COMPREHENSIVE APPLICATION (COVER SHEET) American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

Transcription

COMPREHENSIVE APPLICATION (COVER SHEET)
American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division
2010-2011 Awards of Achievement
1. Name of Affiliate: __Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association____________________
SPELL THE NAME AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR ON THE AWARD
2. Award Division (Check one code only for the Division in which you are competing. Figures are for the
young lawyer membership of your organization.)
State Affiliates:
IA:
__ IB:
IC:
ID:
8,000 or more
Between 3,000 and 8,000
3,000 or less
New affiliate (within the last 3 years)
Local Affiliates: X IIA: 2,000 or more
IIB: Between 800 and 2,000
IIC: 800 or less
IID: New affiliate (within the last 3 years)
National Affiliates (Federal Bar Association; Armed Forces):
3. Number of Young Lawyers in Your Affiliate:
Is your organization affiliated with a senior bar? X Yes
No
IF YES: Is membership in your organization automatic? X Yes
If a state organization, are you a
mandatory or
voluntary bar?
No
4. What is the overall budget for your affiliate? _____$6,000 discretionary project budget.
5. Chairperson/President of Affiliate:
A. Name
___Jill Eckert McCall, YLS Chair_________________________
SPELL THE NAME AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR ON THE AWARD
B. Address
___Chicago Bar Association/Attn: Jenni Bertolino, YLS Admin. Director_
__ 321 S. Plymouth Court, 7th Floor______________________
___Chicago, IL 60604_______________________________
(Please provide the address to which you would like your awards(s) mailed)
6. Application Prepared By:
A. Name
_____ Jill Eckert McCall, YLS Chair __
B. Address
_____c/o ABA-CLE, 321 N. Clark St., Suite 1900______________
_____Chicago, IL 60654_______________
C. Phone
______312-988-6215 or 312-493-9075__________________
7. Please indicate # of exhibits being submitted
_0___ Publication
__0__ Audiotape
___0_ Videotape or DVD
8. List of projects included in this Comprehensive Application.
Please list all new and significantly expanded projects first. This ID# will be used on both the Project
Information Form and your Exhibit Book tabs. If a videotape or audio tape accompanies a project, write the
word "videotape,” "audiotape" or “DVD” in parentheses immediately after the Descriptive Project Title.
Comprehensive Application (COVER SHEET Continued)
(PLEASE LIST ALL NEW OR SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED PROJECTS)
I.D.#
DESCRIPTIVE PROJECT TITLE
1. Relevancy (“Bigger than we are”) initiative (Pro Bono)
2. We are family project (Education)
3. Inclusion project (Diversity)
4. New Lawyer Project (Educational)
5. 40th Anniversary initiative (Commemorative event)
6. Minute with a Judge (Educational)
7. Same Sex Marriage (Diversity)
8. Basic Civil Procedure Video Teachlets for Pro Se Litigants (Educational)
CONTINUING PROJECTS
(PLEASE LIST UP TO BUT NOT MORE THAN FIVE OF YOUR BEST CONTINUING PROJECTS)
9. Committee Initiative (Educational)
10. Moot Court (Competition)
11. Health Initiative (Special Event)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Do not write in this area
Decision of Judges: ____1st Place
____2nd Place
____Special Recognition
____Certificate of Performance
INTRODUCTION- A short history of the organization
Forty years ago, the Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section (CBA YLS)
was created to encourage young lawyers to work together on projects for their
community and for their profession. What began as a small group of 50 young
lawyers hosting continuing legal education programs covering a handful of
substantive law areas has grown into a dynamic and diverse group of more than
9,000 lawyers and law student members. The YLS now boasts nearly 30 committees
and 50 special projects, which provide the legal community with ways to engage
and serve thousands of people in the community at large.
Specifically, in June 1971, the CBA bylaws provided that 20% of committee
membership was to be filled by lawyers under the age of 36. At that time,
there was a 20-person Young Lawyers Committee (YLC) within the existing
committee framework. This system worked well enough, but incoming CBA
President Milton H. Gray thought something more needed to be done to maintain
the interest of the younger members and accommodate the number of young
lawyers yearning for greater participation and leadership opportunities in CBA
activities.
Over time, Gray developed the idea of creating a Section in which all CBA
members under the age of 36 would automatically become members. The Section
would be under the jurisdiction of the Board of Managers, but would operate
semi-autonomously, with the authority to elect its own leaders and to develop
and operate its own committees, projects, and activities. The Section would
also have its own Administrative Director and its own budget provided by the
Board of Managers.
Gray discussed his ideas with the CBA Executive Committee and David Hilliard,
who was scheduled to be the next Chair of the existing YLC. Although the Board
of Managers failed to pass a similar proposal about 10 years earlier, the
proposal for the new Section passed unanimously on July 8, 1971.
Hilliard and the members of the YLC then began the task of structuring the new
Young YLS, which at once became one of the first and the largest organization
of young lawyers in any metropolitan area in the country.
Committees were formed and charged with: (1) Drafting rules for the Section
(2) Developing a committee system that would attract young lawyers and address
community and professional problems; (3) Planning a campaign to encourage
participation in Section activities; and (4) Forming liaisons with young
lawyer sections in other metropolitan areas to share experiences.
By August, letters describing the new Section and enclosing committee
descriptions and sign-up sheets were mailed to the more than 3,000 CBA members
automatically enrolled in the Section. Over 350 young lawyers responded by
volunteering to participate in Section committees. Committee Chairs were
selected and formed the first YLS Executive Committee to govern the Section.
By December, additional committees were created to meet growing professional
interest and the organization of the new Section was all but completed.
Purpose
The Young Lawyers Section was to provide leadership, programs, and facilities
to encourage young lawyers to communicate and work together on their own ideas
and programs for improving the community and the profession.
Objectives
1. To increase community awareness and involvement in the law.
2. To develop law related educational and training programs of service to the
community.
3. To develop and expand volunteer legal assistance programs.
4. To stimulate legal reform.
5. To develop professional and education programs of service to law students,
young lawyers, the organized bar, and the judiciary.
Goals
The goals included encouraging and maintaining active membership; suggesting
and developing committees and projects of interest to young lawyers and of
importance to the profession and the community; and building upon the
membership and projects of prior years.
Committees
Growing from 20 to 30 today, committees ensure that members keep current with
the law.
Seminars
YLS seminars continue to serve a vital role in the continuing legal education
of attorneys.
Service Projects
YLS objectives included community
and expansion of legal assistance
developed by the YLS in its early
sounded still echo in the work of
involvement in the law and the development
organizations. Many of the service projects
years continue, and many of the themes
the YLS today.
In Summary
In this, our 40th year, the YLS continues to provide many programs and projects
of service to the community and the legal profession. These accomplishments
fulfilled one initial goal of the YLS: providing a foundation on which the
future membership could build to serve our profession and our community.
Relevance (Bigger than we are) Initiative #1
ABA YLD Awards of Achievement Program Single Project/COMPREHENSIVE
Project Information Form
One form must be completed for each project included in a comprehensive application as well as for each
Single project application entry.
* Indicates required field.
* Name of YLD Affiliate
IL - Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers
* Division (Figures are for the young lawyer membership of your organization)
Local Affiliate: 2000 or more
If Comprehensive Application, Project Number
#2
* Type of Project
Pro Bono
* Degree of Change or Growth
New Project
* Project Description
(Please provide a brief description (750 words or less) of your project. Be sure to include a description of
the role(s) played by the young lawyer volunteers in the undertaking of this project; any products resulting
from the project; and in the case of continuing projects, if they have been expanded, explain how.)
This year, we wanted to increase our relevance to the community and go beyond our traditional annual pro
bono events, including our 5th Annual "Texas Hold 'Em" tournament (generated more than $22,000 for the
Chicago Bar Foundation and attracted 130 players) as well as our 17th Annual Pro Bono and Community
Service Fair (connected more than 350 lawyers with over 50 service project opportunities offered by the
YLS, the Chicago Bar Foundation and various legal aid affiliated organizations). Here are the programs we
added to enhance our relevancy and expand our reach:
 Brought the Wills for Heroes program to the second-largest metropolitan police force in the country
for the first time. We ran the effort monthly, including on USA Today’s Make a Difference Day
(MADD, Oct. 23, 2010) and National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD, April 16, 2011). We also
registered Wills for Heroes on www.onegooddeedchicago.com, which earned a couple of our leaders a
trip to the mayor’s office. The program gathered more than 675 volunteers throughout the year at the
Chicago Police Department Headquarters, generating 605 sets of estate planning documents (wills and
powers of attorney) for first responders and their spouses/domestic partners free of charge. As you
may remember, the Wills for Heroes Foundation developed the program shortly after September 11,
2001 and it was recently a national initiative of the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar
Association (ABA YLD). The CBA YLS was the first organization to implement the project in Illinois
years ago and had intermittently run it in the suburbs.
