National Volunteer Week, celebrated this year from April 21-25, 2025, is an opportunity for PILI to recognize and acknowledge our own outstanding and dedicated volunteers. Without our vast network of volunteers throughout Illinois, PILI would not be where it is today. Today, we are spotlighting members of our Alumni Network Leadership Council who stand for justice by using their own time and talents to increase access to justice.
Usama Ibrahim
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
When & why did you become involved with PILI? As a third-year law student at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, I was eager to put what I had learned into practice. With whatever free time I had during my final semesters, I sought opportunities to help others. I learned about PILI through different legal aid opportunities such as Wills for Heroes, Street Law and working with the Carter G. Phillips Center for Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy. I applied for the Graduate Fellowship Program and shortly afterwards, I was offered—by the incomparable Teresa Sullivan—and immediately accepted the opportunity to join Legal Aid Chicago’s Children and Families Practice Group as a PILI Graduate Fellow. The mentorship from exceptional attorneys at Legal Aid Chicago, like Emma McMullen, Aziza Khatoon, and Myka Held, made me the attorney that I am today. Grateful for their commitment to me, and appreciating the value of PILI, I continued to be involved with PILI as the 2020 Graduate Fellow Alumni Representative for a two-year term before formally joining the Alumni Network Leadership Council as an at-large council member.
How does PILI’s 2025 theme, Stand for Justice, resonate with you? My deep commitment to fairness, truth, and the idea that every person deserves dignity and equality, no matter their background, firmly root my moral compass. Although it easy to easy to chalk-up the principle of justice to lofty ideals, I was raised to believe that true justice is how we handle everyday moments: speaking up when someone is treated unfairly, listening to voices that are often silenced, and choosing to do what’s right even when it’s difficult. For me, justice is not finite. The more power and privilege I amass, the more justice I owe to those around me. Simply put, justice means responsibility. It asks me not just to care, but to act—to use whatever voice, privilege, or power I have to help others.
Why do you volunteer? Raised by two educators who committed themselves endlessly to their students, I was taught that privilege requires volunteerism. Being there for someone—offering clarity where there is confusion, comfort where there is fear, and a sense of connection where there is loneliness—is the core reason why I volunteer.
In what ways has PILI helped support or inspire your commitment to public interest law? The commitment of PILI’s staff to justice is unmatched. The behind-the-scenes work of coordinating Internships and Fellowships, preparing new and exciting programming, fundraising to advance their mission, and matching hundreds of people annually is always inspiring. I appreciate the incredible services that organizations, like PILI, provide and the role that I have as an ally and supporter of that work. I am honored to support the heroes at PILI, Legal Aid Chicago, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Legal Services NYC, and other organizations by volunteering with them.
What is something that you have seen PILI do or be a part of that has really resonated with/inspired/excited you? Participating as a mentor for the PILI Interns and Fellows is always an inspiring experience. Listening to their concerns, providing advice and counsel, and walking alongside them as they grow from their PILI experiences is, in and of itself, an incredibly rewarding experience. To empower the next generation of advocates with the knowledge, resources, and skills to advance in their careers, is how I demonstrate my deepest gratitude for the mentors, colleagues, and friends who made the same investments in me.
Casey Nelson
McGuire Woods LLP
When & why did you become involved with PILI? I completed my PILI Graduate Fellowship in 2015 with Legal Aid Chicago. I worked in the Children and Families Division helping with orders of protection, divorces and child custody issues for survivors of domestic violence.
How does PILI’s 2025 theme, Stand for Justice, resonate with you? This year’s PILI theme, Stand for Justice, embodies the reasons why I wanted to become a lawyer: justice means access, justice means opportunity, and justice requires service. Lawyers have the ability and the obligation to effect positive change in the lives of others, in addition to advocating for that change. Access to legal resources and the right to make decisions regarding our own lives are being threatened, and it is our obligation as attorneys to serve communities that need our help.
Why do you volunteer? Do you volunteer with organizations other than PILI? I volunteer because everyone has a right to access our legal system, regardless of their socioeconomic status. We understand that people seek legal help when they are in some of the worst situations of their lives, and everyone deserves the right to have help along the way. I am on the Alumni Network Leadership Council for PILI, and I volunteer with PILI through Illinois Free Legal Answers, and I also serve as a guardian ad litem for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.
In what ways has PILI helped support or inspire your commitment to public interest law? PILI’s staff and supportive partners make access to legal resources and programming straightforward and practical. They use both online tools and in-person trainings to help facilitate both volunteer attorneys and folks seeking in-person guidance with their legal issues. I have always felt supported by PILI throughout my career, even during difficult times when I was not able to give back as much as I would have liked. Regardless of what type of legal work you are interested in, PILI and its affiliated organizations can provide you with the type of work or help you are looking for.
What is something that you have seen PILI do or be a part of that has really resonated with/inspired/excited you? There are so many law students and recent law school graduates that want to be involved with legal aid organizations but the only thing standing in their way is funding. PILI’s Law Student Internship Program allows students to work for agencies that desperately need support, and many of those students would not be able to take those positions without the financial support from PILI. The PILI staff and the members of PILI’s respective leadership entities truly care about legal access and justice, and PILI has established a presence throughout the state and elsewhere. I am proud to be involved with PILI, and I am excited to see what the organization will accomplish over the next several years.
Abigail Van Hook
Troutman Pepper Locke LLP
When & why did you become involved with PILI? I was a 2018 PILI Fellow at Land of Lincoln Legal Aid. I had so many legal “firsts” during that summer, including my first hearing! I wanted to continue my involvement when I started working at a firm, so I joined the Alumni Network Leadership Council.
Why do you volunteer? Access to justice and giving back is a fundamental part of my practice and, I believe, my purpose. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the need, but I know I am making a difference—even if it’s a small one. I volunteer in a variety of ways in my community and church. I am involved with several organizations, including After School Matters, BWLA, and NPH USA. I am also working to establish the USA presence of an amazing organization in Ghana called the Play N Learn Foundation.
In what ways has PILI helped support or inspire your commitment to public interest law? Being part of the Alumni Network Leadership Council has been a great way to connect with like-minded people. We all share a dedication to public interest despite having very different backgrounds and workplaces. It is motivating and a joy!
What is something that you have seen PILI do or be a part of that has really resonated with/inspired/excited you? During my PILI Fellowship, we received training on providing trauma-informed legal advice. Giving sound legal advice is one thing, but educating, advocating, and supporting is what most clients in crisis truly want. I keep this front of mind in all my pro bono cases. Sometimes (read: many times) it is not about the legal answers—it is about making someone feel seen and empowered.