The latest news for you

Hotline Number 312-738-9200

September 4, 2018

CARPLS 25th Anniversary

10 Questions for Former CARPLS Executive Director Leslie Corbett

Leslie is the Executive Director of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation. She served as the CARPLS Executive Director from 1997-2003.

How did CARPLS get started?

CARPLS came to be through the determination and innovative thinking of Ruth Ann Schmitt and the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois. They revolutionized legal aid delivery in Illinois by ensuring that every lawyer had a computer. Using technology to actually deliver services was the next step in that journey.

What year did you join CARPLS at the helm, and why did you decide to do so?

I joined CARPLS as its second employee in 1993 and was promoted to Executive Director in 1997. I had just completed my Masters in Social Work with a concentration in management and policy. The leadership opportunities CARPLS afforded me changed my life for the better.

Share a favorite story from your time with CARPLS.

I remember everyone standing around current CARPLS Executive Director Al Schwartz’s cubicle as he took the very first hotline call.

What do you see as CARPLS’ role in increasing access to justice?

CARPLS is an equalizer and thoughtful innovator. CARPLS gives access to the legal system for people not traditionally served by other legal aid programs. They also approach their work scientifically – they evaluate what works and what doesn’t, and make changes based on that information. They build technological tools that allow them to provide services effectively and efficiently, but the human touch remains to make the services impactful.

What is something you learned at CARPLS that has stuck with you?

Having the right team in place is pivotal to innovation, progress and happiness. It allows the organization to take advantage of opportunities you may otherwise miss.

How have you seen technology impact the scope of CARPLS’ work and in legal aid more broadly?

I am tickled pink that the technology has finally caught up with the original vision of CARPLS. CARPLS’ partnership with the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation’s IL Armed Forces Legal Aid Network (IL-AFLAN) has demonstrated this well. Calls move seamlessly, and the information gathered serves as a true continuing legal needs study. A community of legal aid partners has been created which allows each one to serve at their highest and most impactful level.

What are your impressions looking at CARPLS now on its 25th anniversary?

I always knew it was the little engine that could. They have taken the original vision and run with it. They have expanded services, staffing models, volunteer programs and their donor base to become a full-fledged legal aid player. #CARPLSPROUD

What are you most proud of from your time with CARPLS?

I learned early in my career at CARPLS that a crisis is also an opportunity. This was especially true when CARPLS stepped in to take all the phone calls of another legal aid organization when they were on strike in the late 1990’s. There was still doubt in the community about our nontraditional approach to legal service delivery. CARPLS managed the call volume, didn’t destroy the phone system and earned the respect of the legal aid community.

How has CARPLS made a difference?

CARPLS inspired the legal aid hotline movement across the country. CARPLS proved that legal information and advice can be delivered effectively over the telephone, eliminating the need for clients to take a day off work and pay for child care and transportation to seek legal help.

What would you like to see happen in the next 25 years through CARPLS’ work and in the legal aid community in general?

I love the community and data sharing that is happening in the IEJF IL-AFLAN project. I would love to see this grow to include all of legal aid – organizations, populations and case types. The portal CARPLS has developed for the veteran's program enables a full view of services and the ability to tell the client story in a new and meaningful way.

This Month's Focus:

Why Survivors of Domestic Violence Need Access to Civil Legal Aid

Each month we shed light on a different topic related to access to justice and the role of legal aid.

Incidents of domestic violence--or more accurately called intimate partner violence--happen at an alarming rate, with an estimated 1.3 million women assaulted by their partners each year. When a survivor's safety is at risk, the criminal court system tries to address abusive relationships by holding perpetrators accountable. However, research shows that only a small portion of these incidents lead to criminal prosecutions, and for many survivors, calling the police may not be a safe or viable option.

To truly regain independence, many survivors must turn to the civil court system to rebuild their lives. If they succeed in escaping the household, they still have a range of civil legal issues to resolve and they will need an attorney’s help to successfully navigate them. The civil courts provide the vehicle for families to obtain protective orders, divorces, child support, health and food benefits, and safe housing.

“The need for legal counsel is particularly acute where families have experienced domestic violence,” says Margaret Duval, executive director of the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, CARPLS’ community partner in helping domestic violence survivors. “An attorney can help address the imbalance of power and educate the court about how violence has impacted a family.”

At CARPLS, we may see survivors at our Domestic Relations desk at the Daley Center or on the hotline a few times a month where we may be the first legal counsel who points out they are at risk and need additional domestic violence resources. For many, the process of regaining independence and safety can take years, and is extremely difficult without a lawyer.

Even in cases where there has been domestic violence, the civil court does not guarantee the right to an attorney for those unable to afford one. An important step to resolving the problems of domestic violence is to ensure that all survivors have access to legal assistance so they can obtain safety, achieve economic stability, and support themselves and their families.

It's TRIVIA Time on Wed, Nov 7th!

Are You Smarter Than a Lawyer?

Come find out on Wednesday, November 7!

The CARPLS Associate Board presents Trivia: Are You Smarter Than a Lawyer? at Bar Louie on Wednesday, November 7th! Every year, our own trivia writers carefully develop questions on a variety of topics. All are welcome to come and test their knowledge against some of our best legal minds. Brendan Greeley from the Steve Dahl Show and the Matt & Brendan podcast will be our MC for the evening.

Sponsorship Opportunities