The latest CARPLS news for you

Hotline Number 312-738-9200

June 2018

Transforming Legal Aid

CARPLS is a little different from other legal aid organizations. Over the last two decades, CARPLS has combined our mission of everyday justice for everyday people with innovation to transform legal aid and serve the greatest number of people.

This year alone, CARPLS attorneys will achieve over 50,000 legal consultations for Chicago families. In addition, our IL-AFLAN attorneys will ensure 10,000 legal consultations to service members, veterans and their family members from across Illinois. Our newly implemented Senior Hotline is expected to advance more than 3,000 legal consultations to our senior clients over the next year.

To put those numbers in perspective, that’s more than 2-3 times the service capacity of any other legal aid provider in the country.

As we enter our 25th year of service, we believe we have a golden opportunity in the future to extend our reach to all members of our community who need legal assistance but are unable to afford it. We have the will, the delivery power, and the support to build our vision of the future and move one step closer towards the promise of equal justice for all.

Thank you to all whose belief in our work and whose contributions past and present have supported our mission. We look forward to building on the future of transformative legal aid.

Be Inspired

Everyday justice for everyday people isn't just a tagline--it means empowering our clients in tough circumstances to find real legal solutions. Check out our campaign video below and witness an inspirational connection as one IL veteran and hotline client meets with CARPLS lawyer Steve Prout in person for the first time.

2018 Golden Gavel Celebration

Tom Cole (left) presents the Golden Gavel Award to Peter Lieb (right)

From left to right: David B.H. Williams, Jennie Kratochvil, Priya Desai, and Jim Medek

Golden Gavel Award

Dinner Chair Thomas A. Cole (Senior Counsel & Chair Emeritus of the Executive Committee of Sidley Austin LLP) presented the Golden Gavel Award to Peter M. Lieb (Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Company Secretary of Aon) on May 24, 2018.

Over 400 members of Chicago's legal and business community came together at the event to support equal access to justice for all.

Peter was recognized for his leadership of Aon's Pro Bono Initiative, and he took the opportunity to also acknowledge his fellow Aon Global Law Department members. He is especially proud of his legal departments's advocacy work on behalf of immigrants and asylum seekers. “Peter and his team have dedicated thousands of hours of service already, and he is most deserving of this recognition,” says Tom Cole.

Volunteer Spirit Award

This year, CARPLS was pleased to debut an inaugural Volunteer Spirit Award for outstanding leadership on behalf of volunteers.

Golden Gavel Co-Chairs David B.H. Williams (CARPLS Board of Directors, Williams, Bax & Saltzman, P.C.) and Jim Medek (CARPLS Associate Board, Jump Trading) presented the award to Jennie Kratochvil and Priya Desai of Mayer Brown LLP for their phenomenal volunteer recruitment efforts. Thank you, Jennie and Priya!

CARPLS is proud of the more than 100 volunteers who have dedicated their service to our clients over the past year. If you are interested in using your lawyer skills to assist those in need, you can learn more about volunteering at CARPLS on our website .

Zach Fardon delivers the Keynote Address

Invest in CARPLS

"Apathy is the greatest evil." --Zach Fardon (Former US Attorney, Managing Partner & Head of Litigation of King & Spaudling LLP, and 2018 Golden Gavel Keynote Speaker.)

Former US Attorney Zach Fardon delivered a very moving keynote address on the impact we as individuals can make in our community. His inspirational call to action reminds us that you can make a real difference through your investment in CARPLS. Help us make a strong finish to this fiscal year by donating online here. Thank you for your support!

Greg Dellinger leads the Paddle Raise

Thank You!

Thank you to all who made the Golden Gavel Celebration on May 24 a HUGE success!

We raised over $530,000 this year--a new record for CARPLS! Eighty-five cents of every dollar raised will directly fund our legal aid services. This vital support will be put to good use to ensure that all people have access to our justice system.

Golden Gavel Sponsors

CARPLS would like to extend a special thank you to all of our Golden Gavel Celebration sponsors for a record-breaking year. Their generous participation ensures access to justice for thousands.