CBA announces Law Week events

The Chicago Bar Association has announced three events to coincide with the American Bar Association's celebration of Law Day on May 1.

Call-a-Lawyer Program. The CBA's Law Week observances begin on Saturday, April 28, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, when lawyers with the CBA's Call-a-Lawyer Program will be available to take calls and offer brief legal advice at (312) 554-2001.

Citizens can call in and briefly explain their situation to an attorney who will then work to suggest self-help strategies or provide advice to help resolve their issues. If callers need further legal services, or have questions beyond the scope of the attorney’s practice area, they will be advised to contact the CBA Lawyer Referral Service for a referral to an attorney in the appropriate area of law.

The CBA’s Lawyer Referral Service has more than 200 prescreened, qualified lawyers experienced in almost every area of law that offer their services to the public. When contacting the LRS---also at (312) 554-2001---during normal business hours Monday through Friday, callers can be referred to attorneys practicing in numerous areas of law including:

• Domestic Relations, including divorce, custody, support and other family law matters);
• Personal Injury (including auto accidents, slip and falls, products liability, wrongful death, malpractice and other types of injury cases;
• Estate Planning, including will and trust drafting, probate and will contest;
• Real Estate, including buying or selling real estate, foreclosure defense and landlord/tenant issues; and
• Employment Law, including wrongful termination, harassment and discrimination.

Additionally, the CBA offers an after-hours On-Call service which provides callers access to attorneys in three different areas of law at any time after normal business hours. Citizens can reach a lawyer 24/7 for help with criminal defense, personal injury and family law matters by calling (312) 554-2001.

Meet the Judges Reception and Liberty Bell Award Presentation. The CBA Young Lawyers Section will host a "meet and greet" with judges from the Federal Court, the Illinois Appellate Court, and the Circuit Court of Cook County on Thursday, May 3, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the CBA.

The event is free for CBA members, but registration is required. Click here to reach the event registration page on the CBA website.

The YLS will present its Liberty Bell Award at the May 3 reception. The award is made to a non-lawyer who works within the legal system to advocate for the disadvantaged and help increase access to the justice system for citizens who need it most. Nominations for the award remain open until April 20. For more information about the award, or to nominate a deserving non-lawyer, click here.

Law Day Public Celebration. The CBA will conclude its celebration of Law Week by hosting a public celebration of Law Day on Friday, May 4, at noon in the Daley Center Plaza. The CBA's Barristers Big Band will provide musical entertainment, offering selections from the Big Band Era. Prominent members of the Chicago legal community will provide personal reflections at the ceremony.

The theme of this years CBA's Law Week programs is "Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom."

CBA President Judge Thomas R. Mulroy said this year’s theme is a good reminder that our system can only work if there is access to justice for all, regardless of income.

"We must all work to ensure access to justice and to freedom for the judiciary. The separation of powers and the checks and balances in the American system of justice has never been more important so as to preserve liberty and justice for everyone," said Mulroy. "The Chicago Bar Association is proud to be leading this conversation with an exciting week of events for legal professionals and the public."