1985 The Community Economic Development Law Project, a joint effort of the Committee, LAFC, and the Young Lawyers Section of the CBA, begins providing tax, corporate, and real estate counsel to community groups in low-income neighborhoods that undertake projects to improve local housing, employment, and community services.

1995 A Small Business Development Program is established to provide legal assistance to new entrepreneurs setting up businesses in inner-city neighborhoods.

2002 Through an innovative program called Choose to Own, lawyers began representing Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) tenants using housing choice vouchers, formerly Section 8 vouchers, as mortgage payments. Business lawyers, including many from corporate law departments, provided pre- and post-purchase counseling to these homebuyers.