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try. It is a national model, with Chicago’s
legal community leading by example. The
Campaign makes it possible for tens of
thousands of Chicagoans in need to get
crucial legal help each year. However, while
we should take pride in the Campaign’s
past success, the need to support our com-
munity is greater than ever, and we have
proven through the Campaign that we can
make a big impact in meeting this need.
While we all support a wide variety of
worthy causes, ensuring that all people
have equal access to the justice system is
distinctly important to us as trustees of
that system and our common cause as a
legal community. If we do not support this
cause, there is not another group of people
that will understand these issues or respond
in the same way.
700,000 low-income and disadvantaged
Chicagoans will need legal help over the
course of this year. Despite the dedicated
efforts of Chicago’s many outstanding pro
bono and legal aid attorneys, less than half
of those people will be able to get often-
critical legal help due to a shortage of pro
bono and legal aid resources. While we all
have important roles to play as individuals,
the Campaign has proven that we have the
power to significantly expand the capacity
of our pro bono and legal aid system when
the legal community comes together as one
around this issue. Specifically, donations to
the Campaign:
• Leverage significantly more money from
government and other foundations.
• Benefit from the CBF’s rigorous grants
process, which strategically allocates the
Campaign funds to maximize impact
and ensures accountability.
• Save hundreds of thousands of dollars in
other social services by enabling people
to resolve legal problems before they
spin out of control.
Campaign grants enable more than 30
pro bono and legal aid organizations to
provide legal services to tens of thousands
of low-income Chicagoans. From legal aid
hotlines and advice desks to large impact
litigation and advocacy work, these orga-
nizations provide a continuum of legal
services to people who most need help but
can’t afford it.
Investing in legal aid means investing
in our community, and through the Cam-
paign, it is an investment that produces
powerful returns.
CBA RECORD
21
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