For more than 25 years, Chicago lawyers have been giving back — and not just by taking pro bono cases. They’re serving elementary and middle school classrooms throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
The Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago (CRFC) introduced its “Edward J. Lewis II Lawyers in the Classroom” program to help students learn about their rights and responsibilities as U.S. Citizens in a fun and more engaging manner. The program helps elementary and middle school students better understand our nation’s legal system, the Constitution, and even more about law-related careers.
Attorney volunteers provide each of their students with knowledge based on real life legal experiences and help develop their critical thinking skills by serving as a positive adult role model.
The CRFC matches volunteer attorneys with Chicago schools in grades 2 through 8, placing them in volunteer lawyer teams. Once matched, the CRFC equips each lawyer to lead classroom discussions with course materials, lesson plans, and all of the tools needed to teach their assigned social studies classes.
To participate, each attorney team must visit their partner school at least three times throughout the school year to work with the students. They must also attend an informational session in October.
If you or any other Chicago lawyers you know are interested in this service opportunity, please contact the CRFC Education Director, Tiffani Watson via email or by phone at 312.663.9057 ext. 205 and complete this form.
For other service opportunities in the Illinois community, please refer to the Commission’s website listing of legal service organizations in need of volunteers. With Pro Bono month quickly approaching, we challenge you and your colleagues to give back at least once this October. As we have written about, time and time again, service is uniquely tied to our profession – so let’s start giving.