 Implemented the ABA Health Law Section and Commission on Women Breast Cancer Legal
Advocacy Workshop in Illinois for the first time. We executed this effort as part of our Make a
Difference Day weekend festivities. The run attracted 56 lawyers.
 Participated in Friends of the Parks' 23rd annual Earth Day Clean-Up. In honor of Earth Day, the
Environmental Committee coordinated CBA YLS involvement. The effort attracted approximately 40
people despite the timing of the event (it was cold and rainy Saturday!). Attendees included students
from local law schools and children of young lawyers. With rakes, wheelbarrows, and shovels, CBA
YLS members helped restore the ecological health at the Dunning-Read Conservation Area by
removing trash and weeds and repairing the walking trail.
 Collected money for the Japanese relief effort. After the devastating earthquake in Japan, the CBA
YLS Diversity Committee was quick to organize a fundraiser at a local restaurant, Midtown Kitchen
and Bar. The Committee helped to raise $1,000 for the American Red Cross relief fund for the victims
of the earthquake. Half of the dollars raised at the fundraiser came from an anonymous business


organization’s matching grant, which we learned about thanks to one Committee Chair’s work in
Japan. We confirmed that the Japanese Red Cross was an ideal organization to send the dollars after
emailing with our sister bar association in Tokyo. The young lawyers there said that they, too, were
raising funds to help those impacted by the disaster.
Implemented Serving Our Seniors. We helped create this year’s ABA YLD public service project in
cooperation with a number of organizations last year, and were able to implement it for the first time in
May. The effort attracted 38 volunteers and generated 35 sets of estate planning documents for the
elderly and police officers.
Created a Domestic Violence Awareness Week. At the suggestion of one of our officers, we dubbed
the week immediately after Law Week (which we also celebrate) as Domestic Violence Awareness
Week. The week, which ended on Mother’s Day, featured three events attended by 158 people.
- The first event was a discounted CLE on how to obtain orders of protection. The proceeds of the
CLE, $469.50, were donated to BetweenFriends, a domestic violence victim support network.
- The goal of the second event, a free CLE run by the National Immigrant Justice Center, was to
help abused spouses of United States citizens and residents self-petition for legal immigrant status
using the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
- The final event was the only ongoing component—a pizza party held at The House of the Good
Shepherd, a domestic violence shelter in Lakeview. Approximately 20 attorneys assisted young
children (mostly under 10-years-old) make gift bags for their mothers that included soaps and
lotions.
* Needs Assessment
(What was the reason for undertaking this project? e.g. was the project internally or externally motivated;
was there a need in the community for the project; was there a target audience?)
A bar association has to do three things to be successful: (1) prove its relevancy to current and prospective
members; (2) make those who want to participate feel welcome; and (3) get the lawyers who engage to
consider it home. When the CBA conducted focus group studies last year to determine what issues
impacted membership, we discovered that young lawyers felt the CBA was relevant only to their practice.
Thus, this year we sought a way to address relevancy at a broader level—one that tied directly into the
needs and interests of the next generation.
Specifically, Gen Y has a “concern for social welfare” as noted in a 2009 study by the Center for WorkLife Policy. Thus, we needed to find ways to make ourselves more relevant to the world we lived in—not
just the world we created within the Section. For the first time, we elevated our awareness to how we were
participating in efforts “bigger than we are” to ensure that current and future young lawyers from around
the city would see that we were also providing them an opportunity to help their community.
* Achievement of Goals / Impact
(What were the goals and objectives of this project?)
The goal was to show our members that we were supporting worthwhile, “bigger than we are” efforts in the
community at large. We were translating these big initiatives for our local young lawyers by
providing them with a way to participate locally. Not only were our goals met, but the following resulted
from our annual efforts:
 640 sets of estate planning documents for first responders and the elderly
 $23,500 for 3 charities
 Participation on two, nationally-significant service days
 Recognition for the YLS efforts in the national databases for MADD, NHDD, and the local database of
onegooddeedchicago.org
 Liberty Bell Awards, which recognize good deeds by non-lawyers, for two volunteers who were
nominated by the national Wills for Heroes foundation for their dedication to the CBA YLS Wills for
Heroes days
 Regular coverage by the local media of CBA YLS “bigger” efforts (example: a picture from the
Japanese American Red Cross Fundraiser and the Friends of the Parks' 23rd annual Earth Day CleanUp received front-page coverage in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin)
If goals were not met, why not?
Goals were met
* Will this be a recurring affiliate project?
Yes
If yes, will you make any revisions?
Although some of the programs may change, the concept of finding ways to contribute to the community at
large is one that will remain constant.
Degree of Participation by Members
* How many young lawyer members actually participated in this project? (Consider young lawyer
involvement in all the different stages of the project...planning, organization, implementation, and/or
presentation.) Total attendance at the events noted above, not including the annual Pro Bono Fair & Texas
Hold ‘Em Tournament, exceeded 1,000 people.
How many young lawyer leadership (officers, directors, board membership)? 11 Officers & Directors.
How many young lawyer committee members?
150
How many young lawyer general membership? Approximately 850 that weren’t Officers, Directors, or
Committee Members.
* Was the project conducted with the Senior Bar?
No
* What other groups or individuals participated and in what numbers?
 Wills for Heroes: Wills for Heroes Foundation was supportive of year-long Wills for Heroes
executions and 3 of the foundation leaders flew in at various points in the year to assist. The Chicago
Bar Foundation and its Young Professionals Board participated as well, sending approximately 10
folks during the year. Exelon, Jenner, and other law firms made donations of computer equipment and
the Foundation itself let us borrow computers and a printer. IKON provided signage.
 Breast Cancer: The American Bar Association provided one speaker and course materials. The Cancer
Legal Resource Center sent its Midwest Regional Director to tell folks how to volunteer on the referral
network.
 Earth Day: Friends of the Parks provided the materials for the event.
 Serving Our Seniors: Center for Disability and Elder Law (“CDEL”) helped with our local
implementation and sent approximately 5 staff members. The Chicago Bar Foundation provided us
with transportation and lunch from the bar building to the police station.
 Japanese Relief: A firm provided hors d’ oeuvres for the social.
* What do you think is the optimum amount of members needed to carry out this project?
The initiatives are flexible and segments can be carried out with as many folks as show up. Ideally, one or
two would lead each segment, coordinating the logistics.
Timeframe
* How much time did it take to organize the project?
Segment timeframes ranged from a week and a half for the Japanese fundraising effort to three months for
Make a Difference Day efforts.
* How much time did it take to recruit members for the project?
The leaders were recruited and confirmed prior to the start of the year. Specifically, the YLS structure has
pre-built leadership opportunities for Special Project Coordinators. We also relied on relevant committee
chairs (Diversity did the Red Cross fundraiser for Japan, Environmental Law Committee did the Earth Day
Cleanup)
* How much time did it take to carry out the project from beginning to end?
We carried out the project all year.
Budget
* What was the cost of this project excluding in-kind/donated services?
 Wills for Heroes: $2550; DV Week: Spring Fling was $260; No cost for Breast Cancer, Earth Day,
Japanese Relief, or Serving our Seniors.
* How was the project funded?
 Wills for Heroes: $1200 came from the YLS general budget and $1320 came from the Special Project
Budget; DV Week: The $260 came from the YLS special project budget
* How long did it take to raise the funds needed for this project?
Because the funds came from the general supplies budget and special project budget, which is set in
advance of each bar year, no special fundraising was required to cover the paid portion of the project.
Suggestions / Recommendations
* What suggestions/recommendations would you make to other young lawyer groups who would consider
undertaking a similar project?
Rethink your calendaring of ongoing efforts. Perhaps you can shift some of the things you already do so
you can have part of your current initiatives take place on/near a national day of [INSERT NAME HERE]
so it can count. And if you follow through, don’t forget to notify the media! .
If you have any questions, contact YLD Administrator, Bill Stanton at William.Stanton@americanbar.org
or 312-988-5611.
2. We are Family Project (Education)
#2
* Type of Project
Educational
New Project
In order to ensure that the CBA YLS focused on being a welcoming organization, committees were tasked
with implementing a program or event tied to the “We are Family” Theme. Their implementations are
noted below. In addition, the CBA YLS had three standalone events that allowed members to network with
kids in tow, which are also detailed below.
 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Incorporated the theme into its October meeting with the DePaul
Interfaith Family Mediation Project.
