The Chicago Bar Foundation

 Imagine you were facing a serious legal problem like mortgage fraud or a dispute involving custody of your children and were forced to navigate the legal system without a lawyer. It’s a very sobering thing to think about.

Unfortunately, this is all too often the case in the Chicago area today due to a long-term under investment in our pro bono and legal aid system, and it’s the more vulnerable members of our community who suffer the most as a result. This problem has us on the verge of a two- tiered system of justice, one for those who can afford it and one for the many thousands who can’t.

As the charitable arm of the Chicago Bar Association, The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF) rallies our legal community around this cause and works to ensure that everyone has access to justice, particularly the low-income and disadvantaged Chicagoans who most need the protections of our civil legal system. 

Supporting the CBF is a solid investment in justice. With one gift to the CBF, you advance the work of our community's many outstanding pro bono and legal aid organizations; you make it possible for dedicated lawyers to do this work; and you support the initiatives that make the courts and legal system more user-friendly and accessible for all.

Thanks to our many dedicated supporters, the CBF is making real strides towards closing the justice gap. But there is a lot more work that needs to be done, and as lawyers and guardians of our justice system it is our responsibility to take the lead. It won’t be easy, but by coming together we have the power to make our nation’s promise of equal access to justice a reality for everyone in our community.

CBF Supported Organizations:*