Guiding Growing Businesses Small Business Legal Clinic
held on October 6, 2022 from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm.
Volunteer attorneys provided in-person, 20-minute consultations with small business owners
• Small business owners submitted questions related to General IP, labor & employment, and contracts or business structure
• ACC Chicago volunteers paired up with NGE attorneys to meet with the clients
More information
• Free parking at the GECDC location
• Small business clients were referred from the Greater Englewood Community Development Corporation, the Women’s Business Development Center, and Build Bronzeville
• Small business clients submitted their legal questions or issues (and conflicts information) in advance
• Attorneys were not expected to provide further legal assistance after the clinic
Support Volunteers Received
• Attorney Volunteer Orientation via Zoom
• The Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights staff attorneys were present at this clinic to assist and provide sample presentation materials and fact sheets to volunteers
• The Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights provided professional liability coverage for all participating ACC Chicago attorneys
Pro Bono Opportunity Resources
*The ACC does not endorse any particular pro bono or nonprofit organization or opportunity. Please contact the organization directly for more information. Practice Tip: Many organizations provide malpractice insurance for volunteers pursuant to the pro bono work.
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
- 45+ years with over 3,000 volunteer attorneys serving over 18,000 clients annually in various areas of legal need
- Contact website for current volunteer opportunities.
Illinois Legal Aid Online's Corporate Counsel Home Page
- Nationally recognized organization which develops technology and information to increase access to justice for Illinois residents
- Contact website or Kevin Zickterman
- 25 year history coordinating pro bono transactional legal assistance arm of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights for community-based nonprofit organizations and low/mod-income business entrepreneurs.
- For info on current opportunities, please contact espanglerraz@thelawproject.org or Executive Director Jody Adler.
Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
- 45+ years serving Chicago and suburbs in many facets of legal issues
- Contact website or LAF Coordinator Katherine Shank
Illinois Rules regarding
In-House Counsel handling pro bono matters
Pro Bono Reporting: Pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756(f), as a requirement of annual registration with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, each lawyer shall report the approximate amount of his or her pro bono legal service and the amount of qualified monetary contributions made during the preceding 12 months. The rule defines pro bono legal services as the delivery of legal services or the provision of training without charge or expectation of a fee, including:
(a) legal services rendered to a person of limited means;
(b) legal services to charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental or educational organizations in matters designed to address the needs of persons of limited means;
(c) legal services to charitable, religious, civic, or community organizations in matters in furtherance of their organizational purposes; and
(d) training intended to benefit legal service organizations or lawyers who provide pro bono services.
As the comments to Rule 756(f) underscore, the pro bono reporting requirement is "intended to serve as an annual reminder to the lawyers of Illinois that pro bono legal service is an integral part of a lawyer's professionalism."
http://www.iardc.org/rulesSCT.html#Rule 756
http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.dsp_content&contentID=5285
Multijurisdictional Practice: Per revised Rule 716(g), registered Illinois in-house counsel who are licensed in other states may provide pro bono legal services.