 Bankruptcy: Focused the June seminar on bankruptcy topics that arise in so-called "consumer"
bankruptcies often involving families.
 Career Advancement: Incorporated the theme into the April seminar entitled, “Balancing Love, Work,
the Law and Family: Learn Strategies from Attorneys to Find Balance.”
 Corporate Practice: Included law students in all committee meetings.
 Creative Arts: Combined with the CBA Media & Entertainment Committee and the YLS Intellectual
Property Committee to host committee meetings.
 Criminal Law: Incorporated the theme into its January meeting when Adam Sheppard spoke about
working in a family-run criminal law practice.
 Diversity: Held an adoption presentation in June.
 Education Law: Due to the nature of the Education Committee, the theme was embodied at every
meeting.
 Environmental Law: Gathered a group of volunteers and their families to participate in Friends of the
Parks Earth Day Clean-Up.
 Estate Planning: The October presentation of “Probate 101” and the January presentation on “Changes
to the IL Power of Attorney Act” highlighted the interrelations between the probate process and end of
life decisions with family dynamics – and how they often become a volatile mix.
 Family Law: Due to the nature of the Family Law Committee, the theme was embodied at every
meeting.
 Health Law: Supportive of the ABA Breast Cancer Advocacy Workshop arriving in Illinois for the
first time due to CBA YLS efforts.
 Health & Wellness: Encouraged family to attend and cheer on participants in Most Fit Lawyer
competition.

Immigration Law: Presented several topics on family-based immigration that discussed the law and its
affect on families were presented at meetings.
 Insurance Coverage: Arranged for a speaker to participate in the Breast Cancer Legal Advocacy
Workshop last October.
 Intellectual Property Law: Incorporated the theme into the November meeting that featured the topic
“Tips for Raising and Protecting Your Family (of Marks).” The presentation addressed when to start
raising a family (of marks), how to nurture and grow a family "trademark" tree and what to do to
resolve a "family" feud.
 Labor & Employment Law: Hosted a joint meeting with the YLS Education Law Committee on the
Federal Race to the Top program and its affect on the bargaining of union contracts.
 Law Explorers: Cultivated student interest in a life in the law.
 Law Student: Produced a law student road-show where members went to the various local law schools
to help promote the benefits of joining bar associations.
 Professional Responsibility: Committee was able to meet jointly with the CBA Attorney Malpractice
Committee for 3 meetings.
 Real Estate Law: The theme was celebrated by inviting other CBA and YLS committees to the
monthly meetings. The Committee also welcomed a father-daughter duo to speak on the new Powers
of Attorney Act and other new or newly proposed law affecting real estate.
 Social: Hosted an “Over the Hill Party” in April to celebrate the YLS turning 40 years old.
 Wills for Heroes: The 605 sets of estate planning documents created protect first responders and their
families.
 YLS Journal: Ensured that one issue of the big bar’s magazine, the CBA Record, was dedicated to our
theme. http://www.chicagobar.org/AM/NavigationMenu/YLS/Files/2011FebMarchCBARecord.pdf
Additional Implementations and Details:
 Roller Derby Social: For the first time, the CBA YLS partnered with the National LGBT Bar
Association to attend a Windy City Rollers Event. Approximately 30 people attended.
 Mrs. Claus: A Holiday Musical: This event attracted approximately 40 people, providing members an
opportunity to see the annual Chicago Kids Company program with their children.
 Adventure Nature Course Event: The CBA YLS hosted two rope course events, including one in June
near Father’s day for families. One participant from the May event said it provided an intimate way to
get to know other members and the price was extremely reasonable for the value of having a no-wait
experience in the ropes course. Approximately 5 attorneys participated in the original event.
* Needs Assessment
To fully succeed, a bar association has to do three things: (1) prove its relevance to current and prospective
members, (2) make those who want to participate feel welcome, and (3) get the lawyers who engage to
consider it home. When the big bar did focus group studies last bar year to determine what issues it had
with getting members to stay in our ranks, we discovered that young lawyers, and new bar admittees in
particular, felt that we were very relevant to their practice but did not feel that we welcomed them when
they came to events. For example, they came to committee meetings and people didn’t talk to them, they
participated in special events and weren’t introduced to organizational leaders, and no one explained to
them how to get involved. By implementing the “We are Family” initiative, we focused the year on making
people feel more a part of the CBA YLS family.
This bar year, we committed to doing more than just “leaving the door open” for new and prospective
members. We made an effort to greet first-timers when they came in and increased the regularity in which
we met so they had more opportunities to return (and we had something in particular to request of them
when we thanked them for coming). The Wills for Heroes Committee was particularly successful with this
effort, gaining quite a young lawyer following! The committee, which existed in the past but rarely met
(and never gathered in Chicago proper), mapped out its nine gathering dates over the summer, committed
to one location, and reminded participants when the next session would be when it thanked them for
coming. The committee went so far as to mentor a jobless law student to successfully open a solo estate
planning practice.
We also committed to making it easier to identify the “heads of household”–the people who have
experienced the inner workings of the association and may be best equipped to answer questions.
Specifically, we asked our officers and other leaders to wear stand-out name tags, and made special efforts
to ensure that one officer or director was onsite at gatherings to answer questions. We asked the leads of
each YLS event and committee meeting to introduce themselves and welcome attendees at the start of the
programs they executed. We requested that committee chairs in particular do something special to help
first-timers better integrate. The Real Estate Committee, for example, gathered 15 minutes before its
meetings to allow new attendees to mingle and get some personal attention before the program started.
We also provided regular group outings that allowed our members to enjoy the things Chicago has to offer
with their families in tow. Providing for these broader opportunities gave us a chance to show our
members–and their primary support systems–that we want to help them find ways to contribute to the
community at large, be comfortable when they’re with us, and facilitate their interests in spending time
with those they most deeply care about.
Finally, we sought out ways to ease our young lawyers into connections with the big bar. A number of our
committees made that happen by hosting joint meetings with big bar committees.
Goals were met
No
presentation.) Those who attended the events noted above, whether in person or via webinar, participated.
Our estimate is 4,253.
All of our leaders participated in these efforts.
2000
There was no particular committee dedicated to this effort—all committees were expected to implement the
theme in some fashion.
How many young lawyer general membership?
programming and events. (Estimated at 4,253)
2200 All of those who participated in the noted YLS
No
As mentioned, the CBA Record Editorial Board allowed us to use an entire edition of the magazine to share
the theme. Certain big bar committees also met jointly with some of our committees.
Every person leading should commit to the theme. It means more when people see it coming from the
group’s top leaders.
Timeframe
For some groups it was a few minutes—for others it was months. It was a simple request at the beginning
of the year that unfolded in many different ways, thanks to the creative ideas of the leadership.
The leaders were recruited and confirmed prior to the start of the year.
Budget
We spent approximately $150 on heavy-duty name tags for CBA YLS leadership (100 nametags). We
spent $180 for the gathering after the holiday musical party to cover the cost of cookies, drinks, party
supplies, crafts and rental space, and $50 on the ropes course events.
The nametags were funded by the YLS general supplies budget. The musical gathering and ropes course
events were funded out of the YLS special project budget.
Because the funds came from the general supplies budget and special project budget, which is set in
advance of each bar year, no special fundraising was required to cover the paid portion of the project.
This is an easy theme to implement—there are so many ways to interpret it! It’s a great way to get
everyone to work together at the start of the year and to think about the habits we have (i.e., talking only to
people we know at an event) that can be interrupted (i.e., finding one person at each event you go to that
you don’t know and introducing yourself) to make the bar an even greater group to be a part of (for both the
people we don’t know and ourselves)!
or 312-988-5611.
ABA YLD Awards of Achievement Program
Single Project/COMPREHENSIVE Project Information Form
* Type of Project
Diversity
New Project
The inclusion initiative had the CBA YLS going to extra lengths to collaborate with relevant bar
associations and law school groups to ensure that new and prospective members (who are more diverse
than our typical audience) were more aware of the CBA YLS and our offerings this year. Our efforts
included the following partnerships:
ABA YLD Touch 10,000:
 Bar Crawl: New bar admittees (NBAs) are in high demand for all bar associations. What originally
began as a discussion to avert a scheduling issue for them turned into a unique and fun way to get this
group connected to learning opportunities about bar involvement at a local and national level. Here’s
how it unfolded: the ABA YLD Touch 10,000 leadership, whose goal is to connect with at least 10,000
NBAs annually, happened to be in Chicago during the time of the annual CBA YLS Meet the
Committees Fair, which teaches new members about YLS committees and public and member service
projects in hopes that they’ll participate or lead future efforts. The Touch 10,000 folks really wanted
to connect with some Illinois NBAs before learning the area. To avoid a conflict, we adjusted our
timing to allow for “bar hopping.” All it took was a trolley to transport attendees from the Fair to the
ABA building across the downtown area so that both CBA YLS and ABA YLD leaders could achieve
their goals of warmly welcoming more than 150 attendees to the profession in person and providing
the NBAs with a glimpse of the network a bar association provides.
