After 15 years of raising his stepdaughter as his own, Cruz turned to CVLS for help with adult adoption. DePaul law student Avery Cornett helped Cruz and his wife make their longtime father-daughter bond official.
15-Year-Long Relationship Made Permanent with CVLS Adoption Read More »
After filing for divorce, Diana turned to CVLS for help with custody, child support, and moving her case forward. With guidance from CVLS attorneys, DePaul law student Joie Egizio helped Diana finalize her divorce and secure support for her sons.
Fresh Filing or Pending Case, CVLS Offers Family Law Help at Every Level Read More »
A minor GAL is an attorney appointed by the court to represent a child’s best interests in a legal case. CVLS is looking for firms interested in hosting a future training for attorneys who want to serve in this important role. Contact Debi Martin at dmartin@cvls.org to learn more.
Interested in hosting a Guardian ad Litem for Minors training at your firm? Read More »
CVLS is seeking Spanish-speaking legal and non-lawyer volunteers to accompany unrepresented immigrants at deportation hearings, help them understand the proceedings, and communicate with the judge; no courtroom experience is required. With guidance from CVLS partners, volunteers prepare for the hearing, check in afterward, and help connect participants with needed services without representing them.
Christina found herself dealing with two of the most stressful events in one’s life: divorce and illness. She had separated from her husband and had recently been diagnosed with an advanced stage cancer. Relying entirely on disability payments, Christina sought help from CVLS to finalize her divorce and obtain spousal support to help pay for
DEPAUL LAW STUDENT FINALIZES DIVORCE FOR AILING CLIENT Read More »
How Advocacy and Rental Assistance Kept and 84-Year-Old Chicagoan Housed When “Barbara Jones” found a five-day eviction notice on her door, she was stunned. At 84 years old, she’d lived alone in her Chicago apartment for more than two decades and had always paid her rent. Sometimes she paid in installments because her Social Security
After Debbie’s husband passed away, she didn’t know how to handle his affairs. Debbie was more concerned with processing her grief than handling the legal and financial hurdles that accompany the death of a loved one. Thankfully, Debbie was able to connect with the Chinese American Service League (CASL) Clinic through CVLS. At the clinic,
CHINATOWN CLINIC ASSISTS WITH ESTATE PLANNING AT DIFFICULT TIME Read More »
To our amazing partners and volunteers, we thank and honor you. Every day, CVLS volunteers and partners prove what Chicago pro bono truly looks like in action. Whether serving in the courtroom, staffing a neighborhood legal clinic, mentoring newer volunteers, or taking on complex cases for clients with nowhere else to turn, these attorneys and
2026 Awardees Honorable Scott TzinbergCourt of Honor Read Bio Hon. Scott Tzinberg Court of Honor Award Presiding over Maywood’s Domestic Relations Court, the Honorable Scott Tzinberg has a courtroom with a large proportion of self-represented litigants. Patient, empathetic and kind, he has helped hundreds of these parties resolve their family law cases. He is equally
CVLS Board of Directors Holds Elections for New Members CVLS recently held elections for our Board of Directors, marking both a transition and an opportunity to welcome new leadership. We extend our sincere thanks to the following board members who have completed their second terms and were ineligible to run again: Kathleen Garvey, Eleni Katsoulis,