Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS), Chicago’s pre-eminent pro bono civil legal aid provider, will be holding its Annual Award Ceremony from 5:30-7:15 p.m. Wednesday, November 10 at the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. The ceremony recognizes CVLS volunteers who throughout the year have donated their efforts and countless hours fighting for equal access to justice for low-income Chicago residents who otherwise would be left to fend for themselves in the daunting legal system. The ceremony provides an opportunity for CVLS staff and the Board of Directors to say thank you on behalf of the 17,500-plus Chicago residents whom these volunteers have selflessly defended.
Also recognized are three law firms that have been integral in the success of the new Circuit Court of Cook County Foreclosure Mediation Program. Codilis & Associates PC, Fisher and Shapiro LLC, and Pierce & Associates PC, three of Chicago’s largest plaintiff foreclosure law firms, have been professional, thoughtful and cooperative throughout the program’s development and implementation. Their efforts in helping to create this, streamlined alternative to the court system has helped provide equal access to justice to hundreds of low-income homeowners in Cook County this year and will help thousands more in years to come.
Additional distinguished service awards will honor the following volunteers:
Marta Almodovar, Jessica R. Blaemire, Rachel Blake, Julie A. Bland, Gerri A. Brauneis, Karen L. Carroll, Tony Cerda, J. Anthony Clark, Miles V. Cohen, Wan Jade Cooper, Ross B. Edwards, Jeffrey R. Esser, Kevin M. Fee, Patrick C. Gallagher, Jon Galli, Gerald A. Granada, Andrew J. Groesch, Myoka Kim Goodin, Kelly L. Guzman, Kathleen G Hayes, Christina L. Henk, Matthew S. Kriezelman, Eric D. Ledbetter, Jordan H. Lippman, Gilbert Y. Liss, Ashanti M. Henderson, Steven Mihajlovic, Anthony L. Nguyen, Donna L. Otis, Amy E. Palmer, Anna M. Panchenko, Elizabeth C. Rzymowski, Sharon L. Scott, Tejas N. Shah, Molshree A. Sharma, Tiffany S.Smith, Modupe A. Sobo, William R. Teitelbaum, Juan Vaglienty, Peter J. Walford, Kelly M. Warner, Daniel W. Werly, Joseph Wrobel, Kathy Zambrano
With more than 44 years of experience, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS), is the first and pre-eminent pro bono civil legal aid provider in Chicago. With its pool of over 2,000 volunteer attorneys, only CVLS can offer a wide range of totally free civil legal aid to the poor and working poor on an individual basis. Leading the way in litigation, family law and guardianship, it is recognized as the most comprehensive, most efficient and most cost-effective civil legal aid provider in Chicago.