Community Involvement

Clifford Law Offices sponsored the Illinois Judges Foundation (IJF) Annual Reception, which was held on October 10th at the Chicago Bar Association (CBA). Several judges received the organization’s Distinguished Service Award, including the Hon. Joy Cunningham, Illinois Supreme Court, First District; the Hon. Debra Walker, Illinois Appellate Court, First District; the Hon. Michael Chmiel, Chief Circuit Judge, McHenry County; and the Hon. Matthew Maurer (posthumously), Associate Judge, Sangamon County. The IJF, the charitable arm of…

Clifford Law Offices was proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the Illinois Bar Foundation’s (IBF) Annual Gala, the organization’s main fundraiser of the year. The IBF’s mission is to ensure that low-income families have access to the justice system and offer aid to attorneys and their families during times of crisis. In 2024, the Foundation will distribute approximately $900,000 from its fundraising efforts to promote equal access to justice and support attorneys across the…

Clifford Law Offices is a sponsor of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s 20th Annual Valor Awards, honoring some of Chicago’s finest. Kevin P. Durkin, partner at the law firm, is an Executive Board Member of the Foundation and has long supported the non-profit organization. The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the lives of fallen heroes through its support of the families of Chicago Police Officers who are killed or catastrophically…

Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices, will receive the 2024 Marist High School Distinguished Alumni Award. Clifford graduated from the school on Chicago’s far southside in 1969.  “I’m honored to be receiving this award from my alma mater,” Clifford said. “I remember those days well, and the education and disciplined training I received there have carried me throughout my life.” Alumni awards will be presented at the school’s second annual…

Clifford Law Offices sponsored the 2024 Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP) Annual Awards Dinner, which took place on October 10th at the Brookfield Zoo. The event celebrated those who have advocated for or utilized the program over the past year. Appellate Court Justice Jesse Reyes (1st Dist.) was the honored guest and keynote speaker for the event themed “Step Into a New Adventure: Pave Your Path to Wellness.” LAP is a non-profit dedicated to helping Illinois…

John V. Kalantzis, partner at Clifford Law Offices, has been appointed to the National Hellenic Museum’s Board of Trustees. Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, John Kalantzis is a first-generation Greek-American active in the community through his volunteer work for his church and other Greek-American organizations. Growing up working in his family’s restaurant, Kalantzis experienced firsthand the challenges and cultural bias his family faced as immigrants assimilating to life in the U.S. These experiences…

Thomas (“TJ”) Tomasik, partner at Clifford Law Offices, recently acted as a volunteer attorney at the Annual DuPage County Expungement Clinic at the DuPage County Courthouse. The effort is part of the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) that offers pro bono legal assistance across the state. PILI partnered with the DuPage County Bar Association and Prairie State Legal Services to put on the annual clinic. The DuPage County Expungement Clinic is an annual clinic that…

Sarah F. King, partner at Clifford Law Offices, was interviewed by the Diversity Scholarship Foundation (DSF) for their “Profiles in the Law” cable program on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. CT on CAN TV. The program educates the public by creating access to information from the lawyers, judges, policymakers, and community leaders that shape the laws essential to promoting the ideals of DSF. By highlighting the diverse experiences of attorneys, the Diversity Scholarship…

Courtney A. Berlin and Devin J. Piper, associates at Clifford Law Offices, volunteered as judges for the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law Summer Trifecta Mock Trial Competition on Thursday, August 8, 2024. The Law School hosts four competitions annually, which are open only to UIC Law students. Each competition is judged, critiqued, and scored by practicing attorneys and judges. Thursday’s mock trial involved a criminal case involving possession of illegal drugs. Devin Piper,…