DePaul Law News

Criminal Defense Panel Discusses How They Fight for Justice, Encourages Students to Get Involved

Shaye Loughlin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:40:18 -0600

(Pictured from left to right: Jessica Hunter, Molly Amour, Anthony Plaid, and Carol Brook)

This Wednesday, four criminal defense attorneys from the Chicago area visited DePaul to discuss how they stand up for justice everyday. The lunch panel, which was hosted by the Center for Public Interest Law, featured a variety of defense attorneys, including a private practitioner, an appellate attorney, a federal attorney, and a Cook County public defender. Each panelist took time to discuss how they came to work as a criminal defense lawyer, their motivations for their work, the highlights and challenges of their job, and why students should look into criminal defense as a possible career path.

Though every panelists’ background differed, the common thread among the four was a true desire to help others in their times of need, to provide a voice for the voiceless. For example, Anthony Plaid, a Cook County public defender, said that while he enjoys the thrill of being in a courtroom, the highlight of his job is his ability to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves. Likewise, Carol Brooks, an attorney with the Illinois Federal Defender Program, said that although she likes that her job allows her to challenge authority on a daily basis, she’s most proud of the fact that her job truly helps people who would otherwise stand no chance.

However, the panelists are quick to point out that being a criminal defense attorney isn’t always so rewarding. The job presents many challenges, both from an existential and fiscal point of view. Private practitioner, Molly Armour, says she’s just getting by “by the skin of [her] teeth.” However, she says that the benefits of being a private practitioner, such as being able to spend more time with clients, drastically outweigh the drawbacks. Jessica Hunter with the Office of the State Appellate Defender discussed how the job can be challenging from an emotional aspect. She said the job can be “emotionally heavy” because it often requires attorneys to work with people who have committed some pretty serious crimes. However, Jessica explains that she overcomes this burden by focusing on the need for procedural fairness. She also said that she transcends the innate urge to judge by really paying attention to each client’s story.

The panelists also encouraged students who are interested in criminal defense work to get involved now. Molly Armour said that students should pursue nontraditional ways to get involved, especially because funding for public defenders is less and less every year. Molly even extended an offer to students in the classroom who wish to learn more about criminal defense work, saying that anyone who is interested in criminal defense is welcome to follow her around. Finally, the panelists gave advice to students on how to prepare themselves for work in the criminal defense sector. First, the panelists all agreed that students should take as many criminal law oriented classes as possible. Second, the panelists suggested that students take internships and work in clinics with a criminal defense focus.

Needless to say, the panel was very well received. CPIL and all the students who attended are very appreciative of the time these busy purveyors of justice took to shed light on the important areas of criminal defense work.

DePaul Law Auction, February 3: Proceeds to benefit student summer stipends

DePaul University College of Law — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:07:32 -0600

Mark your calendars for the "Sweet 16" DePaul Law Auction on February 3 at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the live auction begins at 7:00 p.m.

The DePaul Law Auction -- a tradition at the College of Law -- is one way the law school supports DePaul’s mission of service to indigent individuals and disadvantaged communities. Auction proceeds fund Public Interest Law Association summer fellowships for students pursuing legal careers that serve these populations. The fellowships enable law students to accept unpaid internships with legal aid and public sector organizations, which, in turn, provide law students with unparalleled legal experience.

Today, with many local legal aid organizations losing funding, interns at these organizations are even more crucial to the community. A recent ABC 7 News I-Team Report discusses how these budget cuts are affecting Chicago-area legal aid organizations and their clients.

This year’s auction has been refocused to include all alumni, the larger DePaul community, and many big-ticket items to bid on -- Bulls tickets, a deluxe stay at the Talbott Hotel, a behind the scenes curator's tour at the Art Institute, to name a few. Join us for great company and a delicious dessert-themed menu!

For more information, to donate and to RSVP, please visit law.depaul.edu/auction.

The Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative Hosts Spring Service Activities Meeting to Educate Students about Service At DePaul

Shaye Loughlin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:02:44 -0600

(PBCSI Student Site Coordinators, PBCSI Director Cheryl Price, and Child and Family Law Fellows make presentations about service opportunities at the Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative's Spring 2012 Service Activities Meeting)

DePaul’s Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative (“PBCSI”) held its Spring Service Activities Meeting on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at the College of Law. The goal of the Spring Service Activities Meeting was to educate students about PBCSI and the various volunteer opportunities it offers. PBCSI is run by an attorney Director and works to facilitate pro bono and community service work among DePaul’s law students, faculty, and staff. PBCSI gives out service awards at an annual reception to those students who complete at least 50 hours of volunteer work while at DePaul.

PBCSI’s Spring Service Meeting began with information about PBCSI’s six partner organizations, which include Cabrini Green Legal Aid, The Center for Disability & Elder Law, Lawyers in the Classroom, The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights’ New Americans Initiative, A.N. Pritzker Elementary School, and DePaul Student Legal Services. PBCSI’s Student Site Coordinators, David Zwaska (Class of 2012) and Rebecca Birger (Class of 2013), gave presentations about these sites and answered students’ questions about volunteering. Student Site Coordinator, Chastidy Burns (Class of 2012), informed students about PBCSI’s Spring 2012 Donate-A-Day events, which are discrete, day-long volunteer opportunities that do not require any sort of long-term time commitment. PBCSI’s next Donate-A-Day is co-sponsored by UMIN in the Loop and is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2012 with Ladder Up’s Tax Assistance Project. Loop students and alumni will prepare tax returns for low-income individuals to increase the amount of their refunds. PBCSI’s February Donate-A-Day is being planned in conjunction with DePaul’s Veterans Assistance Service Organization and will take place on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Law students will assist with the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center’s Valentine’s Day Concert for Veterans. Law students will put on a mock trial and mock law school lesson for Pritzker Elementary 6th graders for PBCSI’s March Donate-A-Day.

Representatives from DePaul’s Child & Family Law Center and Asylum & Immigration Law Clinic were also at the meeting. They provided detailed information about their upcoming service opportunities, including, among other things, the Domestic Violence Courthouse Project and the U-Visa Project. Students also learned about pro bono opportunities with the Chicago Law & Education Foundation, Illinois Legal Aid Online, Catholic Charities, and Bennu Legal Services.

PBCSI’s Spring Service Activities Meeting was a great success. Approximately 50 students attended the meeting and all were enthusiastic and excited to learn more about PBCSI and volunteering.

For more information about PBCSI, please contact PBCSI Director, Cheryl Price at cprice13@depaul.edu.

Center for Public Interest Law publishes winter issue of newsletter

Shaye Loughlin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:15:38 -0600

The Center for Public Interest Law recently published the winter 2012 issue of its newsletter, The Advocate. Read about protest art in Chiapas, increasing access to justice through technology, the recent National Lawyers Guild Convention, the search for justice for Reynolds Wintersmith, and more. Click here to view or download the newsletter.

Alumnus Dennis Kass provides free legal advice to Chicago Public Schools students, families

DePaul University College of Law — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:48:47 -0600

DePaul law alumnus Dennis Kass (JD '06), a history teacher at a Little Village Lawndale High School, puts his law degree to use in a unique way -- offering free legal advice to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students and families.

In 2010, Kass started the Chicago Law and Education Foundation as a way to bring legal services to low-income communities and legal educational initiatives to CPS. He estimates that the foundation has helped thousands of families through a free clinic that operates monthly at nine city high schools.

The foundation partners with the DePaul's Asylum/Immigration Law Clinic and Center for Public Interest Law, among other legal aid and community service organizations.

Read more about Kass and the foundation's work in The New York Times article "A free legal clinic that opens when class is over" or in the Chicago News Cooperative article "A teacher's extra-credit offer: Free legal advice."