PILI is excited to welcome Neekita Bhatia and Benjamin Halom to our Board of Directors as our new Graduate Fellow Alumni Representatives. Each year, PILI selects representatives from the most recent class of Interns and Fellows to serve on the board for a two-year term. Neekita is an Associate at Sidley Austin LLP and served as a 2024 PILI Graduate Fellow at Lawyers for the Creative Arts. Benjamin is an Associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and served as a 2024 PILI Graduate Fellow at the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services.
Neekita Bhatia
Associate, Sidley Austin LLP
2024 Graduate Fellow
What have you been up to since your PILI Fellowship concluded?
Since my PILI Fellowship concluded, I joined Sidley Austin LLP as an Associate in the Global Finance practice group. Additionally, I continue to be involved in the PILI community by serving on the PILI Board as a Fellow Representative.
What was your favorite thing about being a PILI Fellow?
My favorite aspect of being a PILI Fellow at Lawyers for the Creative Arts was the opportunity to work closely with artists and arts organizations on a wide range of legal issues, ranging from intellectual property to contracts. The experience of conducting client intakes and triaging complex legal issues was incredibly rewarding. I especially valued seeing first-hand the tangible impact of our work on the lives of young artists, helping them navigate legal challenges and empowering them with the knowledge and resources to succeed in their budding arts careers.
How has your commitment to service played a role in your life and career?
Service has always been a guiding principle in my life, shaping both my personal and professional paths. Growing up, my grandparents instilled a deep sense of commitment to community service in me by involving me in their work with NGOs in India. This early exposure laid the foundation for my dedication to service. Throughout my life, I have consistently sought out ways to contribute to the various communities I was exposed to – whether it was organizing my high school’s volunteer fair in Halifax, leading a waste management study at the University of Ottawa, working with the Spark Global Philanthropic Foundation in Vancouver, and recently, supporting artists and arts organizations as a PILI Fellow in Chicago. My commitment to service has shaped my values, guided my professional choices, and inspired me to continually seek opportunities to make a positive impact. I hope to continue to contribute to the Chicago community through pro-bono work at Sidley and my involvement with the PILI Board.
Benjamin Halom
Associate, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
2024 Graduate Fellow
What have you been up to since your PILI Fellowship concluded?
I began my legal career at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as an associate in the Litigation group.
What was your favorite thing about being a PILI Fellow?
I enjoyed the opportunity to work directly with legal aid clients and to learn about the work nonprofit organizations are doing throughout the city to build community and provide services. In my PILI Fellowship at Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services, I was able to travel to community sites around the city to conduct client intake and to meet the individuals responsible for keeping those sites running. It was a great chance to see the issues Chicago residents face and to meet the people working to solve them. I was fortunate to have a great team of mentors at Metropolitan Family who provided a strong introduction to public service law.
How has your commitment to service played a role in your life and career?
To me, public service is part of what it means to be a good neighbor and community member. As I move forward in my legal career, I hope to find ways to help the people around me and support community institutions that provide vital legal and nonprofit services. Serving as a Fellow Representative is part of that commitment, as is pursuing a pro bono legal practice.