LSC to Host ‘Take a Leap for Justice’ Symposium in Chicago to Mark 50th Year
Contact
Carl Rauscher
Director of Communications and Media Relations
rauscherc@lsc.gov
202-295-1615
CHICAGO, IL– Governor J.B. Pritzker and leaders of the Illinois legal, business and professional sports communities will join the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) as it celebrates its 50th anniversary year with a symposium in Chicago on Thursday, February 29. The “Take a Leap for Justice” event will focus on increasing access to justice for low-income Americans.
In addition to Governor Pritzker, speakers will include Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, American Bar Association President Mary Smith, MacArthur Foundation Board of Directors Chair Martha Minow, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Rebecca Pallmeyer and LSC Board Chairman John Levi. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin will present remarks for the event via video.
Executive Directors for LSC’s Illinois grantees—Legal Aid Chicago, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid and Prairie State Legal Services—will discuss their organizations’ continued efforts to close the justice gap for low-income Illinoisans. A panel of executives from Chicago’s sports organizations including the Cubs, White Sox, Bulls, Fire and Blackhawks will discuss their views on access to justice and fairness. Business leaders from Paladin and Mondelēz International will also join a panel discussion on the role of the corporate sector.
The largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans, LSC was established by Congress in 1974. To mark its historic 50th anniversary, LSC has embarked on an outreach campaign — “Protecting the Promise” of equal justice. LSC’s 2022 Justice Gap report found that low-income Americans received no or insufficient legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems.
A new webpage, www.lsc.gov/celebrate50, details the national events and sponsors associated with the 50th anniversary campaign. The site also features a multimedia timeline that recounts major events in LSC’s history, as well as an opportunity for supporters to sign a pledge and be kept up to date on matters significant to LSC and access to justice efforts.
The symposium is open to the public and will be held at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law on February 29 from 1:30-5:30 p.m. CST with a reception following the program. Those interested in attending should register. Email 50years@lsc.gov with any registration questions. The event will also be livestreamed on LSC's Facebook page.