I Will Treasure in Life

By: Mymannah Lou O. Dimacaling

It was windy and cold when we arrived in the city. All of us were covered
with jackets, scarves and winter hats. We doubled or tripled our garments
to protect ourselves against the breezy weather of that place. The exterior
areas of some buildings were coated with glaze and the trees were not
covered with leaves.
Despite of that sub-zero climate, I forgot the freezing feeling because of the
warm welcome shown by Tita Carol, Tita Gemma, Ate Alaminah, Kuya Bin
and their babies Iman and Zia. I appreciated it and I felt so happy being
with them for a short period of time. Although it was the first time to meet
them, there was the feeling of home along the way that we were together in
the metropolitan.
It was Monday morning when we visited the office of Heartland Alliance
International. A service-based human rights organization committed to
protect and to promote the rights of the people through an inclusive
approach to comprehensive health and social economic justice. Mr. Scott
Portman, Sr. elaborated how the organization combat human trafficking,
ensure human rights protections and promote access to justice for all
immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
Northwestern University School of Law Civil Litigation Center, part of the
Bluhm Legal Clinic, was our next appointment. The center gave emphasis
on poverty law cases wherein the law students support their clients in trials
and motions. Professor Laurie I. Mikva provided us an overview of the
clinics services and discussed the role of law school clinics in providing
accessible legal services to low-income clients.
At two oclock in the afternoon, we went to the Center for Conflict
Resolution (CCR), and Ms. Cassandra Lively, Ph.D. expounded the centers
use of volunteer mediators as well as its relationship to the formal court
system. Also, she explained the alternative dispute resolution process.
Afterwards, we travelled to IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. The institute
provides a solid foundation for students wherein they develop the skills of
their students through legal writing, trial advocacy and appellate advocacy
programs. Mr. Alexander F.A. Rabanal presented some illustrations and

examples on how digitalization and technology creatively help the students

in their training and study of law.
We attended a trial at Daley Center Courthouse on the following day. As a
matter of fact, the Circuit Court of County of the State of Illinois is the
largest among the 24 judicial circuits in Illinois. Actually, it is one of the
largest unified court systems in the world wherein it has more than 400
judges who serve the 5.1 million residents of Cook County within the City of
Chicago. At any rate, we observed inside the court room and witnessed how
the trials were being conducted, how the judges presided over court
proceedings and how lawyers supported their clients. Ms. Mellissa Pacelli
assisted and accompanied us inside the courthouse. We were given a chance
to talk with the presiding judge of the Law Division, the Honorable
Flannery.
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) was our next stop. Ms. Margaret
Benson guided and provided us an overview of their work; she explained the
history and developments of CVLS and how they managed the cases and
gave aid to the low-income clients in the community. Ms. Aurora AbellaAustriaco, the first Asian president of the Chicago Bar Association, talked
about the importance and benefits of pro bono service in the legal practice
and put an emphasis on its significance in the society.
Our last appointment during that day was the American Bar Association
(ABA). Mr. Terry Brooks, Mr. Steve and Mr. Geoffrey Burkhart informed us
about the role of ABA in the American legal profession, how they worked on
issues and provided access to justice in a way that it supports pro-bono
services for the low-income clients.
Thus, big streets, snow fall, landmark bean, Chicago Theatre, United
Center, skyscrapers, amazing infrastructures, artistic monuments and
sculptures, city of dreams, subway and famous boutiques lined across the
streets, lawyers, volunteers, Tita Carol, Tita Gemma and Ate Alaminah and
her family were the things, places and people that I will not forget in the
memorable place of Chicago which I will treasure in life.