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Community Involvement
Serving the LGBTQ CommunityCommunity Involvement
At Metz + Jones LLC, we believe that caring and dedicated attorneys can make a positive difference in the life of their clients and their community. Today, our firm is on the cutting-edge of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. We have experience working with the courts, working to change laws and handling a broad spectrum of legal matters that affect the rights of the LGBTQ community.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring Jill M. Metz
- February 27, 2019, sponsored by Out in Front, Jill Metz presented on estate planning for the LGBTQ community.
- December 8, 2017, sponsored by Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, panel guest discussing civil rights at the 2017 Equal Justice Under Law Student Conference.
- November 7, 2017 at 12:00 pm, sponsored by Loyola University School of Law, Jill Metz presented on the arguments in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.
- March 20, 2015, sponsored by The Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section’s Executive Council, presented on the Illinois Marriage Fairness Act and probate law at the event Changes in the LGBT Community: Live, Life & Love.
- July 15, 2014, Jill M. Metz was awarded the Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Service Award by the Chicago Bar Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Chicago Bar Association.
- June 17, 2014 at 6:15 pm, sponsored by The Center On Halsted, Jill Metz delivered the keynote address at the State of the LGBTQ Union program. To see photos and videos of this presentation, visit Windy City Times, or go to www.youtube.com/watch.
- June 2, 2014, Jill Metz appeared during the evening on Politics Tonight on WGN-TV/CLTV with Paul Lisnek to talk about the implementation of the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, the same-sex marriage law.
- June 2, 2014, Jill M. Metz was on the radio in the morning with Alex Keefe on WBEZ 91.5 fm Chicago to discuss the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.
- March 15, 2014, sponsored by Loyola University Chicago Scholl of Law, panel guest with Carol Jones and others discussing Examining Contemporary LGBTQ Issues: Grassroots and Impact Litigation Strategies.
- March 10, 2014 at 3:00 pm, sponsored by Chicago Bar Association Adoption Law Committee, titled “Illinois Adoption Statutory and Case law Update”.
- September 25, 2013, sponsored by Morningstar.com, Christine Benz reviews with Jill Metz estate planning in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s DOMA ruling, http://www.morningstar.com/cover/videocenter.aspx?id=612642, titled “Planning: New Rights, New Rules for Same-Sex Couples”.
- August 13, 2013, sponsored by Morningstar.com, Christine Benz reviews estate planning matters with Jill M. Metz, http://www.morningstar.com/cover/videocenter.aspx?id=607547, titled “Get Started With Your Estate Plan”.
- October 9, 2012 at 12:00 pm, sponsored by PepsiCo, titled “Civil Union and Marriage”.
- September 19, 2012, sponsored by Morningstar.com, Christine Benz interview with Jill M. Metz about estate planning, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUaG9PBoz1Y “Estate Planning Tips for Same-Sex Couples”. Originally posted August 28, 2012.
- February 25, 2012 at 4:15 pm, sponsored by Loyola University Chicago School of Law and the Society of American Law Teachers, titled “LGBT Rights”.
- November 9, 2011 at 12:00 pm, sponsored by Depaul University College of Law, titled “The Excitement of Engaging With New Law: Civil Unions”.
- October 26, 2011 at 12:00 pm, sponsored by the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois (CLII), titled “Illinois Civil Union Act”.
- July 11, 2011 at 12:00 pm, sponsored by Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP, titled “Illinois Civil Union Act”.
- June 29, 2011 at 5:30 pm, sponsored by Mesirow Financial, titled “Illinois Civil Union: Good News, But Not as Simple as Saying ‘I Do'”.
- June 22, 2011 at 9:00 am, sponsored by The Governor’s Office of the General Counsel, titled “Short Act, Big Impact: A Practical Guide for Civil Unions in Illinois”.
- June 16, 2011 at 9:00 am, sponsored by Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center at Depaul University College of Law, titled “Illinois Civil Union Act”.
