Available at No Cost to Attorneys Who Agree to Take a Pro Bono Case in The Next Year**

Thousands of low-income litigants in Illinois cannot afford an attorney and free legal services organizations alone cannot meet this need. You can be the difference! We are proud to offer you this opportunity to develop your expertise and put your knowledge to work for people in need. Join us in Rockford on October 25th for this free program that’s designed to train practitioners in the basics of handling family law and consumer/debt collection cases. Topics include: assisting clients who need to establish or challenge parentage of a minor; establishing the initial child custody or visitation order; modifying, enforcing or establishing a child support order in Illinois; assisting clients with debt collection problems; the citation process for discovery of assets in Illinois; and ethical issues that can arise during the negotiation process on behalf of individuals. In exchange for the commitment to handle just one pro bono case, attendees receive free training and MCLE credit!

The seminar is presented by the ISBA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services and qualifies for 6.5 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.

By Sandra Crawford, ISBA Delivery of Legal Services Committee

Under the topic of “what are they doing now”, this month’s Delivery of Legal Services Committee newsletter catches up with past chair, E. Nicole Carrion, known to all as Nikki (Chair 2010-2011). Since terming-off this committee Nikki, in addition to opening her solo practice in Edwardsville, Illinois, has become of-counsel to Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers (CLAIM). Nikki is the downstate staff attorney for CLAIM responsible for visiting regional female correctional facilities where she provides advice, education, and legal services on all types of family law and domestic violence matters to incarcerated mothers, their children, and their children’s guardians. In her of-counsel role Nikki collaborates with other agencies and social service organizations to promote and improve the criminal justice system and the response to the issues faced by incarcerated mothers and their children. CLAIM’s mission is to provide legal and educational services which help maintain the bonds between imprisoned mothers and their children. In her work for CLAIM, Nikki advocates for policies and programs that benefit families of imprisoned mother and programs which will reduce future incarceration of women and girls. Additional information about CLAIM and the services it provides can be found at www.claim-il.org.

Some interesting facts which can be found on CLAIM’s website: 

The Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney of the Year for 2012, selected by Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance and the Champaign County Bar Association, is Bruno Law Offices of Urbana.  Ramona Sullivan, the Pro Bono Coordinator of Land of Lincoln and a member of the CCBA Board of Governors, presented the award at the CCBA Law Day Banquet on May 1, 2013.

Thomas Bruno and his sons, Anthony Bruno and Evan Bruno, were recognized for their outstanding delivery of pro bono legal services in 2012.                

By Michael G. Bergmann

This is a question raised by Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, who argues "that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."  And so, Juliet says that the names of things do not matter, only what things are.  For certain, whether or not you call it a rose, that which we know as a rose will smell like a rose.  But is this always true?  I dare say it is not, with due respect to both Shakespeare and Juliet.