Local ABA-Accredited Law Schools:
 Law Student Roadshow. This year, the CBA YLS Law Student Committee coordinated an on-campus
showing at four ABA-Accredited Law Schools (Chicago-Kent, John Marshall, Loyola, and
Northwestern) to teach interested students about what bar associations offer members. Approximately
100 law students participated. CBA participation provided a natural increase in collaboration between
the membership staff and YLS volunteers.
 What Not to Wear Fashion Show. Back by popular demand, the YLS Law Student Committee
presented the now-annual What Not to Wear Fashion Show. This year, however, we expanded our
cosponsorship from one local law school to five! During the show, law students worked the catwalk as
over 125 audience members and a panel of commentators watched. The ensembles illustrated common
faux pas in the law student/attorney wardrobe you should avoid when interviewing, heading into the
office, or event when stepping in front of a judge. As each look strutted down the runway, the panel

explained the changes each model could make to ensure s/he is always dressed appropriately and
respectably.
Practice Tracks. Every year, the Chicago Area Law Schools gather to provide “Practice Tracks,” a
program to expose law students to experienced practitioners in various areas of law. For years, the
schools had been providing this education in the CBA building, only using our name as a cosponsor to
allow them to use the space without charge. This year, we actually sat down with the career service
office leads, who coordinate the program, and asked to play a more active role. The group reached out
to us to help it find speakers to cover particular areas of law. In the end, approximately 60 local
lawyers volunteered and hundreds of law students from John Marshall, Chicago-Kent, DePaul, Loyola,
and Northwestern Law School participated. We are now more openly speaking with the career offices
about the needs and interests of today’s law school students and graduates.
Specialty Bars:
 All-Bar Social. It had been years since we hosted a CBA YLS All-Bar Social, a special edition of our
monthly social. We updated it by asking both the state and national young lawyer groups to host with
us. The Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division agreed, and together we attracted ten
specialty bar association cosponsors and approximately 200 attendees. The high-energy event got
people from all of the bars mingling… and eventually dancing… with each other!
http://www.illinoislawyernow.com/2010/10/27/isba-young-lawyers-to-co-host-all-bar-social/
 Roller Derby Social. For the first time, the CBA YLS partnered with the National LGBT Bar
Association. Approximately 30 people attended the Windy City Rollers Event.
 Election Law Seminar. The YLS Diversity Committee cosponsored with the Asian American Bar
Association.
* Needs Assessment
The CBA YLS, like many organizations, continues to seek ways to reflect, in both its leadership and
membership ranks, the pool of prospective members in the profession.
Statistics show that the most diverse folks in our ranks are law students (who are full members of our
group) and new lawyers. Thus, reaching out to law schools directly is one way to make that connection, as
is working with other bar leaders who are directly targeting new lawyers. Specialty bar associations
continue to be the home of diverse lawyers at all stages—so we also tried to personally reach out more
regularly to them, as exposing their members to our offerings helps us diversify our membership and
leadership ranks at all levels.
Our goal was to find more ways to work more closely with law schools, associations interested in new bar
admittees, and minority bar associations. We were successful because we sought and executed ways to
integrate this goal into a number of our traditional activities. We even made special efforts to ensure that
new activities also contemplated the goal.
N/A
No
presentation.) Approximately 950
How many young lawyer leadership (officers, directors, board membership)? 18
300
630
No
Chicago Law Schools, The Illinois State Bar Young Lawyers Division; Advocates Society, Association of
Polish-American Attorneys, Appellate Lawyers Association, Asian American Bar Association, DuPage
Association of Women Lawyers, Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter, Hellenic Bar Association,
Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, Illinois Judges Association, Puerto Rican Bar Association, and
the National LGBT Bar. We guesstimate that at least 250 people participated because of their affiliations
with these groups.
At least one to ask the question, “Are we being as inclusive as we should be?” “Which groups can we ask
to formally join us?”
Timeframe
At least one month. When components of this project were presented at a monthly executive meeting, we
were able to ask the question about which outside groups would make sense and then ask who at the table
has a connection to them (i.e., We would ask who is an alumni of a particular law school and have that
person help us guide our request appropriately).
They were already part of our leadership, so no additional time.
Typical segments took at least a month from conception to execution. We made efforts all year long.
Budget
There were no additional costs to run this initiative as a whole. Here is the breakdown of the segments just
in case it is helpful: “Bar hopping”: No cost; Law Student Roadshow: $350; Fashion Show: $500; Practice
Tracks: No cost; All Bar Social: $3600; Roller Derby: No cost; Election Law Seminar: No cost.
There were no additional costs to run the inclusion initiative as a whole. Here is the breakdown of the
segments just in case it is helpful: “Bar hopping”: ABA funded the transportation; Law Student Roadshow:
$350 from the YLS Special Projects Budget for pizza at three law schools; Fashion Show: $125 from the
YLS Special Projects Budget. John Marshall Law School Student Bar Association added $250 and
Chicago-Kent Student Bar Association added $125; Practice Tracks: No cost; All Bar Social: $2000 from
the YLS Special Projects Budget. The ISBA YLD provided $1000; Monthly social sponsors committed
$600; Roller Derby: People bought their own tickets; Election Law Seminar: No cost.
We needed to provide 1-2 months of lead time to get cosponsors to contribute financially when necessary.
Review the projects you already do to determine whether they could be enhanced by partnering with an
outside organization.
* Type of Project
Educational
New Project
To reach out more effectively to new bar admittees (NBAs) who automatically become CBA YLS
members during their first six months in the profession, the CBA YLS worked to better align its efforts
with the big bar membership department. We not only adjusted the language of regular communications
with NBAs to focus more on becoming a member of the profession as opposed to a member of the CBA
(because NBAs automatically become members of many other bar associations during that time), we also
created two new ways to connect with NBAs:
 The first was a booklet entitled Practice Tips for Young Lawyers,
http://www.chicagobar.org/AM/NavigationMenu/YLS/Files/WeAreFamilyArticlesBook.pdf. The
booklet compiled ten articles, one from each officer of the CBA YLS, about how each officer tackled a
difficult “coming-of-age” issue. Originally published in a monthly column in the Chicago Daily Law
Bulletin, the daily newspaper for lawyers in the area, the officers thought repackaging and distributing
the articles to new bar admittees would add a personal welcome to the profession and the CBA. The
opportunity also presented a way for the CBA YLS to be seen as a “go-to” resource for the newest
members of the profession as they face challenges in their own careers. The booklet’s intent was to
give NBAs a sense of what was important to the officers during their early years, and how they can
address similar issues if they arise. As our chair articulated in the preface, “No matter the economic
climate, there is a way to get what you want from your life in the law. Our wish is that your
membership in our organization makes you feel more comfortable in whatever you want to
contemplate: balancing work with family issues and athletics, debating going solo or a federal
clerkship, transitioning from one workplace to another, or getting motivated to do pro bono work or
simply network. We wish you much success--no matter how you define it–in your new career. Please
contact us if there’s something the CBA YLS can do to help get you where you want to go.”
750 booklets were printed. They were distributed first to the big bar’s Board of Managers and then at
the YLS Annual Meeting. They were then distributed to the Fall 2010 NBAs and then electronically to
the Spring 2011 class, which is tracked by the big bar membership department.
 The second was the establishment of After Bar Exam Socials. We hosted socials immediately
following the end of the Illinois Bar Exam because there were already groups who had socials after the
swearing in ceremony, which is when NBAs become “official.” We helped fill a void because not
everyone had a place to go after the bar itself. These two intimate gatherings, which attracted
approximately 30 people, gave recent bar takers a chance to unwind and become more familiar with
the YLS. Further, they supplemented corresponding efforts of some of the local schools, providing a
place to go for those whose schools didn’t offer a separate gathering.
* Needs Assessment
consider it home. When the big bar did focus group studies last bar year to determine what issues it had
with getting members to stay in our ranks, we discovered that young lawyers, and new bar admittees in
particular, felt that we were very relevant to their practice but did not feel that we welcomed them when
they came to events. For example, they came to committee meetings and people didn’t talk to them, they
participated in special events and weren’t introduced to organizational leaders, and no one explained to
them how to get involved.
