JUNIOR BOARD Brion W. Doherty Chair Stotis & Baird Maura Harrington Vice Chair Feinberg & Barry, P.C. Patrick Croke Sidley Austin LLP Kimberly M. Halvorsen Clifford Law Offices Shennan Harris Mayer Brown LLP
Staff Joshua Heidelman K&L Gates LLP
Shelley L. Merkin Schiff Hardin LLP
Patrick W. Spangler Vedder Price
Jordan M. Heinz Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Eileen M. O’Connor Michael E. Sweeney & Associates
Mona Thakkar Attorney
Derek Holland Bryan Cave LLP Katherine E. Ivancevich ArcelorMittal USA Rachael L. Mamula McDermott Will & Emery LLP Michelle K. Marek Howrey LLP
Avani Patel Law Offices of Hovde and Tufo, PC Libby Pozolo Winston & Strawn LLP Emily Schnidt Horwitz, Richardson & Baker LLC
David M. Wolff Attorney Ex Officio: Matthew Pollock CVLS Community Relations & Development Coordinator Natalie Weidemier CVLS Chancery Court Access to Justice Staff Attorney
Legislation Committee and sits on the ISBA’s LawPac Board. Former chair, she continues to serve on the CBA’s Pro Bono Week Committee. Past activities include: chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Delivery of Legal Services Committee, charter member of the Illinois Pro Bono Center’s Board of Directors, speaker at the Midwest Region SPAN Conference on the Future of Legal Services, Board of Directors of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, two-term ISBA Assembly member, speaker for the American Institute for Prepaid Legal Services. Meg’s husband, Art Simon, is an active CVLS volunteer.
Peter M. Ashmore, Managing Attorney University of Missouri (B.A., Political Science, 1991). DePaul University College of Law (J.D., 1994). Hired as a CVLS staff attorney upon graduation from law school, Peter had already interned, externed, and volunteered with us. His Managing Attorney designation reflects in-house duties which include directing CVLS’ IT and database needs, organizing staff and management meetings and administration of CVLS’ MCLE program. Peter still advises volunteers on an eclectic variety of cases, including tort defense, eviction, foreclosure, contracts, real estate, bankruptcy, probate, tax and public benefits. In addition, as director of CVLS’ Guardian Ad Litem for Adults Program, Peter trains, recruits and supervises volunteers who serve as GALs for disabled adults. Peter formally served as President of the Illinois Center for Law & Technology, now known as Illinois Legal Aid Online and on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Delivery of Legal Services Committee. He currently sits on the Chicago Bar Association’s Probate, Elder Law, Mental Health and Consumer Law committees. Margaret C. Benson, Executive Director Western Michigan University, Honors College (B.A., History, 1976). Loyola University College of Law (J.D., 1979). Lake, Rosenberg & Associates (1977-1979). Law Offices of Barbara B. Hirsch (1979 –1981). Meg joined CVLS in 1982 to set up the Panel Referral Program, became Deputy Director in 1983 and was elevated to Executive Director in 2003 when her predecessor retired. Meg oversees program management and fundraising for CVLS and coordinates the bench, bar association and law firm relations. In addition to her column on pro bono for the Chicago Lawyer, Meg has written extensive training materials for CVLS volunteers. While handling a caseload of contested or difficult family and guardian ad litem cases, she trains and supervises GAL volunteers. Meg is a program designer and speaker at /NLADA Equal Justice Conferences and statewide Legal Advocates Conferences. She also regularly speaks on child custody, client and pro bono issues for the ISBA, CBA and IICLE. Meg was honored with the 2007 Illinois State Bar Association’s Board of Governors Award. In 2001 she received the notable Chicago Bar Foundation’s Thomas H. Morsch Public Service Award. Prior honors include the “Esther Rothstein Award” by the Lawyer’s Trust Fund of Illinois in 1999 and Loyola University School of Law’s Public Service Award in 1994. Meg is an active member of ISBA’s
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Linda Cook, Intake and Receptionist For more than eight years, Linda has listened calmly and patiently as people pour out their hearts to her describing their legal problems. Screening thousands of new clients every year for financial and case eligibility, Linda books appointments for clinic and panel interviews and handles the increasing number of walk-in clients sent directly from the courts. Linda also serves as the CVLS receptionist for volunteers and works with Phil to coordinate appointments and schedules for in-house volunteers and students. Eric S. Donahue, Business Manager Purdue University, (B.A., Political Science and History 1997). Eric, who joined CVLS eight years ago after working as a business manager for Indiana law firms, coordinates all of CVLS’ business and operational tasks, including contracts and purchases, insurance and internal organization. He manages the 403(b) retirement plan and other aspects of CVLS human resources. In addition, he handles all day-to-day bookkeeping and aids in the preparation of quarterly financial reports and the annual audit. Jessica Engle, Administration Jessica, CVLS’ newest employee, joined CVLS in July after working as a customer service representative for Graphics Suisse, a paper supply company. In addition to maintaining CVLS’ office equipment, she orders supplies and handles all office administrative matters. In charge of CVLS’ client and volunteer database, Jessica also sets up for volunteer orientations, seminars and meetings. In her spare time, she assists with client intake.
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