News

CVLS attorneys Phil Mohr and Rob Zielinski partner with the DePaul University College of Law to teach a yearlong legal clinic focused on the direct representation of low-income family law clients. Phil and Rob had seven students this year, who handled nearly 30 divorce, custody, and adoption cases. Here are ...

Volunteer Negotiates Amicable Parenting Agreement When asked to handle a court appointment for a case involving eight children, Child Rep volunteer, Shenita Johnson, did not shy away from the task. CVLS was appointed as Child Representative when the children's father filed several motions requesting additional parenting time. There was no ...

CVLS was recently appointed to represent the best interests of a 13-year-old gender fluid child who lived with her father. Because the mother's parenting time had been restricted for years due to drug addiction and inappropriate behavior, when she first sought parenting time, the Court ordered her to attend reunification ...

Children Offered Chance at Pathway to Citizenship Lauren Isenhart and Tony Walner spent the better part of this year volunteering their time at CVLS in order to help low-income families achieve stability in the United States. Through the use of Special Immigrant Status (SIJS), undocumented children are able to take ...

Volunteer Advocates for Independence of Adult with Disability In late 2021, CVLS was appointed as Guardian ad Litem (GAL) for Ms. P., an adult with schizoaffective and bipolar disorders. Her mother had petitioned for guardianship, alleging that that Ms. P. was living in a shelter and could not make sound ...

Niece Saves Her Family's Home from Wrongful Foreclosure In 2015, Arnesia, the niece of Leroy, sought the help of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) to challenge the foreclosure filed by Wilmington Trust and to file a counterclaim for reformation of the note due to a mutual mistake in the ...

CVLS Volunteer Katie Pancewicz was appointed as Guardian ad Litem (GAL) for Adrienne in an adult guardianship matter in 2021. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Katie was determined to ensure that Adrienne's voice was heard by the Court. Over the course of two years, Katie met with ...

The Power of Pro Bono Legal Work In 2021, Catherine turned to CVLS for help probating her mother's estate, but the case was more complex than it first seemed. Her mother had died in 2019, leaving behind a home where Catherine was living, but since the house was not in ...

In August Judith contacted us regarding her flooded basement. Her insurance was refusing to pay for repairs after a flood. Judith and her husband Howard (pseudonyms) both in their 80s, had lived in their home for many decades. Howard had severe health issues, leaving Judith to manage the finances for ...

CVLS Empowers Mother to Advocate for Daughter with Down Syndrome. CVLS's partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago proved to be invaluable in assisting Maria in obtaining guardianship of her adult daughter Mila, who has Downs Syndrome. Maria was referred to CVLS for help and her case was ...