By introducing a NBA initiative, we were focusing on finding ways to help the most sensitive and volatile
group of our members (who at the start of our year aren’t official and by the end of the bar year could
abandon membership) not only see the value of the YLS quickly, but also feel welcomed by our leaders.
We believe this initiative conveyed that we care about our newest members, and was therefore successful.
It also allowed us to have more open conversations with the big bar membership department, so we now
have a more consistent message when we speak with NBAs.
Goals were met.
No
N/A
presentation.) 40.
How many young lawyer leadership (officers, directors, board membership)? 10
10
Our social committee led the After the Bar exam social.
500 received the booklet
No
N/A.
For the booklet, having each officer contribute one article kept it simple and easy. For the social, we just
needed one committee member contact the venue and arrange the logistics.
Timeframe
The article writing was arranged after a couple emails (one day). The social logistics each took about a
week to secure.
The leaders were recruited and confirmed prior to the start of the year. We added one new volunteer to
assist with the second After the Bar social because he attended the first social in the summer and was
willing to commit. We casually asked him at the first social to participate and he agreed.
All year. The articles were contemplated in summer of 2010. The last one was written in May and the
book was completed mid-May. The timing of the socials was shorter because it was based on the bar exam
(planning started in the summer and execution was in July and February).
Budget
We spent $800 to print 750 copies of the Practice Tips booklet; We spent $500 for each After the Bar
social.
Both were funded by the YLS general budget.
Because the funds came from the general budget, which is set in advance of each bar year, no special
fundraising was required to cover the paid portion of the project.
We got really great articles from our officers because we only asked them for one per person. We also
agreed in advance on topics so we weren’t covering things someone else had already covered. Talk to your
local schools about how they’re congratulating bar takers—even if you don’t host your own socials, you
can easily send representatives to their gatherings if they are open to it.
or 312-988-5611.
Single Project/COMPREHENSIVE
* Type of Project
Commemorative Events
New Project
Forty years ago, the YLS was created to encourage young lawyers to work together on projects for their
community and for their profession. What began as a small group of 50 young lawyers hosting continuing
legal education programs covering a handful of substantive law areas has grown into a dynamic and diverse
group of more than 9,000 lawyers and law student members. The YLS now boasts nearly 30 committees
and 50 special projects, which provide the legal community with ways to engage and serve thousands of
people in the community at large. The anniversary is special to us because it symbolizes the “coming of
age” of a group of lawyers who haven’t experienced becoming “over the hill”!
We celebrated:
 Via publications:
o Created an up-to-date historical chronicle for the Section, which drew information from our
25th Anniversary publication and a list of annual highlights that officers found online. We
supplemented with information from recent chairs and pictures in the big bar’s archive. A YLS
Journal Co-Editor and Assistant Editor took the lead on writing and editing the final product:
http://www.chicagobar.org/AM/NavigationMenu/YLS/Files/40thBook.pdf.
o Published an article written by our founding chair in the May issue of the YLS Journal (which
appears within the big bar’s magazine, the CBA Record).
o Dedicated the YLS Journal Chair’s Column in May to the topic (“Over the Hill”).
 Via special events:
o Invited all past YLS Chairs, Officers and Directors and other key members from the past 40
years to gather at a local club to reminisce and celebrate the milestone of the YLS reaching its
40th year. 27 of the 39 living YLS past chairs were recognized in person and founding chair
David C. Hilliard gave a champagne toast to the Section. In total, 100 people attended this
special event.
o Dedicated our monthly general YLS membership social in April to reminiscing about the past.
In total, 76 attended to toast to the section.
 Via resolution: Thanked two very special lawyers for their lifetime of service to the bar and to the
community by making them members in perpetuity of the Section by CBA YLS resolution: Retired
U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who was a very active CBA member before we had a
Section, and David Hilliard, founding chair of the CBA YLS. The resolutions seemed to be a touching
surprise to the recipients.
o Mr. Hilliard found out about his status as a member in perpetuity during the club event. His
wife jokingly mentioned that he may choose to sleep next to the signed resolution instead of
her!
o Justice Stevens received a copy of his signed resolution at the big bar’s annual Stevens
Awards dinner, where the CBA and the CBF select folks who exemplify Justice Stevens’
commitment to integrity and public service in the practice of law to honor (Retirement
allowed Justice Stevens to attend this year’s presentation and deliver the keynote speech). He
said he was particularly touched by the presentation because his brother was a member of the
YLS’ predecessor group, the Young Lawyers Committee. Justice Stevens said his brother is
the one who persuaded him to go to law school. After the program, one of the authors of
Justice Stevens’ biography told the YLS Chair that even after completing a book about Justice
Stevens’ life, he was unfamiliar with that tidbit!
* Needs Assessment
We wanted to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the CBA YLS because the milestone provided us with an
opportunity to ensure that our stakeholders understand why we exist and why we need their continued
support. Specifically, the opportunity allowed us to highlight our impact to our own folks as well as those
in the big bar (who provide us with resources to thrive). It allowed us to ensure that the lessons from our
past were not lost, reflect on our relevance in today’s culture, and contemplate our future. It also provided
an opportunity to generate goodwill with our past leaders.
We achieved the goals of reminding YLS current and future leaders, as well as the current leaders of the
big bar, why the CBA YLS exists through commentary from our founding chair at an in-person celebration
as well as through the distribution of our historical chronicle, which was emailed to our general
membership and printed for distribution at the Annual Meetings of the big bar and the YLS. General
members saw first-hand one reason why we exist -- to give them regular networking opportunities and to
make them feel more at home in the bar -- when they attended our 40th Anniversary Social.
We ensured lessons from our past weren’t lost by devising the comprehensive chronicle. We put the
highlights from past years together in a way that allows those celebrating future milestones the opportunity
to build on what we have instead of having to go back and dig for additional information.
We reflected on our relevance in today’s culture and contemplated our future through conversing at the
general membership social, reviewing our accomplishments through the years in the chronicle, and
listening to insights from our founding chair.
We generated goodwill with our past leaders by making two seasoned lawyers permanent on our rolls,
providing various platforms for our founding chair to speak (via a podium at a special event and via an
article in the Record and historical chronicle), and recognizing past chairs in person at events.
We not only achieved our goals but went about them in way that balanced fun and creativity with
professionalism and personal touch. The 40th Anniversary Initiative got those who were once active to
rekindle their interest in the YLS, and reaffirmed why it’s so important for a big bar to have a vibrant
young lawyers section available to the newest members of the profession.
Goals were met
No
presentation.) All (book was distributed to them)
How many young lawyer leadership (officers, directors, board membership)?
18
4000
5000
No
Sponsors of our monthly socials supported these efforts and three attended the social. Sponsors of the
leadership celebration included a personal donation from a past leader, who attended, the firm of our
founding chair, which sent ten members of the firm, and the firms of the big bar president and presidentelect, which sent three members of the firm.
Each segment of this initiative relied on a core group of up to three young lawyers to execute.
Timeframe
It took a few weeks to coordinate the book assignments and article topics. The exclusive event needed two
or three months for coordination and the traditional social needed a week to set up. It took a couple of days
to coordinate the wording of the resolution to present to the executive board for review.
All of the project leaders came from within our executive board, so no additional time.
We had planned the project at the year’s onset and executed the events in April and completed the book in
May. The social was on the calendar a few months in advance and the resolutions were written and passed
within a month.
Budget
We printed 500 copies of the 40th Book for $1,100; The social cost $600; The exclusive event cost
$16,500; The framed resolutions for the presentations cost $25.
Sponsorships for the events. The book and frames used YLS general budget funds.
We solicited sponsors for the exclusive event two-three months in advance. Our traditional social had
sponsors committed to ongoing efforts at the beginning of the bar year. The general budget was available to
us for the book and resolution frames.
Review what you have available about your history. You’ll make your future leaders’ lives easier by
organizing what you have today, so they can simply add to it when the next milestone comes along!
or 312-988-5611.
