Pro Bono with Ascend Justice's Family Defense Program (10/28/25)

2025 Pro Bono Week: Justice Can’t Wait

The program will take place in person at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (320 S. Canal St., Chicago, IL 60606) on October 28, 2025 from 11:30am to 1:30pm. 

In Ascend Justice's Family Defense pro bono program, volunteer attorneys represent wrongly accused parents and childcare professionals in appeals of abuse or neglect “indications” findings in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) administrative hearings. These hearings are the first opportunity an individual is given to have a DCFS investigator’s decision to “indicate” an allegation reviewed by a neutral decision-maker (an Administrative Law Judge). Training topics include an overview of the DCFS allegation system and underlying investigations, a review of the appeal process, and answers to common questions, including timing, discovery, witnesses, evidentiary issues, and expectations for attorneys handling referred cases. This training is open to all legal professionals and is intended for folks who are interested in taking a family defense pro bono case within the next 6-12 months. 

Speakers: 
Sara Gilloon, Managing Director, Systemic Justice Division Ascend Justice
Lauren Schroeder, Senior Attorney, Family Defense and Incarcerated Survivors Program Ascend Justice

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live.