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Delivery of Legal Services Spotlight on pro bono

  • November 4, 2014 | Practice News
    In service of those who served us: Veterans legal assistance programs

    By Judge Barb Crowder, Edwardsville

    The Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee continues to expand its services to veterans in honor of their service to this country. Madison County has a large number of veterans, many of whom are in reduced circumstances or homeless. Madison County started the first Veterans’ Court in the State of Illinois to help veterans navigate the criminal justice by connecting them with volunteers and with social services to assist with the problems that led many of the veterans to criminal court. The Pro Bono committee has focused on legal advice for civil court problems being experienced by veterans and has provided legal advice to veterans near each Veterans Day. For 2014, the Third Circuit Pro Bono Committee and the Madison County Veterans Assistance Commission are excited to announce the creation of the Third Circuit Veterans Legal Assistance Project (VLAP). The circuit’s programs for veterans have grown since the pro bono committee started in 2011. It provides:

  • October 20, 2014 | Events | ISBA News
    Join the fun and participate in National Celebrate Pro Bono Week events throughout Illinois!

    By Michele Miller

    Join attorneys at events all over Illinois to recognize outstanding pro bono accomplishments and educate attorneys for future pro bono work during National Celebrate Pro Bono Week 2014.

    Prairie State Legal Services (PSLS) will present a live training session for the Volunteer Lawyer Courthouse Project at the Rock Island County Justice Center on Friday, October 24, 2014 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. This free session, which will also be webcast, will focus on training pro bono lawyers to provide legal representation to tenants facing eviction. Attorneys will receive 2.0 hours of MCLE credit for attending and are expected to volunteer for the project at least twice. The training will include an overview of basic landlord/tenant law, focusing on tenant rights and eviction defenses, a mock trial, as well as sample documents and relevant case law.  The Volunteer Lawyer Courthouse Project provides opportunities for volunteer attorneys, while working with PSLS, to screen clients, provide legal advice and, if necessary, negotiate a settlement with the landlord or represent the tenant at trial.
     

  • October 7, 2014 | People | ISBA News
    Peoria’s Muir a shining example for McAndrews Award

    By Michael T. O'Connor

    Robert Muir of Peoria was the 2014 recipient of the John C. McAndrews Award.  He exemplifies what this award stands for, and at 80 years of age, Attorney Muir will celebrate 50 years of practice this coming November.

  • December 3, 2013 | Practice News
    Veterans Legal Corps serves Illinois veterans

    By Emily Vock and Eric Bulman, Land of Lincoln Assistance Foundation, Champaign

    As our nation takes time to reflect on the sacrifices of veterans and celebrate their heroism, the legal community would be remiss if they did not stop to consider what we can do to give back to the men and women who have selflessly served our country.

  • November 5, 2013 | Practice News
    Spotlight on pro bono: Pro bono services for veterans

    By Judge Barb Crowder, Secretary, ISBA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services

    Adding a veterans subcommittee to the existing efforts of the Third Judicial Circuit’s Pro Bono Committee has allowed the committee to expand and target services specifically for the many veterans in the metro-east living in Madison and Bond County. The superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission has been a member of the Third Circuit Pro Bono Committee since its inception and concerns over the many homeless and needy veterans have been part of the committee’s focus. The veterans subcommittee is working on information packets for veterans and for attorneys to highlight needs and services. The purpose of this article is to highlight the expansion of pro bono efforts and to encourage other programs to consider outreach for veterans.

  • October 15, 2013 | Practice News
    National Pro Bono Week — Illinois attorneys celebrate and promote pro bono opportunities

    By Michele Miller

    Attorneys throughout Illinois will commemorate National Pro Bono week from Oct. 21-25, 2013 in a variety of ways -- from CLE opportunities to social events to a new online system for attorneys to find volunteer legal assignments. 

  • September 30, 2013 | Practice News
    Spotlight on pro bono: Older adults need legal help

    By Grant Nyhammer, ISBA Delivery of Legal Services Committee

    Most of us look forward to retirement as we envision ourselves having unlimited time and resources to do what we love most. Most of us, however, do not anticipate that we all become more vulnerable with the inevitable physical and mental decline in our abilities as we age. We also may not realize that retirement presents a bevy of new legal issues such as:

  • January 7, 2013 | Practice News
    Spotlight on pro bono: What’s in a name?

    By Michael G. Bergmann

    This is a question raised by Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, who argues "that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."  And so, Juliet says that the names of things do not matter, only what things are.  For certain, whether or not you call it a rose, that which we know as a rose will smell like a rose.  But is this always true?  I dare say it is not, with due respect to both Shakespeare and Juliet.

  • December 4, 2012 | Practice News
    Spotlight on pro bono: Collaborative law

    Concisely, Collaborative Law is a "no court" limited-scope representation model of dispute resolution. Although, like the mediation model of dispute resolution, Collaborative Law (a/k/a Collaborative Practice) had its origins in the area of family law, it now has application in areas as diverse as probate, business partnership dissolution, medical errors, labor and employment disputes. No matter the nature of the legal dispute the model is being used to resolve, the core component of the model does not vary.

  • November 12, 2012 | Practice News
    Spotlight on pro bono: Profiles in pro bono excellence

    By Mara Block