Pro Bono

Pro bono at Chapman is grounded in compassion and built for impact. Every day, people face moments that will define the rest of their lives: a hearing that determines whether they can remain in the country where they finally feel safe; a guardianship petition that safeguards a child's future; an opportunity to launch a business and build stability for a family; a second chance made possible by clearing a record.

These are not abstract legal matters. They are human turning points. And far too often, the people at the center of them have no one they can turn to for help.

Bridging the Justice Gap

Our lawyers step in at life-defining moments. In partnership with legal aid organizations, we work to expand access to counsel for people who would otherwise face the legal system alone. Last year, Chapman provided $8.1 million in pro bono legal services. But the numbers only tell part of the story. The measure of that work is what becomes possible afterward: a family feeling safe, a fresh start secured, a neighborhood business opening its doors, a plan in place for the years ahead.

Going Further Together

Impact at this scale does not happen in isolation. Through partnerships with organizations like the National Immigrant Justice Center, Legal Aid Chicago, the Center for Disability and Elder Law, Legal Aid for New Entrepreneurs, and Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, we combine resources, training, and representation to reach people for whom legal support can be life-changing.

Building Life-Changing Tools

We combine code and counsel to expand access to justice. Our Practice Innovations team of programmers and attorneys collaborate with our pro bono team and partner organizations to build technology that transforms complicated legal processes into guided, intuitive tools. The result: more volunteers serving more people, faster. Recent initiatives include tools supporting guardianship and estate planning (Center for Disability and Elder Law), expungement and sealing (Legal Aid Chicago), name change petitions (Legal Council for Health Justice), and an estate-planning solution for seniors across North Carolina (Legal Aid of North Carolina).

Access for All

We are dedicated to strengthening fairness in the legal system, including through our membership in the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance. We focus on closing the justice gap for those most likely to go unrepresented, so more people can navigate the legal system with support, respect, and a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

Recognition

Chapman has been named an American Bar Association Pro Bono Leader, recognized on the Public Interest Law Initiative’s Pro Bono Recognition Roster, and honored repeatedly for decades-long community partnerships. We have also been recognized for groundbreaking representation under federal and state law, including matters under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. These recognitions reflect not only what we have achieved, but the enduring commitment of our people to making justice accessible to all.