2026 Law Firm Request for Support
At PILI, we stand for justice.
Our mission is to engage, inspire and empower those advancing equal access to justice. Each year we adopt a theme, and this year our Stand for Justice theme focus highlights what it means to actively take a stand — to choose action over admiration. We stand with law students, lawyers, and legal professionals who mobilize their talent to advocate for those who need it most. And we stand with the clients who, when given the right tools, information, and representation, are able to advocate for themselves and assert their rights.
Because of the generosity and partnership of law firms like yours, PILI has been able to do more than ever to expand access to legal help and close gaps across Illinois. The materials that follow offer a brief overview of our work and how you can strengthen and empower PILI’s efforts to make equal access to justice a lived reality — not an aspiration — for more Illinoisans.
Learn about our Mission, Vision and Values here »
Our Programs
PILI's Law Student Internship and Graduate Fellowship Programs place law students and recent law school graduates at public interest law organizations, with PILI providing funding for their work as well as supplemental educational, networking and mentoring opportunities. Our Alumni Network builds and maintains the connection between past PILI Interns and Fellows and the public interest law community through educational, networking, leadership, and service opportunities. Our Pro Bono Program works to increase the availability of pro bono legal help for those who cannot afford an attorney in Illinois by developing innovative pro bono opportunities, offering pro bono programming and resources, cultivating best practices, and celebrating the life-changing pro bono performed throughout the state.
Ways to Support PILI
Make an Annual Charitable Gift
General charitable gifts provide PILI with the greatest flexibility to put money towards wherever we need it most. These gifts are 100 percent tax deductible as permitted by law.
Sponsor a PILI Event
PILI hosts 3 fundraising events each year and offers a variety of sponsorship levels:
YPB Arcade for Legal Aid on April 8, 2026
Hosted by PILI’s Young Professionals Board, the Arcade for Legal Aid typically brings together over 100 other young professionals, PILI board members, sponsors and other members of the legal community for a fun evening. Money raised at this event will support PILI to expand the availability of legal services in Illinois for people, families and communities in need through public interest law and pro bono service.
Annual Pro Bono Reception on June 24, 2026
PILI’s Annual Pro Bono Reception celebrates the inspiring and life-changing pro bono work being done in Illinois through effective pro bono programs, innovative partnerships, and the unwavering dedication of individual attorneys and legal professionals. PILI unveils its Pro Bono Recognition Roster and its Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll annually at this event.
Annual Awards Luncheon on December 9, 2026
PILI’s Annual Awards Luncheon brings together the Illinois legal community every year to celebrate the very best aspects of the legal profession: the generosity, expertise and commitment of the countless law students, recent graduates, lawyers and legal professionals, law firms, corporations and law schools who dedicate themselves to providing legal assistance and advocacy to those in need. This event is PILI’s largest annual fundraiser, providing critical support for our work across Illinois. PILI bestows its annual awards at this event.
Fund a Named or Honorary PILI Intern
Your law firm can make a lasting difference in the lives of law students, as well as the clients and communities they serve. PILI's Law Student Internship Program places law students from across the country at public interest law agencies in Illinois, with PILI ensuring quality supervision by experienced attorneys and providing a living stipend and extra educational, networking and advising opportunities. Law firms can sponsor a PILI Intern for $3,850 for a semester or $7,150 for a summer, which can be named in recognition of the law firm, or in honor or memory of an individual of your choosing. Learn more here »
Other Opportunities for Engagement
In addition to sponsorship opportunities, PILI offers several volunteer opportunities and ways to engage your law firm in pro bono service.
Sponsor PILI Graduate Fellows
PILI's Graduate Fellowship Program places new associates from Chicago law firms at public interest law agencies in Illinois, where they are paid by their hiring firm to work for 300 hours between graduation and joining the firm. They develop lawyering skills, build professional networks, and gain real world experience outside of law school, giving them a competitive edge when they start at their firms. PILI ensures quality supervision by experienced attorneys and providing extra educational, networking and advising opportunities. Sponsoring firms also take an active role in encouraging their incoming associates to develop long-term interest in pro bono practice.
Host an Illinois Free Legal Answers Clinic
Illinois Free Legal Answers is a secure website where lower income Illinois residents can ask a lawyer for help with a legal issue. Qualified users post questions about civil legal problems then volunteer lawyers log onto the site and select questions to answer. It's a virtual walk-in legal clinic. Host a clinic to teach your attorneys how to use the site and answer 1-2 questions for those in need through this discrete pro bono opportunity. Learn more here »
Volunteer Through the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network
IL-AFLAN is a statewide network that provides civil legal services across Illinois to veterans, active duty military and their spouses and dependents. As an IL-AFLAN member, PILI refers pro bono matters in the 101 counties outside of Cook County. Learn more here »
Attend a Pro Bono Roundtable and the Illinois Forum on Pro Bono
Each year, PILI holds several Pro Bono Forums and Roundtables to bring together pro bono leaders from law firms, corporations, legal service agencies and law schools. Attendees discuss timely pro bono issues, challenges and best practices and develop strategies to expand and enhance pro bono in Illinois. The Pro Bono Roundtables allow for unique constituent group- specific conversations, while the Forums are for everyone and give attendees an opportunity for in-depth discussion among a cross-section of the legal profession. Learn more here »
Designate PILI as a Recipient of a Cy Pres Award
PILI is eligible to receive cy pres and residual fund awards. Please consider designating PILI as a recipient of cy pres or residual funds in any class action settlement or judgment with which you are involved.
Questions?
For more information about supporting PILI, please contact PILI's Executive Director Michael Bergmann by email or by phone at 312-832-5129.
For more information about PILI's programming, please contact PILI Senior Managing Attorney Jessica Schneider by email or by phone at 312-832-5125.