ISBA News

[caption id="attachment_5167" align="alignright" width="300" caption="IBF Board member Shawn Kasserman (right) of Chicago presents a $20,000 check to Lisa Colpoys, Illinois Legal Aid Online Executive Director."][/caption] The Illinois Bar Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce a $20,000 grant to Illinois Legal Aid Online, one of 32 grants awarded this year totaling $304,995.

[caption id="attachment_5039" align="alignright" width="300" caption="IBF Board Member Caesar Tabet of Chicago presents a $5,000 grant check to Brendan Short of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law in Chicago."][/caption] The Illinois Bar Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce a $5,000 grant to Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law in Chicago, one of 32 grants awarded in 2009 totaling $304,995. The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law champions economic opportunity through fair laws and policies so that people can move out of poverty permanently. Their attorneys and advocates engage in a wide range of activities, including policy development, impact litigation, community organizing, education, information sharing, and administrative, legislative and media advocacy. While the organization is national is scope, many of the programs it operates focus exclusively on Illinois and it translates those experiences to the national level. This grant specifically supports its Safe Homes Initiative. According to the US Department of Justice, women living in rental housing experience intimate partner violence at three times the rate of women who own their homes. Illinois' Safe Homes Act permits a victim of domestic violence who lives in rental housing to break her lease early or request an emergency lock change if she believes there is an imminent threat of domestic violence against herself or her family.

Times are tough. To paraphrase the great philosopher Pogo, the legal profession is confronted with insurmountable opportunities. Now is a great time for all ISBA members to take on some Pro Bono work. If you can't afford to donate the time, consider donating money instead. There is no better time to start because this is National Pro Bono Celebration Week. The ISBA Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services has a wonderful website where you can learn more - http://www.isba.org/probono/. I encourage you to help the Bar of Illinois do even more for the citizens of the state. Sincerely, John O'Brien ISBA President

[caption id="attachment_4902" align="alignright" width="292" caption="ISBA Board member and candidate for Third Vice President Paula Holderman, ISBA President John O'Brien and Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Jerold Solovy at the Board of Governors meeting on Oct. 16."][/caption] Jerold Solovy, a 54-year member of the ISBA and the Chairman of the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, appeared before the ISBA Board of Governors last week to thank the Board for its support of the historic preservation committee. Solovy is also the Chairman Emeritus of Chicago firm Jenner & Block. The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission was created by the Supreme Court Historic Preservation Act in 2007. Under the Act: "The Commission shall assist and advise the Court in regard to the acquisition, collection, documentation, preservation, cataloging, and related matters with respect to historic aspects of buildings, objects, artifacts, documents, and information, regardless of form, relating to the Illinois judiciary.