal Relief Fund" for the purpose of assisting bar association efforts in the affected states.

"After the immediate task of rescue and human relief, it will be up to the legal community to ensure the continuation of a justice system that provides fair and compassionate relief for the shattered lives left in the wake of the storm," said Robert K. Downs, Chicago, president of the Illinois State Bar Association. "We must recognize that, ultimately, it will be the legal system and lawyers who will restore order out of chaos."

Donations received will be forwarded in their entirety to charitable foundations of the bar associations in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, and earmarked for hurricane relief efforts. Bar association foundations in those states are committed to improvements in the administration of justice.

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"We understand and applaud the fact that lawyers will be generous in their donations to the Red Cross and other human relief agencies," said Russell K. Scott, Belleville, president of the Illinois Bar Foundation. "In addition to supporting those needs, we recognize there will be a tremendous need for money to ensure a justice system is in place to deal with untold legal issues that will arise for hurricane victims."

In addition to using the online form donors can make contributions by check or credit card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express) in the following ways. By mail: Illinois Bar Foundation, 424 South 2nd Street, Springfield, IL 62701; by phone (credit card): 1-800-252-8908. Checks should be made out to: Illinois Bar Foundation - Katrina Legal Relief Fund.

Downs called on other state and local bar associations to similarly recognize that "we, as associations, are in a unique position to address the needs of our fellow organizations in the affected areas."

Contributions to the Illinois Bar Foundation are fully tax-deductible. The Foundation's purposes include support for the administration of justice. For other information about the Foundation, visit www.isba.org/ibf/.