CARPLS news for September

Hotline Number 312-738-9200

September 2019

Are You Smarter Than A Lawyer? It's Trivia Time!

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

5:30-8:00 p.m.

Bar Louie, 333-335 N. Dearborn St., Chicago

Mulligans will be available!

Space is limited. Contact [email protected] or

call 312.421.4014 for sponsorships or questions.

We Love Our Volunteers!

Q&A with Wally Greenough,

CARPLS Volunteer

Wally is a Senior Partner with Schiff Hardin and became a CARPLS volunteer twice a week starting in February 2019. In one instance, Wally recently helped a client with her Section 8 moving papers as she was looking for safe, subsidized housing. Our clients greatly appreciate his thoughtful legal counsel and sense of humor.

"Wally puts a smile on everyone’s face when he’s here."

-Leslie Wallin, CARPLS Supervising Attorney and Volunteer Coordinator

What is your legal background?

I'm a trial lawyer. The last 15 years of my career, I defended car seat manufacturers and the like around the country.

Did you always know you were going to be a lawyer?

No. At Amherst, I thought, ‘What can I do with a poly sci degree? I wasn't smart enough for med school, so I went to law school. It was an easier time back then.

What was your first job out of law school?

Schiff Hardin LLP—I’ve been with the same law firm since I graduated from law school in 1975. I’ve greatly enjoyed my time at Schiff. I was kind of the class clown, and I had a lot of fun.

How did you come to volunteer at CARPLS?

I was in the process of retiring and I was looking for other things to do. One of my partners, Peter Rossiter, who is a longtime volunteer at CARPLS, suggested I try CARPLS and here I am.

What did you think of the prospect when he first brought it up?

Somewhere between excited and unsure. I had done some pro bono work before that I did not enjoy. Peter told me that at CARPLS you take the phone call, you help as best as you can, and the moment you hang up that’s it. I found that to be very attractive.

What has the experience been like?

Better than I expected. I was concerned that I wouldn’t know the areas of law at all, but CARPLS’ tutorials are very good and the computer system gives you all the information you need. So within a month or so I was comfortable doing the work.

I was also a little concerned when I started that I wouldn’t be sufficiently empathetic to the folks calling in just because that was not the kind of law practice I had. But every day that I’m here I leave knowing that I’ve made at least one person's life a bit better.

Wally is on the board for Northlight Theatre and the Zoning Board of Appeals of Winnetka, and loves to read. He is currently making his way through David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest .

Volunteer for CARPLS! Answer the Call!

As an attorney, you have the

skills that can significantly affect the lives of those in need while breaking down the barriers to justice people often face.

Our next training session is September 11 !

Email [email protected] or visit our volunteer page.

Client Success Story

"I was given a renewed hope

of getting my problem solved.

If you are lost, they are the people to call. I'm so glad I

called CARPLS."

-CARPLS client

Everyday Justice Blog: Consumer Fairness Act

Q&A with Ashlee Highland, CARPLS Supervising Attorney

On July 29, 2019, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law the Consumer Fairness Act (HB88) , which aims to combat some of the archaic and unfair consumer collection laws that disproportionately affect communities of color and women.

Read our full blog post here!

CARPLS Website Redesign Survey

We are in the beginning stages of discussing a website redesign and we need your feedback! If you are able to take two minutes to fill this out, it would be a great help. Thank you for your continued support!

Take our survey here.

Save the Date!

CARPLS Golden Gavel Celebration

May 20, 2020, 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Avenue

CARPLS Hotline: 312-738-9200 IL-AFLAN Hotline : 855-452-3526