The Firm is proud to announce that Associate Morgan Churma has been elected to serve on the Center for Disability & Elder Law’s (CDEL) Young Professionals Board of Directors. Founded in 1984 by the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association, CDEL provides pro bono legal aid services to low-income seniors and people with disabilities throughout Cook County. CDEL’s Young Professionals Board of Directors is made up of some of Chicago’s most impressive and passionate young professionals who put their knowledge, skills and experience to work on behalf of the organization and the clients it serves. While attending the University of Illinois College of Law, Mr. Churma served as a student attorney at the Elder Financial Justice Clinic representing elderly clients who were victims of negligent banking practices that led to fraudulent disbursement of their funds. He also served as a law clerk at the Illinois Department of Public Health. Those experiences provided Mr. Churma with exposure to clients who are often overlooked and underserved and fueled his interest in volunteering for CDEL.
In its 36-year history, more than 30,000 people have been provided free legal services from CDEL, with its staff of six attorneys, two paralegals, and hundreds of volunteer lawyers. Those services include adult guardianship, landlord/tenant disputes, end of life planning, divorce, financial elder abuse, consumer fraud, mortgage fraud and property tax, and assistance at the Pro Se Adult Guardianship Help Desk. In addition, CDEL runs workshops and assists seniors with powers of attorney for healthcare and property, and living will declarations. For the past several years Scharf Banks Marmor has been a sponsor of CDEL’s signature fundraising event, “Light Up the Loop.” The firm will once again sponsor the event which will be held on February 27, 2020 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Tickets may be purchased online at www.cdelaw.org.
