Beyond Legal Aid (“Beyond”) is a nonprofit legal services organization that works alongside community activists in a collaborative pursuit for justice. Through our model of Community Activism Lawyering, Beyond seeks to transform legal aid from a transactional service into an empowering process that places decision-making power in the hands of impacted communities.
Beyond operates 29 community-located, community-operated, and community-directed programs in partnership with 24 community organizations across Illinois. Our programs include Community Law Offices, Activism Partnerships, Bridgework Partnerships, Community Empowerment Education initiatives, a 24/7 national immigration helpline, and an Activist Support Program. Together, these programs provide free legal services, legal education, technical assistance, and advocacy support to immigrant communities, tenants, workers, families, and other historically marginalized communities.
Beyond’s legal work spans immigration, housing, employment, criminal records relief, family law, and related matters. Since our founding, we have supported more than 35,000 community members through legal advice, self-advocacy support, limited and extended representation, and litigation.
Beyond was founded on the belief that legal services are most effective when they are rooted in the communities they are intended to support. Beginning in a storage closet at our first community partner, Enlace Chicago, Beyond developed an alternative to traditional legal aid that combines direct legal representation with community leadership, grassroots organizing, and systemic advocacy.
PILI Graduate Fellow Experience
A PILI Graduate Fellow will be integrated into Beyond’s legal and community-based work and will take on substantive assignments based on organizational needs, the Fellow’s experience, and areas of interest. Fellows may assist with direct representation, legal research and writing, litigation, community legal education, advocacy initiatives, and projects developed in collaboration with Beyond’s community partners.
Fellows receive regular supervision and mentorship from passionate legal staff members and may participate in Beyond’s organizational trainings and substantive practice-area discussions. Our goal is to give Fellows the opportunity to do challenging, meaningful legal work while surrounding them with the mentorship, support, and perspective they need to grow into thoughtful and courageous practitioners.
Beyond has a long history of hosting law students, fellows, and recent graduates and views this investment as an important part of our mission. Former interns and fellows have joined Beyond as permanent staff, and current Beyond attorneys include former PILI Interns. Through the PILI program, we hope to continue developing future lawyers while introducing them to a model of legal advocacy centered on partnering with communities rather than simply serving them.
Application Process
To apply, please submit the following:
- Cover Letter (500 words or less): Your cover letter should explain your interest in Beyond Legal Aid and our community-centered model, as well as the skills, experiences, and perspective you would bring to the fellowship.
- Current Resume
This agency is approved to host Graduate Fellows.