2024 is already looking #VABulous! Congratulations to Susan Valentine, Aurora Austriaco, Lydia Bueschel, and Sandy Morris who have been included on the 2024 "Illinois Super Lawyers" list. We are also very excited to report that Reena Sikdar and Deborah Seriki have been included on the 2024 "Illinois Rising Stars" list.
Sandy Morris Presents at the DRI Employment and Labor Law Seminar in New Orleans
VAB employment pro Sandy Morris presented at the DRI Employment and Labor Law Seminar in New Orleans on May 4th. Her session "Don’t Save Damages for Last" discussed the ins and outs of employment case damage calculations and was co-presented with Dr. Abby Turner of Charles River Associates. Sandy was joined at the #DRI seminar by fellow Chicago lawyer Stacey Austin of Wang Austin, who did some tax issue spotting for employment lawyers in her session "Tax Primer for Employment Attorneys."
VAB Sponsors the BEDS Plus Care 2023 Soup & Bread Event
VAB’s 2023 Super Lawyers
Sandy Morris Participated in a Roundtable at the May DRI Employment and Labor Law Seminar Where They Discussed, "When do we get back to the New Normal? And What is the New Normal anyway?T
VAB Of Counsel Sandy Morris participated in a roundtable at the May DRI Employment and Labor Law Seminar. Sandy co-led the discussion, "When do we get back to the New Normal? And What is the New Normal anyway?" during which she and colleagues Harvey Cooper and David Renner discussed the latest news for employers as we recover from COVID.
As the DRI Cares chair, Sandy was delighted to be the inspiration to support the Pipeline to Practice Foundation, Inc. for this year's fundraiser. This organization seeks to diversify the legal profession by cultivating exceptional legal talent. Collectively, the attendees contributed $2,500 exceeding their original goal of $2,000. If you would like to donate to the vital mission of P2P you can do so via their GoFundMe or PayPal. Literally, every dollar you contribute is invested into their students.
P2P GoFundMe: https://lnkd.in/dW2Ai9G
P2P Paypal: https://lnkd.in/dv25WSb
A special thank you to Seminar Chair Stacy Moon and Vice-Chair Eric Kinder, who led the seminar planning!
Sandy Morris Mock Trial Mentor for Girl Scouts' Project Law Track for 11th Straight Year
Over the last 10+ years #VAB Counsel & former Girl Scout Sandy Morris has had the opportunity to support the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana. Through various roles & activities such as mentoring at Camp CEO (a program in which girls meet business leaders & learn about career opportunities), attending benefits, or mentoring, speaking and judging her favorite #GirlScoutsGCNWI effort, Project Law Track (see below), Sandy has stayed connected to this organization she holds so dear.
This year Sandy served as a mentor, answering questions and helping the girls prep for witness examination and other aspects of the trial. She also got to play a witness during the proceedings. Here you can see Sandy and fellow mentors Maggie Mendenhall Casey and Amanda Pillsbury preparing participant Jasmine for the role of prosecutor.
She joined the scouts at age 7 and to prove she's legit she has agreed to share these adorable photos. One at age 13 with her troop dressed up as California Raisins for her town’s bed races (to raise money to fight hunger) & one of her at 14 when she earned her Silver Award. Check out those sweet feathered bangs! Oh, and her membership card from 1987-88 as a little bonus.
#ProjectLawTrack is a 3-week program that is in its 11th year & is going on right now. This event inspires the next generation of female law professionals through mentorship and mock trial experiences that demystify the portrayal of lawyers as seen in the media. We encourage anyone who can to donate and support this effort by visiting: https://lnkd.in/dFYPP5X
VAB Supports the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana's Project Law Track
VAB is super excited to support Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana's #ProjectLawTrack! Now in its 11th year, this event inspires the next generation of female law professionals through mentorship and mock trial experiences that demystify the portrayal of lawyers as seen in the media. This virtual series connects today's girls with female law professionals as they explore the path to law school and the many opportunities a legal career can offer. #VAB Counsel and former Girl Scout Sandy Morris has volunteered and supported this program since its beginning. We'd like to thank the #GirlScoutsGCNWI and the planning committee for organizing this year's event, with a special shout out to friends of the firm Monica Weed, Jennifer Kobayashi, and Erica Byrd. We encourage anyone who can to donate and support this project by visiting: https://lnkd.in/dFYPP5X
#GirlScoutLaw
#OnceaScoutAlwaysaScout
Congratulations to out 2021 Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
We are excited to announce that VAB attorneys have been included on the Illinois Super Lawyers (or Rising Star) list for 2021. Congrats to Susan Valentine (Business Litigation), Aurora Austriaco (Real Estate: Business), Lydia Bueschel (General Litigation), Sandy Morris (Business Litigation & Employment Litigation: Defense), and Elisa Wesche (Business Litigation). Super indeed! #VABulous
Sandy Morris Co-Hosts DRI Cares Event During Employment & Labor Law Virtual Seminar
VAB attorney, Sandy Morris co-hosted the DRI Cares networking event at this year’s DRI Employment & Labor Law Virtual Seminar. During this event, Sandy and co-host, Fred Mitchell, VP of Development at UNCF, spoke about how the nation’s largest minority education organization fulfills its mission to build a robust and nationally-recognized pipeline of under-represented students and ensure that its network of member institutions is a respected model of best practice in moving students to and through college. Seminar attendees raised more than $2,700 to advance UNCF's important mission.
Sandy Morris to Serve as Illinois Legal Aid Online Board Member for 5th Year
VAB congratulates Sandy Morris for serving her 5th straight years on the Illinois Legal Aid Online's board of directors. The Board is a diverse group of leaders and innovators who are passionate about using technology to help people in Illinois to resolve their legal problems.
Sandy Morris Recipient of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Distinguished Service Award
In 2018 VAB attorney Sandy Morris was the recipient of the CVLS Distinguished Service Award for her pro bono work in the community.
The Chicago Volunteer Legal Services is comprised of 2,400+ volunteer attorneys who donate free services to thousands of low-income Chicagoans annually. Our services are 100% free, accessible & real.
We have done our best to bring together all the resources of the great city of Chicago. We do this by utilizing our small staff to support and train a pool of thousands of volunteer attorneys from more than 990 firms, companies, and organizations throughout the city. We support, organize and train these wonderful volunteers in order to make the biggest impact in the most cost-effective way possible.
