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2022 Equal Access to Justice Award Luncheon Recognizes Pro Bono Excellence

Contact:

Bridget Hatch | 312.579.6541 | hatchb@metrofamily.org
Ann Pinkney | 312.986.4032 | pinkneya@metrofamily.org

 

2022 Equal Access to Justice Award Luncheon Recognizes Pro Bono Excellence

AbbVie and Discover Financial Services to be honored

CHICAGO – The Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services (LAS) is pleased to announce that AbbVie and Laura J. Schumacher, AbbVie’s Vice Chairman, External Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, will be honored for their support of pro bono law at the 2022 Equal Access to Justice Award Luncheon, taking place 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Thurs., October 13, 2022 at RPM Events in Chicago. A related networking reception will begin at 1 p.m.

Discover Financial Services’ Legal Department will receive the Scott C. Solberg Pro Bono Award for its pro bono support of LAS’ Elder Help Desk and Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) Justice Corps.

Laura J. Schumacher currently serves as AbbVie’s Vice Chairman of External Affairs, as Chief Legal Officer and as Corporate Secretary. Positioning AbbVie to be recognized by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the “Top 10 Workplaces for Giving Back” in America, Laura made giving back an integral part of AbbVie’s identity. She led the creation of the AbbVie Foundation, which empowers the underserved and matches employee donations to global nonprofits, and she inspired employees to give back generously to their communities. She also led the creation of an annual week of employee service as an initiative at the company’s headquarters, which has since expanded to 60 countries.

Discover Financial Services’ legal department has dedicated numerous hours to LAS’ pro bono programs, including the Elder Help Desk and CP4P community clinics. Discover has staffed a monthly shift at the Help Desk since December 2021, which has allowed LAS to open more appointments to the community. The CP4P community clinics are one of LAS’ newest endeavors, and Discover’s involvement has been critical to the successful launch of the program. The CP4P Justice Corps provides free, neighborhood-based civil legal services in support of organizations working in concert to reduce gun violence in Chicago. Through individualized legal services, the Corps empowers community members to move past legal issues and barriers preventing their success. These clinics assist with criminal records expungement and sealing and a range of issues including employment, housing, crime victim services, immigration and domestic violence matters.

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About the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services

The Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services (LAS) pioneered the concept of equal access to justice more than 135 years ago. LAS provides critical legal services in areas such as human trafficking, domestic violence, abuse and neglect of seniors and disabled adults, home foreclosure, consumer fraud and financial exploitation. www.laschicago.org