CARPLS June News You Can Use

Hotline Number 312-738-9200

June 2017

CARPLS ANNOUNCES NEW GRANT


Executive Director Al Schwartz announces CARPLS new grant for a statewide veterans hotline on 5/16

On May 16, 2017 at the Golden Gavel Celebration, Al Schwartz, Executive Director, announced that CARPLS will be the anchor for a new statewide legal aid hotline for veterans, active duty military, and their families. CARPLS currently serves approximately 1,500 veterans and active duty military members annually. This grant, under the auspices of the Illinois Access to Civil Justice Council, will aid in the creation of the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network, and will expand CARPLS' reach beyond Cook County and "we hope [the hotline] will become a national model for other legal aid programs across the country," notes Al Schwartz.

CARPLS received the grant the through the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF). Several studies of the legal needs of veterans and active duty members show that they are vulnerable to consumer fraud, family and housing law issues. In response to those needs, in 2015, the State of Illinois amended the Access to Justice Act to include funding for a statewide legal aid hotline and supportive network of legal services that is currently funded through a $2 surcharge to civil filing fees through 2020. Zach Zarnow, Program Director at IEJF, said, "CARPLS will play a critical role in the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network, and was entrusted with that responsibility by the Council because of their decades of expertise operating an extremely efficient and effective hotline."

CARPLS is currently in the development stages of initiating this important effort and looks forward to partnering with many organizations to serve the needs of our veterans. For those interested in learning more about the project, please contact CARPLS at [email protected]. More information on the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network is available here.

CARPLS SOARS INTO SUMMER


	In the spirit of all CARPLS Summer Superheroes

Summertime bustles with activity at CARPLS between hosting the Golden Gavel Celebration, our largest community event, to engaging the next cohort of attorneys from the Chicago Bar Foundation's Justice Entrepreneurs Project (JEP) to introducing our summer and PILI interns to CARPLS' work.

In mid-May, seven new lawyers at JEP began their six month stint of training on the CARPLS' hotline. The JEP is an incubator program designed to develop solo-practice attorneys that meet the needs of paying clients with modest means. Each lawyer spends one shift a week on the hotline and commits to developing their skills at an additional legal aid partner.

"Experience answering calls on the CARPLS Hotline is integral to the JEP experience. Attorneys give advice to dozens of clients in need of legal assistance. CARPLS software gives JEP lawyers firsthand experience in using technology to help people in need while at the same time offering an education on a range of substantive legal issues--from family law, to landlord tenant law, to consumer debt. The supervising attorneys are always ready and willing to offer additional insights as well," explains Trevor Clarke, Director of the JEP at The Chicago Bar Foundation.


CARPLS Intern Class of 2017

In addition, CARPLS hosts a group of interns from both college and law schools each summer. College students work on studies that show the impact of our services. Law students have an opportunity to counsel clients under the supervision of a CARPLS attorney.

"We look forward to the arrival of interns each summer. They bring so much enthusiasm into the office about our work. We appreciate the ongoing support of PILI, and the Chicago area law schools that provide stipends to support interns who are doing public interest work at CARPLS," Pat Wrona, Legal Director, shares.

Thank You for Your Support

CARPLS is truly grateful for our staff, supporters, clients, the legal and business community for making our mission of providing everyday justice for everyday people possible. We are pleased to share the annual report for fiscal year 2016 (July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016). For inquiries on how you can support CARPLS, contact Tanya Pietrkowski at 312.421.4014 or at [email protected].