Community + Pro bono

Throughout its existence, the Gould & Ratner philosophy encourages participation in community and charitable organizations. Our attorneys and staff are involved not only in Chicago, but also in the communities in which they live. We support volunteering for non-profits whether it be a civic, charitable or professional association. Many of our professionals serve in leadership positions for established non-profits such as Habitat for Humanity Chicago, Council for the Jewish Elderly, Night Ministry, Have Dreams, and Jewish Child and Family Services, to name a few.

In addition, Gould & Ratner supports many organizations through sponsorships and donations throughout the year. These sponsorships range from charitable organizations to civic and cultural organizations.

When it comes to community and charitable giving, everyone in the Gould & Ratner organization has a voice in the selection. One unique example has become a weekly staple in the office. It’s simply called “Friday Jeans Day”. Each and every week, a different charity is selected by someone in the organization. A fee of $5 is charged for the privilege of wearing jeans that day. The result is that every year, more than 50 different charities benefit from the “Jeans Day” generosity of the Gould & Ratner family.

Gould & Ratner has a long tradition of pro bono service to non-profit organizations, and we dedicate a great deal of time and legal services to them. In addition, going the extra mile, away from the legal business, is very rewarding. A prime example is Habitat for Humanity Chicago, the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity and a pro bono client of the firm. They currently have a multi-single family building project on the south side of Chicago. The Gould & Ratner team spent an entire Saturday participating in this project by trimming out the garage, manually carrying hundreds of sheets of drywall into one of the houses, then hanging as much as they could throughout the house until the final whistle blew.

Attorneys also volunteer through the court system to represent persons unable to afford legal counsel. The firm is committed to participating in and supporting pro bono legal and civic opportunities at every level, with attorneys representing individuals, nonprofits and service organizations.