6. Minute with a Judge (Educational) ABA AOA – SERVICE TO THE BAR * Project Description (Please provide a brief description (750 words or less) of your project. Be sure to include a description of the role(s) played by the young lawyer volunteers in the undertaking of this project; any products resulting from the project; and in the case of continuing projects, if they have been expanded, explain how.) The CBA YLS decided to undergo a new initiative to help young lawyers acquaint themselves with judges: Minute with a Judge. An expansion of the YLS’s successful Lunch with a Judge program, which began in 2006 and continues today, Minute with a Judge is a program that provides short webcast interviews of individual judges who offer practice tips for attorneys and their particular do's and don'ts when it comes to appearing before them. The videos are only available to members of the CBA through the CBA website at http://www.minutewithajudge.com For attorneys who have never appeared in front of a particular judge before, Minute with a Judge will help them get a sense for how he or she operates. Currently there are seven videos available for viewing on the CBA website. All seven of the videos are of judges from the Northern District of Illinois, including Chief Judge James Holderman. Other judges are: District Judges Sharon Johnson Coleman and Rebecca Pallmeyer and Magistrate judges Michael Mason, Susan Cox, Sheila Finnegan and Presiding Magistrate Judge Sidney Schenkier. The Committee who developed this project was led by Mary Curry, a law clerk for the Honorable Susan E. Cox and current YLS Second Vice‐Chair. Mary and her Committee were responsible for reaching out to the various judges, scheduling and taping the judges, and editing the videos in post‐
production. Mary worked with the YLS executive committee to secure significant resources to make these videos possible. The project is set to continue into the 2011‐2012 bar year with the addition of more federal court judges and judges from the Illinois state courts. * Needs Assessment (What was the reason for undertaking this project? e.g. was the project internally or externally motivated; was there a need in the community for the project; was there a target audience?) The YLS undertook Minute with a Judge to help young lawyers and other members obtain information about local judges before having to appear before them. In today’s legal market, with many young lawyers hanging their own shingle, the bar association becomes an even bigger resource for attorneys to obtain information helpful to their practice. Even for those attorneys within larger firms, the videos provide yet another resource to learn about a judge. While the Northern District of Illinois website is comprehensive in providing general information about a particular Judge’s procedures, including standing orders, it does not offer a visual of the Judge nor does it provide an attorney with a perspective of what to expect when walking into a particular judge’s courtroom. The Minute with a Judge video provides all that and more. This program will be especially important as it expands to state court judges. In state court here in Illinois there is no way to access on‐line information about a particular judge and, depending on the judge, it can be even more difficult to access each judge’s standing order (which often requires a trip to the courtroom to pick up a hard copy of the judge’s rules). The opportunity to click on a link and get a brief overview of a particular state court judge’s practices will be an incredible improvement to the very limited information currently available on‐line at this time. * Achievement of Goals / Impact (What were the goals and objectives of this project?) For the initial launch of the program it was the goal of the YLS to have completed several videos of judges from the Northern District of Illinois and to make them available to members‐only on the CBA website. The larger goal of this project is to someday capture as many judges as possible, and continue to update the website as new judges come on the bench. But with hundreds of state court judges in Cook County alone, the YLS understands that this will be an ongoing project. As competition for obtaining members to join the CBA intensifies, Minute with a Judge provides yet another “members only” benefit to entice new and current members to remain. And for those attorneys new to the practice of law in Chicago, Minute with a Judge offers a unique insight into local judges before whom many of us have pending litigation matters. Attorneys, judges, and clients alike benefit from having prepared attorneys appear before their assigned judge. If goals were not met, why not? Goals were met. * Will this be a recurring affiliate project? Yes No If yes, will you make any revisions? As funding is available, additional videos will be developed. The program is designed to include additional federal court judges and state court judges from various divisions. Degree of Participation by Members * How many young lawyer members actually participated in this project? (Consider young lawyer involvement in all the different stages of the project...planning, organization, implementation, and/or presentation.) Thus far, the primary participants have been the committee implementing this project. However, now that the project has officially launched, the YLS expects its membership of over 9,000 lawyers to visit the website and benefit from its information. How many young lawyer leadership (officers, directors, board membership)? The leadership that has participated include the committee members themselves: the YLS Second Vice‐Chair, the CBA’s Law Practice Management & Technology Chair, and one of the YLS Special Project Officers. How many young lawyer committee members? The committee is comprised of three members. How many young lawyer general membership? As noted above, the committee members include: the YLS Second Vice‐Chair, the CBA’s Law Practice Management & Technology Chair, and one of the YLS Special Project Officers. * Was the project conducted with the Senior Bar? Yes No * What other groups or individuals participated and in what numbers? Judges from the Northern District of Illinois donated their time to appear for taping of the interviews. Video production and post‐production was generously provided at a discounted rate by committee member Dan Saavedra, who currently serves as the CBA’s Law Practice Management & Technology Chair and owns Betadac Media, which provides digital marketing and technology consulting for law firms. Mary Curry, the current YLS Second Vice Chair and Law Clerk to the Honorable Susan E. Cox, put the committee together and implemented the project. Yusuf Esat served as a YLS Special Projects Coordinator and assisted with the coordination of the project. * What do you think is the optimum amount of members needed to carry out this project? As noted above, the YLS currently has three committee members who each aide with the implementation of the program. Mary Curry is in charge of contacting and scheduling the judges for taping, Dan Saavedra is the videographer who provides the equipment and technical services, which includes the long process of editing each video down to short clips, and Yusuf Esat is the committee’s third member who assists Mary with conducting the actual interviews and scheduling. Moving forward, this project will always require someone with digital editing experience, or a professional videographer, and someone who can schedule and conduct interviews. Timeframe * How much time did it take to organize the project? Minute with a Judge has been a yearlong effort, and continues today. The Committee was responsible for seeking approval from the Chief Judge of the Northern District of Illinois to interview and tape judges. Once the Committee received general approval, it needed to seek out judges willing to be interviewed, taped and broadcasted via the CBA website (some judges may not be willing to participate due to security concerns). Scheduling interviews, taping, and post‐production all required significant time. Finally, a second round of approval was sought from the judges once the videos were finalized before they could be made available online. Budget considerations also made Minute with a Judge a yearlong effort due to the expense of lengthy production and post‐production of the videos. Committee member Dan Saavedra made the project possible by discounting a majority of the services he provided, and donating over 16 hours of editing and post‐production work, as well as the creation of the actual website. * How much time did it take to recruit members for the project? Recruitment was not necessary for the Committee, however, it took a few months to obtain approval from all the necessary judges as discussed above. * How much time did it take to carry out the project from beginning to end? Nine months to arrive where the project is today, with seven judges’ interviews completed and fully edited, and a professional website created to host the project. Budget * What was the cost of this project excluding in‐kind/donated services? The YLS covered Dan Saavedra’s expenses, totaling $950, which was 10 hours of work. (Dan donated at least $1,520 worth of work, or 16 hours of volunteer work). * How was the project funded? It was funded out of the YLS special project budget. * How long did it take to raise the funds needed for this project? Because the funds came from the special project budget, which is set in advance of each bar year, no special fundraising was required to cover the paid portion of the project. Suggestions / Recommendations * What suggestions/recommendations would you make to other young lawyer groups who would consider undertaking a similar project? Foremost, a budget or source of funding should be obtained to cover production and post‐production costs. A budget will also help shape the scope of the project (i.e. how many videos can we afford?). Once a budget is in place, a local courthouse should be selected as a starting point for the judges to be interviewed. To help membership services, and respect the privacy of judges who may not wish to have videos of themselves available to the public, the videos should be maintained as a members‐only benefit. 7. Same Sex Marriage (Diversity)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
(Please provide a brief description (250 words or less) of your project. Be sure to include a
description of the role(s) played by minority young lawyer volunteers in the planning and
implementation of this project.)
On June 8, 2010, the Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Diversity
Committee sponsored a seminar on the status of same sex marriage and civil unions in Illinois
and nationally. The two-hour seminar featured four panelists who spoke about issues relevant to
the subject. Our first speaker, Illinois State Representative Greg Harris, presented a background
of the history of same-sex marriage in Illinois. Specifically, Representative Harris, the highestranking openly gay elected official in the State, reviewed civil union and same-sex marriage
legislation that was then pending in the Illinois House and Senate. Representative Harris
continued, discussing the future of the legislation in Illinois. The second speaker, Robert D.
LoPrete of Reed Smith LLP, discussed estate planning issues in the context of civil unions and
same-sex marriage. Mr. LoPrete's presentation noted the potential impact of the pending
legislation in areas including property and inheritance rights and tax implications. Next,
Christopher Clark, Senior Staff Attorney for Midwest Regional Office of Lamda Legal, offered
an overview of same-sex marriage and civil unions in the larger context of its progress
nationally. Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of
the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through
impact litigation, education and public policy work. And finally, Andrew Koppelman, Professor
of Law and Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University, offered an analysis of the
legal arguments on both sides of the same-sex marriage/civil union debate. Following the
presentation, the panelists entertained questions from the audience.
363898v1
What was the reason for undertaking this project? (Include in your discussion the steps
taken to evaluate the need and to market this project to minority young lawyers to
encourage their participation.)
