Supporters of the Legal Aid Society raise nearly $274k for critical legal aid services
A virtual event for real justice
Thank you to all who joined the Legal Aid Society (LAS) for the Equal Access to Justice Award Luncheon! Together, we’ve raised nearly $274,000 for the critical legal services LAS provides for more than 13,000 clients across Chicagoland – so far!
Our community’s passion for equal justice drives our work to make justice a reality for all, and we know we can reach our goal, together. Empower LAS with a contribution here.
Your involvement directly benefits clients like Bianca, whose experience with LAS’s Domestic Violence team demonstrates the critical importance of legal aid services.
“I didn’t know where to go, what to do, who to talk to,” shared Bianca in a conversation with her attorney, Elizabeth Koziol. “You were my superwoman, you came in and saved the day. You were patient with me, you listened to everything I had to say, you understood what was going on. You said no, that’s not fair, you don’t deserve that.”
Hear from Bianca below – and if you’re as moved as we are by her openness and strength, consider sharing it to show why you support access to justice for all, regardless of ability to pay.
Bianca is one of more than 13,000 clients LAS will empower this year. The myriad issues our clients face are complex and include trauma, violence, elder abuse, human trafficking, immigration, consumer fraud, and gun violence. But they’re not facing these issues alone. With your support, LAS’s dedicated staff will continue to provide life-saving legal representation.
We are pleased to highlight pro bono support from our Scott C. Solberg Pro Bono Award honoree, Latham & Watkins, whose partnership on our Elder Help Desk, Power of Attorney Clinics, and U-Visa/VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) project, has been invaluable for LAS and the clients we serve.
As Latham & Watkins Associate Adam Rosenbloom shared in accepting the award, the firm’s staff have collectively worked more than 700 hours of pro bono legal services on behalf of LAS. “LAS staff and volunteers are always available to help us through tricky situations, and our attorneys are grateful for their constant support,” he shared.
Our William H. Avery Award honoree, Hubert H. Allen, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Abbott Laboratories, spoke about the work he and Abbott are accomplishing in both the pro bono space and the healthcare field. Learn more about Hubert Allen
In a conversation with LAS Board Member Kyle Harvey, Hubert also shared his passion for pro bono legal services. “It’s important because you’re affecting people,” he shared. “You are intervening at a point when somebody needs something they don’t have the ability to do themselves, nor do they have the ability to pay for it. Doing it is important. Doing it can change the trajectory of a person’s life.”
As we saw during this powerful program, LAS works year-round to turn equal justice into a reality for low-income Chicagoans. Your support transforms lives, and we thank you.
To empower clients like Bianca, donate to LAS at https://www.metrofamily.org/empowerLAS