DuPage County Bar Association

This season, the DCBA is incredibly thankful for all of our members and the continuous support that you provide. We are forever grateful for the time and effort all of you contribute, whether it’s through attending our events, participating with our CLEs, or volunteering. Thank you for being an essential part to our Association, and we wish you all a joyous thanksgiving. (please note that the Bar Center will be closed today and tomorrow in observance of the holiday. We will reopen on Monday, December 2, at 8:30 a.m.)

Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer! Now, Lawyers Lending a Hand Toy Drive...? The Lawyers Lending a Hand Toy Drive will be accepting donations starting Monday, December 2, 2024. While your Black Friday dollar goes farther, use the discount to snag a special toy to brighten the Christmas morning of a child in DuPage County who could use a smile. Please bring new, unwrapped toys to the Bar Center Monday, December 2, up until Friday, December 13th between 8:30 am & 5:00 pm. Online Shopping? Have Amazon or UPS deliver your purchases to DuPage County Bar Association. You can also drop toys off in the collection box located in the Attorney Resource Center in the Courthouse. Then, join us for breakfast and sorting on Saturday morning, December 14th, starting at 9 a.m.

How do we go from an empty room to this? Well, by our members donating 1,716 coats and articles of winter gear for our annual coat drive. Thank you to everyone that donated and to those that came to help sort. It makes all of a difference!

Everyone say hi to this week's Sustaining Member of the week, Jonathan Merel. Jonathan founded Merel Family Law in early 2009 after working for many years at another family law firm in Chicago. Jonathan has experience in marital estates and contested custody suits, he also has experience as a litigator. Jonathan has made appearances on the Today show, coverage by the Wall Street Journal and Crain’s Chicago Business. He is also a frequent guest on many podcasts. Jonathon obtained his Bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin, and went on to Chicago - Kent College of Law for his J.D.. He is licensed and admitted to practice in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Thank you, Jonathon, for being a Sustaining Member to our Association!

Did you know that the DuPage County Courthouse offers In - Person Helpdesks Monday - Thursday for self representing litigants? Many times it’s as simple as a litigant understanding the process of our legal system or understanding a form. Please consider volunteering if you are able to. The DCBA appreciates it, the judges and staff at the courthouse appreciate it, and the litigants appreciate it as well.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! We don't know about you, but the staff at the Bar Center is getting into the holiday spirit with the snowfall and Thanksgiving right around the corner. We are excited to announce that the DBF Holiday Fund kick - off has officially started! You might be asking, what does the DuPage Bar Foundation Holiday Fund do exactly? This fund helps provide resources to disperse local community grants to organizations throughout DuPage and awards hardworking law students scholarships! Please consider giving to our holiday fund this season so that we can continue giving back to the community!

Have you met Antonio DeBlasio, our Sustaining Member of the Week? Antonio DeBlasio is the founder and managing member of the firm DeBlasio Law Group. he is an experienced litigator advising individuals, business executives, for profit and not-for-profit companies and government bodies on the prosecution and defense of complex civil and business litigation matters. Antonio has prosecuted and defended matters in state and federal courts in Illinois, Arizona, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri and Pennsylvania, arbitration and mediation matters before JAMS, the American Arbitration Association and the American Health Lawyers Association, as well as the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board and the Illinois Court of Claims. He has represented clients from a multitude of industry sectors, including, health care, technology, communications, financial, education, real estate, manufacturing, construction, management firms, consulting firms, not for profits, religious organizations, as well as foreign and domestic government entities. Antonio has also served as a Special Assistant Attorney General on behalf of an Illinois Governor, as special outside counsel to the Illinois State Board of Education. Prior to starting the firm, Antonio was a partner in the Commercial Litigation Group Gardner, Carton & Douglas. He then served as a litigation partner at a small, boutique law firm in DuPage County, Illinois that focused on representing government entities. Antonio has four children. He is an avid fan of the Chicago White Sox, the Chicago Bears and the Purdue Boilermakers. Antonio enjoys spending time with his wife, children and family. He also enjoys traveling, biking and anything outdoors, as well making homemade wine and sauce (not gravy), savoring a good meal, and trying to hit his driver in the fairway. Thank you, Antonio, for being a Sustaining Member to our Association!

Thanksgiving and the holiday season are quickly approaching, and we understand how anxious this time of the year can be for people. That's why the DCBA's Attorney Wellness Program will be hosting an evening of practical tips and breathing exercise on Wednesday, November 20th, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., at the East Street Park Recreation Room in Winfield. Join us for an evening as Professional Counselor, Grant Strenzel, and yoga instructor, Deb Gerlach, as they discuss how you can utilize gratitude to deal with anxiety, how to utilize behavioral therapy to cope with anxiety, how to diffuse your fear of anxiety, and yoga postures and breathing exercise specifically designed to manage anxiety. Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/g2d84n8Z

Fall temps are here and soon snow will be on the ground. Last year, our community came together and donated over 900 coats and winter gear!!! We have high hopes that this year we can surpass that and help even more individuals in DuPage County! Drop off your winter coats and winter apparel at the Bar Center up until Thursday, November 21, and come help us sort starting at 5:30 p.m.!

We love nothing more than seeing happy and smiling faces in the ARC every morning, and we have a slight suspicion that it has something to do with the coffee and donuts that our wonderful sponsors provide! We want to take a moment to thank all of our coffee and donut sponsors that we have had that have helped put smiles like these on everybody that comes and grabs a delicious donut or a cup of coffee. We appreciate you!