Pro Bono Seminar & Forum – Edwardsville

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The Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee provided a free full-day, two-part CLE program. The first part of the program covered an array of topics relevant to pro bono attorneys. The second part of the program brought together a cross-section of pro bono stakeholders from our legal community to discuss timely pro bono issues and share pro bono best practices.

Download notes from the 2015 Forum on Pro Bono in Edwardsville »

Agenda:

Part I: Pro Bono Seminar – 9:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

  • 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. – GALs in Probate, Adoption and Family Cases
    Kevin Babb, Attorney at Law, Edwardsville
    Deborah Crouse-Cobb, Attorney at Law, Collinsville
    Maureen Schuette, Attorney at Law, Edwardsville
  • 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.Confidentiality
    Rick Steiger, Attorney at Law, Edwardsville
  • 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Foreclosures and the Foreclosure Mediation Process
    Will Asa, Taliana, Buckley & Asa, Edwardsville
    Clarissa Gaff, Land of  Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Alton
  • 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.What Judges Want You to Know
    Honorable Phil Alfeld, Third Judicial Circuit, Edwardsville
    Honorable Ben Beyers, Third Judicial Circuit, Edwardsville
    Honorable Marty Mengarelli, Third Judicial Circuit, Edwardsville

Attendees will receive up to 3.0 hours of Illinois MCLE credit for this free program and advance registration is required. Please Note: This CLE training seminar is complimentary in exchange for one hour of pro bono volunteer services at the Legal Advice Clinic.

Download a flyer for the Pro Bono Seminar »

Part II: Illinois Forum on Pro Bono: Future of Pro Bono and How You Can Help – 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. with reception immediately following

The panel discussion will provide an attendee’s with an overview of the need for pro bono legal services, efforts to increase pro bono in the Third Judicial Circuit, and recent statewide efforts to expand access to justice. The discussion will detail specific aspects of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules of Professional Conduct relating to pro bono and access to justice. The panel will also explain the pro bono landscape in the Third Judicial Circuit and how attendees can help low-income and underrepresented individuals and families. Following the panel discussion, attendees will participate in small group discussions focused on identifying barriers and obstacles to pro bono, sharing best practices, and developing strategies to enhance and expand pro bono.

Presenters:

  • Honorable Barbara L. Crowder, Chair of the Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, Circuit Court of Madison County
  • Clarissa P. Gaff, Managing Attorney, Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation
  • Michael G. Bergmann, Executive Director, Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI)

Attendees will receive 2.0 hours of Illinois MCLE professional responsibility credit for this free section of the program and advance registration is required.

This program is part of PILI’s Forum on Pro Bono Series. Learn more about the Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee »