Tell us a little about who you are!
Jack Etchingham, Chicago, December 2019 graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law, Attorney
Share one of your most memorable volunteer experiences with us!
My Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellowship at ILAO was certainly one of my most memorable volunteer experiences. I returned to the Fellowship from a post-bar exam trip in mid-March 2020, just as pandemic-related government relief was emerging at the local, state, and federal level. Helping users navigate that environment provided a sense of purpose during an uncertain time and is an experience I won't soon forget.
If you could change something in the legal/justice system, what would it be?
At risk of catering to the audience too much, I would have to say access to justice. But when I think about access to justice, I don't only think about building resources and tools like those available at ILAO. I also think about the conversations I have with family and friends who may have limited experience with the legal system.
To me, a big part of the access to justice equation is helping people understand that, while there are certainly bigger, more complicated problems for which someone may need a lawyer, there are also plenty of everyday issues that a committed person can handle on their own using great resources like those ILAO provides.
