Written by Admin | Jan 22, 2019 6:00:00 AM
CHICAGOLAWBULLETIN.COM MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019 ® Volume 165, No. 14 Serving Chicago’s legal community for 164 years Busy lawyer finds time for others BYDAVIDTHOMAS Law Bulletin staff writer GE N E R ATI O N It will take a while to list all the E SQ. different organizations Adam M. Zebelian belongs to. The 35-year-old Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP associate Zebelian:I work at unconven- sits on the board of both the Les- tional times, which my clients bian and Gay Bar Association of appreciate because I am avail- Chicago and its associated foun- able outside of typical business dation. He’s on the junior board hours. of the Chicago Lighthouse, an or- CDLB: Why is community ganization that provides vision service important to you? care and related services to Zebelian:My mother always blind, visually impaired and dis- tells me, “To whom much is abled people as well as veterans. given, much is expected.” It is a Adam M. Zebelian He is a Chicago Bar Associa- privilege to be able to attend col- tion Young Lawyers Section lege and then law school, and I your practice? Family Law Committee co-chair. believe that lawyers have an obli- Zebelian:I have had the privi- He is also a member of the Na- gation to use that privilege and lege to litigate and try cases in tional LGBT Bar Association, the the resulting skill set to give both state and federal court, Women’s Bar Association of Illi- back to their communities. which has made me a more well- nois and the Illinois State Bar CDLB:You’ve lectured about rounded trial attorney. Association. the unique challenges faced by CDLB: What are your long- And that still doesn’t cover his LGBTQ domestic violence sur- term goals for your legal career? work with the Chicago Metropol- vivors. Briefly, what are some of Zebelian: My long-term goal is itan Battered Women’s Network, those challenges? to become the best advocate for the Diversity Scholarship Foun- Zebelian:Some LGBTQ cou- my clients, who have trusted me dation and Stonewall Sports ples do not have the support and to guide them through one of the Chicago. acceptance of their families be- worst periods of their lives and In a written Q&A with the cause of who they are, or be- obtain a just and equitable re- Daily Law Bulletin, Zebelian ex- cause they are not out of the sult. plains why he is so involved in closet as LGBTQ. As a result, CDLB:What is the first app community service as well as the LGBTQ domestic violence sur- you use on your smartphone challenges faced by LGBTQ do- vivors do not always have the when you wake up in the morn- mestic violence survivors. Zebe- proper support system or are ing? lian has given lectures about the afraid to reach out for help. This, Zebelian: I first check e-mail. latter topic at Chicago-Kent Col- in turn, gives the abuser more CDLB: What TV show did you lege of Law. power and control, thereby fur- just finish binge-watching? CDLB: How do you find the thering the cycle of abuse. Zebelian: My boyfriend and I time to balance your obligations CDLB:How does your experi- just finished watching the second to your clients and your firm and ence working in the Cook County season of “Making a Murderer” the extensive community service State’s Attorney’s Office on both on Netflix. you take part in? the civil and criminal side inform dthomas@lawbulletinmedia.com Copyright © 2019 Law Bulletin Media. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from Law Bulletin Media. C