Posted on Thursday, October 10th, 2024 at 3:05 pm
Reviewed by Jessica E. Wieczorkiewicz, Esq.
At the Advocates Society Summer Reception on September 5th, Wallace Miller attorney Jessica Wieczorkiewicz joined other Chicago lawyers to celebrate the Polish American legal community in the city. Hosted for the first time in person since the pandemic, the event provided an opportunity to build relationships with colleagues, foster access to justice, and honor notable judges for their contributions to the field.
Photo of 5 women, from left to right: Julia Smolka, Izabela Czajkowska, Malgorzata Webb, Maggie Woroniecki, and Jessica Wieczorkiewicz.
Get to know the Advocates Society
Established in 1940, the Advocates Society is an association of Polish American attorneys in Chicago. The Society works to improve access to and administration of the law, connect its members to one another and the Polish American community, establish relationships with the public, and promote general interest in Polish American heritage and culture.
On the third Saturday of every month, the Advocates Society runs the Amicus Poloniae Legal Clinic, which provides free legal assistance to low-income individuals. Located at the headquarters of the Polish National Alliance in the Forest Glen neighborhood of Chicago, Amicus Poloniae has offered one-on-one consultations with volunteer attorneys since 1990. Although Amicus Poloniae primarily serves the Polish American community, its doors are open to everyone.
The Advocates Society and the Polish National Alliance work with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) to make the legal clinic possible. Read more about the organization, their annual Race Judicata fundraiser, and Wallace Miller’s support for their mission in our recent blog post highlighting the work of CVLS.
In addition to its work in the community, the Advocates Society hosts a number of events in Chicago, including an annual Judges’ Night and Polish Independence Day celebration. The organization also operates the Advocates Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships to law students based on financial need and academic performance.
Find out more about the Advocates Society on their website or subscribe to their newsletter for regular updates.
Image courtesy of the Advocates Society.
Advocating for access with Jessica Wieczorkiewicz
A longtime attorney at Wallace Miller, Jessica works in mass torts, product liability, and personal injury litigation to fight for individuals whose rights have been violated. In her role on the public relations and newsletter committee at the Advocates Society, she advocates for access to justice for those who might not be familiar with the system.
“A lot of the work that the Advocates Society does speaks to a common theme within many immigrant communities—people are not always aware that they have legal rights when something goes wrong, whether that involves a product, a medical professional, or another circumstance,” says Jessica. “I’m passionate about making sure that everyone knows their rights.”
Beyond the Advocates Society, Jessica is an active member of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and the 2024 Leadership Academy of the American Association of Justice and has been listed as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and Best Lawyers One to Watch. Her active cases include the Paraquat and Camp Lejeune litigations, and she was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Suboxone litigation in March 2024.
“In the mass tort practice area, you can make a difference in the world on a large scale,” Jessica says. “We work on holding large corporations accountable when their actions harm everyday people—the ability to make an impact on the entire country is amazing.” Learn more about Jessica’s work at Wallace Miller and listen to her interviews on Cases for Causes and WGN’s Let’s Get Legal program.
Wallace Miller attorneys Edward A. Wallace and Jessica E. Wieczorkiewicz.
Summer Reception
The Advocate’s Society Summer Reception returned on September 5th, marking the first time the event was held since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The gathering brought together the Chicago Polish American community and friends to reconnect with colleagues and fellow members of the legal field and enjoy Polish food and beverages.
The Advocates Society also recognized two distinguished figures in the legal profession at the event. Judge David K. Overstreet of the Supreme Court of Illinois was honored with the President’s Award, while Judge Timothy C. Evans of the Circuit Court of Cook Country received the Board of Governors Award. The reception provided an opportunity to celebrate the resilience of the community and its commitment to continuing to elevate the pursuit of justice after several challenging years.
Working in our community
Wallace Miller is proud to give back to our community through legal advocacy, leadership in local organizations, fundraising efforts, and beyond. Find out how we’ve supported the missions of organizations including Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, and Chicago Volunteer Legal Services—and keep an eye on our blog to find out more about how we work to improve the legal community and uplift those around us.