(CHICAGO) Katten announced today that the firm will donate backpacks to students at Chicago Public Schools' Jose de Diego Community Academy, which serves the city's Humboldt Park and Wicker Park neighborhoods and is the home of the Katten Legal Clinic, one of the first school-based legal clinics in the nation.

"With students returning to classrooms for the new school year after many months of at-home instruction only, we wanted to help ensure they are prepared for the first day of a successful learning experience physically in school," said Gil M. Soffer, managing partner of the firm's Chicago office.

More than 100 backpacks will be distributed at the elementary school, which begins August 30 for students.

"We appreciate this generous donation, especially as we prepare to head back to the classrooms for in-person instruction," said Principal Jacqueline Menoni. "We look forward to seeing our students and are very thankful for Katten's continued partnership, which benefits our students and community."

For more than a decade, Katten has partnered with Jose de Diego Community Academy, organizing holiday book drives, donating school supplies, participating in the Lawyers in the Classroom program to help students better understand the legal system and learn about law-related careers, and providing pro bono legal counsel to nearby residents at the Katten Legal Clinic.