Our Committee conceived of the idea for the seminar after following current events in
Illinois and nationally on the subject of same-sex marriage. We considered the issue to be an
important one facing Illinois and a topic that would resonate with all lawyers and specifically
young lawyers. Therefore, we marketed our project to minority young lawyers as well as all
Chicago Bar Association members. Our decision to do so stemmed from our belief that our
subject was one of potential interest to lawyers of all ages and ethnicities. Our attendance at the
seminar reflected this belief, as lawyers from a broad range of ages and backgrounds were in
attendance.
How were the needs assessed among minorities? (i.e., Minority Bar Associations, Minority
Young Lawyers, etc.)
In preparing our presentation we conferred with other Chicago Bar Association Young
Lawyers Section Committees, both for ideas and to raise awareness of the seminar and its goals.
Many of the CBA YLS’ membership include minority members.
Achievement of Goals / Impact (What were the goals and objectives of this project?)
Our goal was an educational one, to inform people of the issues surrounding the subject
of marriage equality on both a local and national level. In doing so, we focused on four crucial
areas - the status of marriage equality in Illinois, the status of marriage equality nationally, the
impact of pending legislation and the legal arguments fueling both sides of the same-sex
marriage and civil union debate. We measured our impact in terms of the quality of our speakers
and attendance at the event. In that sense, we were thrilled with our results, as our presenters
were outstanding and our attendance (in-person and online) totaled over 100 participants,
including Illinois Speaker of the House, Michael J. Madigan. Coincidentally, within a year of our
-2-
presentation, Illinois legalized Civil Unions, speaking to the relevance and timeliness of the
event.
We met our goals.
What was the impact or result of the project among minority lawyers?
The presentation furthered awareness and education on the issues surrounding the subject
of marriage equality. Attorneys meeting the ABA’s definition of Goal III diversity by way of
being lesbian, gay, transgendered or bi-sexual had particular interest in the event, and all
minority attendees appreciated that the debate is not a foreign one on the civil rights front.
Attending minority attorneys also met those in the community, such as Representative Harris and
Mr. Clark, who are making active efforts to further the rights of minorities. In addition,
attendees were able to learn about the effect the civil union act would have from an estate
planning standpoint, the subject of which led to very substantive discussions between Mr.
LoPrete and the audience during the question and answer portion of the seminar. Additionally,
the presentation made by Professor Koppelman featured an example of how inter-racial couples
were historically not permitted to marry as a comparison to same-sex couple not being permitted
to marry. The example served to provide attendees with a historical perspective and context.
- Within your affiliate?
We received positive feedback from the Chicago Bar Association, which promoted our
project to both young lawyers and other CBA members. We believe the seminar helped to
progress the CBA community's understanding of the issues.
How did you measure this impact? (Be sure to include in your discussion the approximate
number and specific minorities reached by this project.)
-3-
Our aim was to present a balanced overview of the issues related to marriage equality in
Illinois and across the country and not to advocate a particular position, which again had
particular interest to lesbian, gay, transgendered and bi-sexual attorneys. We had over 100
people in attendance, including individuals who joined us via webcast, and in that regard we
were satisfied with our educational impact. CBA members continue to view our seminar using
the CBA online CLE library, which is housed within WestLegalEd and is therefore available to
Comment [A1]: Do you think that
allowing this program to run had any
impact on the result of legislation?
lawyers across the country.
What product resulted from this project? (e.g., pamphlet, brochure, video, etc.)
We produced printed information concerning our presenters' presentations. Additionally,
there is a video available of the entire seminar.
Based upon your evaluation of the project, what revisions, if any, do you plan to implement
in the future?
We were extremely happy with the seminar. Given, however, that civil unions have been
subsequently legalized in Illinois, the CBA Senior Bar organized a seminar last fall to discuss the
impact of the passing legislation. During the 2011-2012 Bar year, the Senior Bar and YLS
intend to jointly hold a seminar measuring the impact of this legislation and looking ahead to the
possibility of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Illinois.
5/50/230
-4-
8. Basic Civil Procedure Video Teachlets for Pro Se Litigants (Educational) ABA AOA – SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC * Project Description (Please provide a brief description (750 words or less) of your project. Be sure to include a description of the role(s) played by the young lawyer volunteers in the undertaking of this project; any products resulting from the project; and in the case of continuing projects, if they have been expanded, explain how.) In conjunction with Illinois Legal Aid Online and The Chicago Bar Foundation, the CBA YLS developed video teachlets on basic civil procedure concepts. The videos are available to pro se litigants and other members of the public at http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/teachlets. Members of the CBA YLS helped select topics and draft the scripts for the videos, which were then edited and produced by ILAO. The CBF generously provided funding for the project, which will continue as additional video teachlets are made. The following videos are available online: • Filing Court Papers for Free • Where to File a Civil Lawsuit • Notifying Other Parties that You Filed A Court Case • Filing an Appearance, Answer and Jury Demand The following videos are in the final scripting stages and will be produced and available online in the next 30‐60 days: • Filing a Complaint or Petition • How to Serve Someone with a Lawsuit • What Happens if Don’t Show Up in Court (Getting a Default Judgment) • Vacating a Default judgment • How to Request Something from the Court • What Is an Order and How Do I Create One • Who Can Provide Legal Information adv ice/representation? • Basic Things to Know about the Courtroom * Needs Assessment (What was the reason for undertaking this project? e.g. was the project internally or externally motivated; was there a need in the community for the project; was there a target audience?) ILAO offers free legal information and assistance primarily to individuals who cannot afford legal counsel. To this end, ILAO provides free legal information on its website, including answers to common questions, court forms, and instructions for resolving a pro se litigants’ situation. Although our community is fortunate to have many pro bono attorneys and private practice attorneys who offer their time for pro bono causes, not all of the needs of the low income population can be met by pro bono lawyers alone. More than 1.3 million Cook County residents are living at or near poverty, unable to pay for often critical legal help and there are only about 300 full‐time legal aid attorneys to help them. Due to the extreme gap between the number of pro bono attorneys and the needs of the community, many litigants are forced to handle their legal disputes alone, without lawyers. Accordingly, our primary target for this video project is pro se litigants who are unable to find pro bono attorneys to represent them, but need basic legal information about how to proceed. Although ILAO already offers written information on basic civil procedure concepts, ILAO, the CBF and the CBA YLS wanted to offer another medium for explaining these concepts, which would help those with limited literacy or people who respond better to visual or oral material (rather than written content). While it is true that those resourceful individuals who have access to a computer and are able to surf the internet are most likely able to read the text available, processing the information is another issue. Accordingly, it was the goal of the Committee to help pro se individuals gain a greater understanding of what lies ahead. To assist pro se litigants with practicing in the civil court system, and to offer another means of obtaining the information, ILAO, the CBF and CBA YLS joined forces to create videos to help explain relevant civil procedure concepts where pro bono attorneys may not be available to assist. The videos available online and those forthcoming were identified as those most relevant to pro se litigants and will be integrated into existing ILAO text content. Because we chose very basic concepts (like motion, service and venue), these videos will be hugely helpful for people without lawyers in any number of civil disputes. * Achievement of Goals / Impact (What were the goals and objectives of this project?) The goals of this project were met to the extreme satisfaction of the ILAO, the CBF and CBA YLS. The Committee who developed this Public Service project wanted to keep the videos short and succinct. Each video is approximately 2‐3 minutes long and provides a different medium for pro se litigants to obtain basic civil procedure concepts. The CBF’s mission is to help provide equal access to justice and helping pro se litigants access the information they need to seek that justice is what these videos provide. If goals were not met, why not? N/A * Will this be a recurring affiliate project? The CBA YLS and CBF YPB have been committed to producing video content for ILAO each year. Rather than focus on a specific area of law this year, the group decided to develop important building block materials on common civil procedure topics—which will be of enormous value for litigants in all kinds of legal disputes. If yes, will you make any revisions? The Project will continue as additional videos are produced and until the CBF grant is used. Degree of Participation by Members * How many young lawyer members actually participated in this project? (Consider young lawyer involvement in all the different stages of the project...planning, organization, implementation, and/or presentation.) How many young lawyer leadership (officers, directors, board membership)? 