Category Archives: Featured

Ross’s Partners with Clinic

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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Ross’s partners with the Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic to fight domestic violence

 

Too many community members know someone who is a victim of domestic abuse, but they are not aware of the signs, services available or how to help. The Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic is proud to partner with respected organizations to increase the safety and provide help to those in need. Visit www.hphlegalaid.org or call at 847-737-4042 to learn more.

Mention this promotion and purchase any product during the month of October and a donation will be made to the Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic to help provide services to those in need.

Non-physical domestic violence is every bit as significant as physical abuse and almost always precedes it. According to the Center for Disease Control, one in four women and one in seven men will be a victim of domestic abuse at some point during their lifetime. Together we will raise awareness about what domestic violence looks like, the availability of services and the very real costs to families and communities. 

Help Get The Word Out About DACA Renewal!

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Starting immediately (September, 2017), The Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic is providing free legal assistance to any and all individuals who need assistance renewing their DACA application, regardless of where they live or work.

To be eligible for renewal, current DACA must be expiring between September 5, 2017 – March 5, 2018. There are no exceptions to the deadline. It is imperative to renew if an individual applicant’s DACA expiration falls within these dates.

Please help spread the word by downloading the PDF and printing our flyer regarding DACA Renewals (which is pictured here), and then put it up at your place of work or on bulletin boards around your town. You can also download the JPEG to share on social media.

Successful Event at First Bank of Highland Park

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Throughout the month of August, HPHLAC was the featured non-profit at the First Bank of Highland Park Ruth Fell Wander Community Wall. We were honored to be selected and to have the opportunity for the community to learn more about the services we provide. Highlights on the wall included success stories about how the clinic’s volunteer attorneys have helped individuals and their families during its first year of operation. It included information about partner agencies that are integral to the clinic’s work.

On Thursday, August 25th, we celebrated our first year of operation and our display with members of the Board, volunteers, clients, and community members. The presentation included statements from our new Executive Director, Susan Shulman; our Managing Attorney, Kathryn Vanden Berk; Mayor Nancy Rotering; and a client who we successfully helped in a housing matter.

Thank you to the First Bank of Highland Park and all the attendees! We are so happy you could celebrate with us!

Open Clinic: November 11, 2017
9 am – 12 Noon

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The Clinic will be open on Saturday, November 11, 2017, from 9 am to 12 pm.  We will have attorneys available to help with immigration issues, Emergency Tool Kits, and landlord/tenant and housing problems.

We ask that any cases involving domestic violence to call to make an appointment on another day so we can assure privacy.

Clients must meet certain financial need requirements. Please call to make an appointment at (847)-926-1867 or e-mail info@hphlegalaid.org.  

Amnesty in Lake County until July 15th

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Lake County is offering amnesty until July 15th for all outstanding fines with traffic tickets, ordinance violations, and court-ordered judgments to pay off the debts without interest. To qualify, the debt owed must have the date of judgment of over a year. Following the amnesty period, all outstanding debts will be subject to additional interest.

Residents with outstanding fines should call Lake County’s designated collection agency, Harris & Harris Ltd., at (800) 515-9720.

For more information: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/crime/ct-lns-lake-county-fine-amnesty-st-0602-20160601-story.html. 

Student Board Hosts Naturalization Ceremony

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On Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at Highland Park High School (HPHS), approximately 150 citizen candidates from 37 countries were sworn in as U.S. citizens at the first Highland Park – Highwood Legal Aid Clinic Naturalization Ceremony. The Honorable Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, administered the Oath of Allegiance. The Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic (the Clinic) Student Board organized the ceremony. Clinic Founder, Mayor Nancy Rotering welcomed the new American citizens with a keynote address and Highland Park High School Principal Tom Koulentes also shared remarks. Following the ceremony, organizers agreed to make the event an annual occurrence.

“We are a nation of immigrants and are proud to welcome these new American citizens into our country with a ceremony that celebrates their achievement,” stated Mayor Nancy Rotering. “Our students have set a wonderful example for all of us by coordinating this unique opportunity. Their compassion and leadership have made a tangible difference in the lives of so many.”

Terry Horwitz Kass, Clinic Board Member and Student Board Founder explained, “The students at HPHS are aware of and care deeply about immigration issues. This past fall they put on a panel to discuss the current state of immigration laws. The students jumped at the opportunity to host a Naturalization Ceremony at HPHS. The students as well as the entire community are enriched by participating in such a meaningful ceremony.”

“Through this hands on experience, the Clinic Student Board engaged in a living civics lesson, built a greater appreciation of what it means to be an American citizen and are literally sharing their learning with others,” said Highland Park High School Principal Dr. Tom Koulentes. “Our students strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment within Highland Park High School. Today’s ceremony achieved that goal.”

The Clinic Student Board was founded by Clinic Board member Terry Horwitz Kass as an opportunity for high school students to gain hands on experience in providing advocacy for those in need while learning about the legal profession. Over 25 HPHS students participate. Members Daphne Kass and Sarah Fox organized the event and were recognized by Mayor Rotering at a recent Highland Park City Council Meeting.

Clinic Receives CLE Training on Expungement

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Thank you Keith Brin, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lake County, your staff and Keith Grant, the Lake County Public Defender’s Chief of Special Defense, for an enlightening training on expungement last week. We hope to help members of the Highland Park and Highwood communities who need help with this issue.

HPH Legal Aid Clinic Celebrates 1st Anniversary Party!

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[Pictured: Board member Gail Feiger Brown, Donor Andrew Brown, Mayor Nancy Rotering, and Peter Flanzer of the Highland Park Community Foundation]

On May 2nd, the Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic celebrated its first anniversary! In our first year, we have had over 100 people come through our doors looking for legal assistance. We have signed up over 50 volunteer attorneys who are ready to assist, and we have had three CLE classes to provide continuing legal education credits to our attorneys. We have raised all the funds to keep the clinic open from our founding sponsors and people in the community who have donated when asked.

Thank you to The City of Highland Park, who has again this year supported us with a grant. Please consider donating to the clinic to help us stay open and provide these free legal services that are not available elsewhere for so many people. Thank you to our volunteers and supporters for their benevolence, we could not do it with out you!

Congrats Alicia!

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Congratulations to Alicia De La Cruz, our housing advocate, on receiving the Humanitarian of the Year Award, and Cecilia Limon, co-president of our student board, who received the Character Counts Award, from the HP Human Relations Commission.

 

Pictured: Cecilia Limon, Karyn Davidman, Alicia De La Cruz and Mayor Nancy Rotering.