- April 26, 2011 at 6:00 pm, sponsored by CORAL, First Church of the Brethren, Heartland MCC, and Springfield ACLU, titled “Illinois Civil Union Act”.
- April 5, 2011 at 6:00 pm, sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, titled “Financial Impact of the Illinois Civil Union Act”.
Articles Featuring Jill M. Metz
- Crain’s Chicago Business, published September 12, 2015, article on Pro Bono work.
- ABA Journal, published September 1, 2015, article on Pro Bono work.
- The Windy City Times, published June 20, 2014, article on the Center on Halsted’s State of the LGBTQ Union program featuring Jill Metz as the keynote speaker and the unveiling of the Harvey Milk stamp.
- The Windy City Times, published March 20, 2013, article featuring Jill Metz on the anticipated U.S. Supreme Court rulings on DOMA and Prop 8.
- Sun-Times, published March 5, 2013, “Time for Illinois to pass gay marriage bill” by Dr. Laura Berman.
- ACLU of Illinois press release on December 1, 2012, “Victory! Civil Union Bill Passes the Illinois House & Senate”.
- The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, published October 3, 2012, article on legislation that would bar discrimination in jury selection based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
- The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, published September 30, 2011, article “Lawyers tackle same-sex divorce issues” by Patricia Manson.
- Illinois Issues blog, posted online July 1, 2011, article on Illinois state taxes and the Illinois Civil Union Act.
- The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, published June 1, 2011, article on the Illinois Civil Union Act.
- Touch of Reality for Same-Sex Couples with Illinois Civil Unions” by Jill M. Metz. published June 1, 2011
- The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, published April 26, 2011, profile of Jill M. Metz.
- The State Journal-Register, re-posted online December 1, 2010, originally published April 22, 2007, an article on the Illinois Civil Union Act.
- The Windy City Times, published January 4, 2006, interview with Jill M. Metz.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring Carol L. Jones
- June 7, 2018, sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association, titled “The Future of Marriage and Divorce”.
- November 13, 2015, sponsored by Howard Brown Health Center, a program for Behavioral Clinicians who practice couples therapy.
- October 30, 2015, sponsored by Advocate Charitable Foundation and Northern Trust, panel moderator for a four person panel discussing “Conceivable Options for the Modern Family: Medical, Legal, and Ethical Consideration for Planners in a Rapidly Changing World.”
- March 19, 2015, sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association, titled “Marriage and Parentage for LGBT Parties and their Children”.
- February 18, 2015, sponsored by The Chicago Bar Association’s LGBT Committee, titled “Family Formation and Dissolution Issues for LGBT Families”.
- June 18, 2014, sponsored by the Cook County Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court, panel guest discussing Gender Diversity: Supporting Transgender & Gender-nonconforming Children and Adolescents.
- March 15, 2014, sponsored by Loyola University Chicago Scholl of Law, panel guest with Jill Metz and others discussing Examining Contemporary LGBTQ Issues: Grassroots and Impact Litigation Strategies.
- August 23, 2013, sponsored by the National LGBT Bar Association at the Lavender Law Conference, panel guest discussing parentage issues for the LGBT community, especially focused on transgender parents during a dissolution of marriage.
- June 1, 2013, sponsored by St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, panel guest discussing the change in lesbian experience from 1997 to the present in academics and employment.
- April 11, 2013, sponsored by John Marshall Law School Child and Family Law Society, titled “Impact of Civil Unions on Family Law.
- March 7, 2013, sponsored by Chicago-Kent College of Law Child & Family Law Society and the Lambdas, titled “State of Same-Sex Family Laws in Illinois.
- August 16, 2012 at 7:30 am, sponsored by a Lake Forest resources group, titled “Illinois Civil Union Act”.
- March 15, 2012 at 12:00 pm, sponsored by DePaul University College of Law, titled “Impact of the Illinois Civil Union Act on Family Law”.
- November 11, 2011, sponsored by Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Children Legal Rights Journal at the Symposium on LGBT Families, panel guest discussing Illinois law for LGBT families for forming families and in the event of dissolving the parents’ relationship.