South Side Weekly recently completed a merger and received federal tax-exempt nonprofit status with the help of Chicago Lawyers’ Committee and Mayer Brown LLP.   South Side Weekly is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to producing local journalism that is for, by, and about the South Side of Chicago. In 2022, the Weekly merged with the Hyde Park Herald, the oldest community newspaper in Chicago. Chicago Lawyers’ Committee connected South Side Weekly with pro bono support from Mayer Brown LLP to help them with the merger and with obtaining tax-exempt status.  “In 2019, we were just t ..read more

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois held its ceremony for the 2023 Awards for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service. Of the 21 pro bono awards given, eight awards went to our Settlement Assistance Program volunteers!  We had the opportunity to interview Joseph (Joe) Dusek about his experience volunteering for the Settlement Assistance Program and how it feels to win a 2023 Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service Award.   Joe runs his own private practice and has been volunteering for the Settlement Assistance Program since 2021 ..read more

This year, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is excited to honor Justin Winerman at Skadden with the Outstanding Pro Bono Works Volunteer Award at our Power of Connection event on June 1st.   Justin represents clients around the world in all aspects of complex corporate restructurings both in and out of court and across a wide range of industries, including health care, financial services, energy and media. Justin has repeatedly been named to The Best Lawyers in America for his work in bankruptcy, insolvency, and reorganization law.   He first heard about Chicago ..read more

On May 16th, Beatriz Diaz-Pollack, Director of Education Equity, joined the PEER IL coalition in advocating for House Bill 3446, the Evidence Based Funding (EBF) Spending Transparency bill. Illinois ranks 45/50 for equitable school funding. Passing HB3446 will be an important tool to advance the fight for adequate and equitable school funding. The Illinois House Secondary Education Committee held a subject matter hearing on the bill where Beatriz provided testimony. Read Beatriz’ testimony here ..read more

Pictured left, Cliff Helm, Senior Counsel at Chicago Lawyers’ Committee. Pictured right, Erik Snapp of Dechert LLP. On May 9th, Cliff Helm, Senior Counsel of the Midwest Voting Rights Program joined Chicago Votes and the Unlock Civics Coalition in advocating for House Bill 39, Voting in Prison. This bill would restore voting rights to people incarcerated in Illinois prisons, post-conviction. The House Ethics & Elections Committee held a subject matter hearing on the bill where Cliff provided testimony. Read Cliff's testimony here ..read more

(Chicago – March 23, 2023) – Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights mourns the recent loss of legendary attorney Lowell E. Sachnoff, a founding member of the organization in 1969, and a life-long supporter of our work to promote racial equity and economic opportunity for all. Along with several other Chicago lawyers, Lowell helped establish the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee in 1969, in the aftermath of riots, violence, and mass arrests in response to Dr. King’s assassination, and political protest and police brutality at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. He went on to serve as chair ..read more

Everyone deserves a second chance.   For Mr. Jones*, who spent time in prison for mistakes made earlier in his life, that second chance came when he found a job through a staffing agency, and after a few months of hard work, was offered a permanent position with the company. Mr. Jones was thrilled to have found full-time employment and was looking forward to being a part of the team. However, on his first day as a permanent worker, Mr. Jones was fired. The company had discovered an old criminal conviction, which he had not noted in his original application. Though the conviction was ..read more

March 1, 2023: On Tuesday, voters in Chicago and select Illinois counties participated in municipal elections. They voted on offices and issues that have a significant effect on their lives at the local level, including for mayors, police district councils, alderpersons, and local referenda questions. Non-partisan Election Protection staff and volunteers from Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, national Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP answered voters’ calls to the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline and assisted voters in the field. In partnership wi ..read more

I am honored to join Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and to lead a remarkable organization with a legendary history to a bright future. My predecessor, Bonnie Allen, has left big shoes to fill after seven years of service. Bonnie is leaving the organization strongly positioned to continue building both on her outstanding tenure and on the institution’s powerful legacy.   I have long known and respected the work of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee, but the organization played a particularly large role in my own life in 2017, when my son Elliot entered the homestretch of his ..read more

Director of Voting Rights and Civic Empowerment Ami Gandhi was featured by the National Association of Women Lawyers for participating on a panel with other voting rights leaders titled “Preserving Democracy by Protecting the Vote: Election Laws & Voting Rights.” Read the article in the Women Lawyers Journal here ..read more