Equal Justice

The Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee is one of the oldest public-interest law firms in the nation. It was founded in 1916 with a unique mandate to do all things necessary for the prevention of injustice. Over the past century, the Society has been instrumental in many reforms, such as Wisconsins first small claims court, its first public defender program, and its first class action lawsuit brought on behalf of the poor. Equal Justice: A History of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee presents this fascinating and formative history. From Professor John Commons visionary proposal in 1910 to establish a free legal aid program to the Societys current efforts to assist clients dealing with the ramifications of the real estate market collapse. Thomas Cannons book traces in detail the who, how, and why of this revered legal institution. With a forward by former Governor Jim Doyle and an introduction by Wisconsin Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, Equal Justice also contains an index of the legal cases discussed and a collection of 45 reports, profiles, studies, and speeches relevant to the history of the Society and its effects on Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Of interest not only to those directly involved with the Societys work, Equal Justice should be of interest to anyone concerned with the social and legal landscape of the city of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin, or the United States in general.