CBA Record

PRO BONOWEEK 2016– CARING, ONE PERSON AT A TIME

lent representation by a pair of pro bono attorneys from Jones Day. As a result of her name being cleared, she is able to continue being a dedicated parent to her foster son, and her foster son (who is the biological son of her cousin) is able to continue living with family, rather than being sent to live with non-relative strangers. She continues to advocate to make sure he receives the best medical care possible. The domestic violence survivor who fled her abuser? After DCFS’s finding of child neglect and having her children taken from her and placed with her abuser’s family, she appealed the findings and filed a federal civil

rights lawsuit with the help of the Family Defense Center and an outstanding team of pro bono attorneys from Latham & Wat- kins. Her children were returned, her case was reversed, and her name was cleared. She recently settled the federal lawsuit, which awarded compensation to her and her two children.The settlement also requires DCFS to change its practices around investigating parents who have fled domestic violence by first providing any needed assistance with accessing domestic violence shelters, food, clothing, and other essential items, before taking any action that would separate the parent from their children.

Many pro bono attorneys come back again and again to help these families because, frankly, it doesn’t get any better than the feeling that you are helping a family reunite or stay together. The child welfare system is in desperate need of reform and, often, the best way to attack the issues head on is to follow the theme of this year’s Pro Bono Week and start by “caring, one person at a time” about the plights of our families. Rachel O’Konis Ruttenberg is the Executive Director and Sara E. Gilloon is a Staff Attor- ney and the Pro Bono Program Coordinator for the Family Defense Center. If you are interested in getting involved by taking a pro bono case with the Center or by joining the Center’s Board of Directors or Young Professionals’ Board, please contact fdc@ familydefensecenter.org. Interested in learning how you can more ef- fectively work with your pro bono clients and improve client services and outcomes? Join us on Monday, October 24th from 3-5pm at the CBA for a multimedia panel presentation that will help legal volunteers better understand the life circumstances and day-to-day challenges of their clients who live in poverty. Two hours of PR CLE credit is anticipated. Registration can be found at www.chicagobar.org/probonoweek. Pro Bono CLE: Breaking Poverty Barriers to Equal Justice

Pro bono has been an important part of my practice since I began practicing in 1992. I have handled mortgage foreclosure and personal injury defense, housing, race and sex discrimination cases, breach of contract and consumer protection cases on a pro bono basis. I saw, very early on, that people are victimized by their inability to pay for legal

counsel, especially when they are unaware of their legal rights. It is rewarding to see how my help has made a real difference in their lives. Throughout my career, I have found ways to budget my time to take on pro bono cases. When I see the difference it makes, the extra time I spend is more than worth it.

Jerry Brown Siegel & Callahan P.C. Adjunct Professor, The John Marshall Law School

The Chicago Bar Association & The Chicago Bar Foundation 2016 Pro Bono Week Oct 24-28 www.chicagobar.org/probonoweek

32 OCTOBER 2016