2 from the CBA YLS How many young lawyer committee members? How many young lawyer general membership? There were 8 individuals on the committee who developed the project. Five individuals are young lawyers, all of whom serve as an officer, director or board member of the CBF Young Professionals Board. The Committee also include a non‐attorney who sits on the CBF Young Professionals Board. Finally, a representative from the ILAO and CBF were also members of the committee. * Was the project conducted with the Senior Bar? No * What other groups or individuals participated and in what numbers? See Answer above. * What do you think is the optimum amount of members needed to carry out this project? We believe our committee size operated efficiently and achieved the goals we set out to meet. Because video production is an expensive endeavor, there are only so many scripts that need to me drafted. Each young lawyer member drafted 2‐3 scripts as well as provided input on identifying the concepts most useful to a pro se litigant and editing of the videos. According, we would suggest no more than 10 members to carry out this project. This number may increase if funding efforts are required prior to commencement of the project. Timeframe * How much time did it take to organize the project? Gathering funding for this Public Service Project was initiated by the CBF over a year ago as part of their mission to take a system‐wide approach to improving access to justice. Once the amount of funding was determined, members of the CBF Young Professionals Board and the CBA YLS began working with ILAO to identify the most relevant basic civil procedure issues for pro se litigants. Once the list was finalized, attorney committee members drafted the video teachlets. Non‐attorney volunteers helped edit the scripts with an eye towards simplifying the legal issues. Finally, ILAO finalized the scripted and worked with a video production company to produce and edit the videos. * How much time did it take to recruit members for the project? Once funding was available and an officer was chosen to lead the efforts, a project proposal was submitted for vote at the CBA’s monthly executive council meeting. Following approval, members of the CBA were encouraged to contact the committee chair to volunteer. Volunteers were also solicited from the CBF Young Professionals Board. The Committee received enough volunteers to begin the planning stages of the project within a matter of weeks. * How much time did it take to carry out the project from beginning to end? This Public Service Project was a year‐long commitment and will continue for years to come as additional topics are identified to benefit the pro se litigant. Budget * What was the cost of this project excluding in‐kind/donated services? $15,000. * How was the project funded? Funding was provided by the Chicago Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Bar Association. Funding for the CBF is raised in several ways, including by events organized by the CBA YLS and the CBF’s own Young Professionals Board. * How long did it take to raise the funds needed for this project? The funds are raised throughout the year‐round efforts of the CBF Young Professionals Board, which, as a conservative estimate, includes hundreds of hours of work. The YPB primarily raises funds through events such as Fat Tuesday and Casino Legale. The CBA YLS also helps raise money though their Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament. Suggestions / Recommendations * What suggestions/recommendations would you make to other young lawyer groups who would consider undertaking a similar project? Our legal community is fortunate to have an organization like ILAO to serve as the foundation of a Public Service Project like this. For those legal communities who do not have an established free legal reference website, it should be determined if the affiliate’s own website is the appropriate venue for offering these types of videos. Second, it is helpful to have the information available in text, in addition to video form. The next step is to determine the amount of funding available. Professional video production and editing is not cheap. An affiliate may want to seek a production company willing to partially donate their services. Finally, an affiliate should have several attorney and non‐
attorney volunteers helping draft the scripts – it often takes several rounds of editing to get a script ready for production. 9. Committee Initiative (Educational)
9. Committee Initiative (Educational)
* Type of Project
Educational
Ongoing Project
Ever since the CBA YLS started, committees have been a vital part of our existence. This year was truly
the year of the committee, as our focus was on ensuring that they provided local lawyers with more regular
opportunities to network, share information, learn, and ask questions.
Specifically, we charged committees with providing members a chance to meet up nine times during the
year, whether it be for a traditional meeting, a special event, or a seminar.
In order to facilitate this charge, most committees had not one but three chairs assigned. The thought was
that the three could divide the work equally and achieve that goal.
The experiment worked! Our committees were responsible this year for almost 200 gatherings!
* Needs Assessment
consider it home.
Committee engagement allows a bar to connect with members on a stronger level. Committee engagement
had the potential to get members comfortable enough to call the YLS home.
The goal was to provide members with a regular connection to the bar so they made the CBA their
permanent home.
We achieved this goal by tapping our committees to lead efforts to provide more gatherings during the
year. Committees worked very hard to answer that call—as did the directors and officers who oversee
them—ultimately providing 155 meetings, 23 of our 39 seminars, and a handful of special events. In total,
16 of the 22 traditional committees met at least nine times during the year, meeting the individual
committee goal. Six committees, however, met more often, allowing committees to say that as a group,
they achieved the overarching goal of providing almost 200 gatherings for committee members in total!
Goals were met
Yes
Committees will continue to exist. What we set as expectations, however, may change.
presentation.)
More than 8,000
3,000
4,000
All of those who participated in the noted YLS programming.
No
N/A
You need at least one person to lead each event.
Timeframe
It took a few weeks to get a meeting and seminar schedule together.
The leaders were recruited and confirmed prior to the start of the year as committee chairs.
Budget
No cost
* Type of Project
Competitions
Continued Project
The 29th annual CBA Moot Court Competition was held in November 2010 where 27 law student teams
competed, practicing their appellate advocacy skills by writing briefs on current legal issues and arguing
both sides of the issue before practicing attorneys and judges. Law schools from across the country
participated. More than 100 lawyers and judges volunteered their time to grading briefs and/or acting as
oral argument judges. Judge Patrice Ball-Reed, Judge Sheila Finnegan, Judge Marty Moltz, and Judge
Sidney Schenkier presided over the finals.
Registration information is noted here:
http://www.chicagobar.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Moot_Court_Competition
* Needs Assessment
Law students are looking for ways to learn more about what it’s like to be a lawyer. This contest provides
them with an opportunity to get “a real taste of courtroom practice.” Also, in a tough job market,
competing provides them with a way to distinguish themselves from other job candidates.
The goal was to provide law students an opportunity to practice the skills they will one day need in the
courtroom, which will allow them to be more prepared to enter the profession.
Goals were met
Yes
No, although we may do something to celebrate our 30th Anniversary of the competition.
presentation.) 100
1
20
80
No
27 Moot Court Societies participated from law schools around the country
100 is appropriate for a competition this size. At least two volunteers are needed to spearhead.
Timeframe
Two weeks to coordinate space and other logistics.
The leaders were recruited and confirmed prior to the start of the year.
6 months.
Budget
$3000
The CBA YLS general budget contributed $2500; LexisNexis contributed $500.
Because the funds came from the general budget, which is set in advance of each bar year, no special
fundraising was required to cover the paid portion of the project..
This kind of project is very labor-intensive. Our volunteers traditionally create the problem, but I believe
there are moot court problems available for sale if that is something holding you back.
or 312-988-5611.
* Type of Project
Special Events
Continued Project
The CBA YLS continues to seek ways to get members to be more physically active. We’ve provided two
ways on an ongoing basis:
 Hosting a Most Fit Lawyer Event. In March, 30 lawyers participated in the Most Fit Lawyer Health &
Fitness Expo and Competition at the Fitness Formula Club in Lincoln Park. Lawyers of all ages
changed out of their suits and into their workout gear to learn the basics of exercise, network with their
peers and compete in a variety of fitness tests that measured speed, strength, power, endurance and
agility. For more on the event and the related materials, visit: http://geomium.com/event/most-fitlawyer-health-and-fitness-expo-and-competition-17424/
 Gathering a team to run in Race Judicata. In July, the YLS once again fielded a team with the Illinois
Judges Association for the 5K fundraiser. The beneficiary of the race, Chicago Volunteer Legal
Services, secured the event’s proceeds to assist with its general operating costs. The CVLS aims to
ensure the law works for everyone, not just those who can afford it. Over 20 YLS members ran and
enjoyed a post-run reception and camaraderie.
* Needs Assessment
Because of the sedentary nature of our work and the long hours we as a profession must put in at our desks,
it is harder for us to prioritize physical activity. We need to find time to do these things in order to stay
healthy and avoid obesity and heart attacks.
The goal was to provide attorneys some options for peer networking that included physical activity.
Goals were met.
Yes
Downplay the YLS sponsorship in order to get a more diverse crowd age-wise (feedback from more
seasoned lawyers was that they assumed that when YLS hosts something it’s really only for young
lawyers). It’s primarily a marketing issue.
presentation.) 50
3
10
35
No
Illinois Judges Association met up with us at Race Judicata. The group had approximately 10 of their
members at the race.
Two or three.
Timeframe
Three weeks.
Three months.
Four months.
Budget
$500 for each. For the Most Fit event, $350 covered t-shirts and the balance covered food and drinks. For
Race Judicata, the $500 was for tent rental.
The CBA YLS special project budget contributed the full amounts.
Because the funds came from the YLS special budget, which is set in advance of each bar year, no special
fundraising was required to cover the paid portion of the project.
You don’t need to create your own activities to achieve this goal—you can simply form a group to
participate in something that already exists within your community (similar to the Race Judicata model).
or 312-988-5611.

COMPREHENSIVE APPLICATION (COVER SHEET) American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

Transcription

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