Spotlight on Cabrini Green Legal Aid

The following is a reflection written by Shannon McDonnell, one of this year's South House Volunteers. This year, Shannon is volunteering at Cabrini Green Legal Aid, an agency that provides free legal services to low-income Chicagoans in four primary areas of law: family, housing, criminal records, and criminal defense. Amate House has proudly partnered with CGLA for over 10 years now.  Learn more at www.cgla.net.

Three hour meetings.  Not typically the highlight of a work week, but this past Friday, it just happened to be.  For the past few weeks, I have worked on putting together our quarterly Focus Meeting.  Four times a year, Cabrini Green Legal Aid does intakes for clients who would need clemency in order to have their record cleared.  Clemency is a last resort for many people who have convictions that are not eligible to be cleared through expungement and sealing.  It is a process of petitioning the governor, asking for a pardon to be granted to allow for the expungement of a record.  Unfortunately, this is a process a large majority of the clients I work with need.

Each potential client meets with a volunteer or staff member for an intake where their story is gathered.  During the intake meeting, each story is shared and questions are clarified.  At the end of the meeting, a decision is made regarding whether a case is accepted or rejected.  Unfortunately, resources are limited and while in an ideal world, all cases would be accepted, that is not possible.  The decision process is the most difficult part, knowing you are part of a decision that could potentially change someone's life forever.

While making a decision to not accept a case can be difficult, being part of this process has been incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.  I have been given the privilege of hearing and knowing some incredible people.  The circumstances overcome are often overwhelming and it is incredibly humbling to have someone open up and trust you in a first meeting to share their story so openly.  I feel so blessed to have been privileged to be a part of this and only hope I am able to continue to be as strong as the clients I am so lucky to work with.