News
With 50 years of experience providing high quality, free legal services to low-income Chicagoans, CVLS and its volunteers are often recognized for their outstanding work.
News
CVLS’ RISING STAR
We Have Another Celebrity on Our Hands
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Janice Dantes, Attorney at Law |
On October 14, CVLS Junior Board member Janice Dantes will be inducted into the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame!
The annual Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame is a very prestigious award in the Filipino American community of Chicago and the Midwest. It recognizes outstanding individuals for demonstrating uncommon, innovative, and civic responsibility, and who have excelled and achieved so much for the encouragement and betterment of the Filipino American community.
CVLS LEADER NAMED FORTY UNDER 40
Board Member Receives Prestigious Honor
Motherway & Napleton injury attorney and CVLS board member Brion Doherty has been honored as one of the “Forty Under 40” attorneys by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
BUMBLING BUREAUCRACY
PILI Fellow Prevents Homelessness
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Rob Crawford, PILI Fellow |
CVLS relies heavily on law students and fellows throughout the year, but often their time at CVLS is short and they can’t see cases through to the end. But once in a while, the stars align and a graduate fellow accomplishes something great. This is the story of Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellow, Rob Crawford, and his client, Maria.
SIMPLE CASE TURNS COMPLEX
CVLS Volunteer Rises to the Challenge
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Jennifer Weed, CVLS Volunteer Attorney and Guardian ad Litem |
Lekisha came to CVLS’ Jane Addams Clinic because her landlord refused to return a security deposit. She had signed a standard lease, given a deposit of $1,100, and took meticulous care of her apartment with pictures to prove it. Lekisha had been out of her apartment for 30 days when she asked her landlord to return the security deposit. Her landlord refused and that’s when Lekisha contacted CVLS. Long-time volunteer and Clinic Chair, Jennifer Weed, was assigned to her case.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
High School Volunteer Helps Exterminate a Major Problem for One of Our Families
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Yudith G, Crysto Rey Jesuit High School Volunteer |
CVLS is lucky to have volunteers from all walks of life and with all levels of experience. One such volunteer is Yudith, a high school freshman who volunteers for us through Cristo Rey Jesuit High School’s Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). Cristo Rey Jesuit High School “provid[es] a Catholic, college preparatory education and professional work experience to students from Spanish speaking families with limited financial means.” Cristo Rey is able to do this because their students, like Yudith, spend five full days a month working at local firms and offices in entry-level positions that fund close to 70% of their education costs. While Yudith is at CVLS’s main office, she is able to aid staff and volunteers with a variety of tasks ranging from administrative errands to Spanish language translation and interpretation.
REPEAT SUCCESS
CVLS Supports a Family Not Once, But Twice
On occasion, CVLS is called upon to assist a family who has worked with the organization previously. This provides an opportunity to see the impact of CVLS’ work over a long period of time while helping a family face their current challenge. Candace is a 19 year-old young woman who has been diagnosed with autism and epilepsy. Candace relies heavily on the attention and assistance of her mother, Ronda, to meet her day-to-day needs. Ronda also cares for Candace’s older brother DeShawn. Several years ago CVLS was appointed GAL when Ronda filed and successfully obtained guardianship of DeShawn. CVLS was again appointed as GAL when Ronda asked to become Candace’s guardian, and Seyfarth Shaw Attorney, Kimberly Schwegel, took the case.
PUNISHING POVERTY
PILI Fellow Settles a Debt
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Heidi Hockberger, PILI Fellow Kirkland & Ellis LLP |
John was able to pay his debts, until he was in a car accident in 2012. He was found at fault and ended up owing $21,000 to the other driver’s insurance company. When he couldn’t pay the judgment, his license was suspended, which seriously limited his employment options.
RACE JUDICATA® 2017 AN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS
Chicago Comes out to Make It a Record Breaking Year
On September 15, Chicago came together to make Race Judicata® 2017 a huge success. Almost 5,400 registered participants, 250 law firms and legal organizations, and hundreds more partygoers showed their support for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services and continued this city’s long history of civic philanthropy through volunteerism. This event perfectly spotlighted the best this city has to offer and we look forward to another 24 years of celebrating pro bono with all of you.
NEW BLOOD
CVLS Welcomes Our New Child Rep Coordinator
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Marlyse Vieira, CVLS Child Rep Coordinator |
CVLS would like to introduce our new Child Representative Coordinator, Marlyse Vieira! Marlyse graduated from Princeton University this June with a degree in Politics and a minor in Spanish. She joins CVLS as part of the Princeton AlumniCorps P55 Fellowship Program, which facilitates the placement of recent graduates in civic service positions. Marlyse plans to attend law school after her time at CVLS, with hopes of pursuing a career in public interest law.
Searching for Ley'Gacy
One volunteer's career begins with a manhunt
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Ajay N. Sundar, Associate at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP |
At Skadden Arps, lawyers are free to take on pro bono assignments as though they were billable assignments. The fall months were slow, and my hours didn’t start counting until January. “You should take a GAL case,” my girlfriend suggested one November evening. Ingrid was right. CVLS’ GAL program was just about the only pro bono work that got me excited. There was something different about being a Guardian Ad Litem. Something real.