Representing vulnerable populations should remain a top priority for Peoria-area attorneys and community groups. That’s the message from Cook County Public Defender Monica Torres-Linares. She gave the keynote address at the Peoria County Bar Association’s Annual Diversity Luncheon. Torres-Linares says there’s a misconception some might have about attorneys helping people struggling to find legal help:
“Just because an attorney chooses to be helping vulnerable populations doesn't mean they’re not competent. They could have gone to a big firm or private practice and been very lucrative, but they chose to take that other path,” Torres-Linares says.
Torres-Linares says both attorneys and community groups can volunteer to give back to their communities. She is a founder of LegalPrep.org. The group offers free, legal-themed college-prep information to underserved populations in Chicago.