Pro Bono
Since the firm’s founding in 1984, Barack Ferrazzano has encouraged its members to contribute to pro bono legal efforts. Our Pro Bono Committee defines goals for the program and identifies pro bono opportunities for professionals and staff.
The firm is affiliated with several pro bono non-profit organizations, including the Public Interest Law Initiative (one of our partners is a member of the Board of Directors). Barack Ferrazzano also is a charter member of The Chicago Bar Foundation Law Firm Leadership Circle, which is dedicated to supporting pro bono legal assistance to those in need.
The firm encourages participation by giving attorneys and paralegals up to 100 hours per year of billable hour credit for work on a wide variety of pro bono matters, including:
Guardianship of Children
The firm handles guardian ad litem cases through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services in which attorneys are assigned to help determine and advocate for the best interest of the minor child in contested guardianship cases. After interviewing the involved parties, including the child, and gathering relevant information about the situation, the firm prepares a report of findings to be presented to a probate court. Barack Ferrazzano lawyers also appear in court on the child’s behalf.
Immigration Cases
Through the National Immigrant Justice Center, we represent those who seek asylum in the United States as they flee persecution and terrible circumstances in their home country, but who have no means and little understanding of the necessary process, with a special focus on matters involving minors. We also consult with the NIJC regarding immigrant detention policies.
Litigation
The firm represents pro bono clients through litigation in other forums as well. We handle appellate cases before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition, a Barack Ferrazzano bankruptcy partner collaborated with a Bankruptcy Court judge to create a pro bono program to represent debtors who are unable to afford counsel.
Veterans’ Benefit Claims
Our firm works closely with the Veterans’ Rights Project of the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, representing veterans in appeals of denials of benefits by the Veterans Administration. Our firm has established a fund at the LAF to pay for medical examinations for veterans who need an outside medical opinion regarding the nature and extent of their injury and its consequences.
Committee Members
Representative Matters
On January 31, 2012, Barack Ferrazzano attorneys succeeded in petitioning the U.S. Department of Justice Immigration Court to grant political asylum to an Iranian national. The asylum seeker fled his native country of Iran after being targeted by the government for participating in the historic protests that followed the election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009. This appears to be one of the first U.S. asylum cases connected with the widely reported 2009 election protests in Iran.
Barack Ferrazzano took on the case in August 2010. The team, led by associate Brandon Prosansky, donated hundreds of hours of their time to ensure our client was not returned to Iran, where he faced possible arrest, torture or even death. Given the lack of U.S. case law involving the 2009 election protests, the litigation team’s case was built on evidence and expert testimony regarding the Iranian government’s deplorable treatment of 2009 election protesters, as well as our client's credible testimony about his participation in protests, the government’s surveillance of him, and his escape from Iran.
After the court announced its ruling, the U.S. government stated that it would not appeal, and the judge expressly thanked the firm for taking the case. Our client wants to contribute positively to this country, and hopes to apply for U.S. citizenship when he becomes eligible.
The firm is extremely proud of the team that worked on the case, including attorneys Prosansky, Vito Solitro, Ed Malone, Shermin Kruse, and Larah Tannenbaum, as well as the support team of Ranni Matar, Lisa Shupryt, James Tucker, and Mary Mobley.
The firm is also very appreciative of the volunteer services of expert witness Dr. Elise Auerbach and translator Zahra Malek.
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