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Introducing the New Alumni Network Leadership Council Intern and Fellow Representatives

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PILI is excited to welcome Brittany Ochoa and Alana Porter to our Alumni Network Leadership Council as our new Law Student Intern and 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.

Brittany Ochoa

How did your PILI Internship shape the way you approach your current role or future career goals?

My PILI Internships helped me recognize the autonomy I have to choose my own career path, even if it’s not a traditional trajectory. The mentors, colleagues, and friends I developed over two PILI Internships encouraged me to follow my passion for farmworker rights and food sovereignty despite how niche the field is.

How do you think PILI Alumni can best support today’s Interns and Fellows?

Just taking the time to build an actual relationship with Interns and Fellows can make such a difference in a person’s scholastic and professional development. A Zoom chat or coffee meet-up is nice, but consistency (even if that’s just a text check-in every once in a while) is so much more meaningful.

Outside of your legal work, what inspires or motivates you in your daily life?

I am inspired by the joy inherent in justice. Being in community with others, especially organizing to make change, is a driving force in my life.

Alana Porter

What has been the most meaningful experience or lesson you’ve taken away since completing your PILI Fellowship? 

My PILI Fellowship reminded me that knowing the law is only part of being a good lawyer; understanding how the law affects people’s everyday lives is just as important. Working at the National Immigrant Justice Center, particularly with young people navigating our immigration system, was especially meaningful because this kind of work was what inspired me to go to law school in the first place. The experience also gave me a deeper appreciation for the Chicago legal community and made me excited to build my career here.

How did your PILI Fellowship shape the way you approach your current role or future career goals?

My PILI Fellowship taught me to look beyond the immediate legal issue and consider the bigger picture. Even seemingly small legal decisions can have ripple effects on the people and communities involved. I carry that perspective with me in my current work in finance, where I try to understand not just the issue in front of me, but the broader impact of the work we are doing.

As a new representative on the Alumni Network Leadership Council, what do you hope to contribute during your term? 

As a first-generation student, I know how difficult it can be to navigate a career like law, where there are so many possible paths and no set guidebook. I hope to help create opportunities for PILI Alumni, particularly those from nontraditional backgrounds, to build community, develop meaningful personal and professional connections, and feel that they have a place within the broader Illinois legal community.

Outside of your legal work, what inspires or motivates you in your daily life? 

I’m motivated by the people who remind me of the good in the world, especially my husband, Marcos. He has a way of keeping me grounded and making me laugh, even during the busiest seasons of life. I’m also inspired by the immigrant communities I’ve had the privilege of representing, who have risked so much to seek a better life in the U.S. for themselves and their families. I’ve also been incredibly lucky to have transactional attorney mentors who have taken the time to teach me, answer my endless questions, and show me the ropes. Their generosity has had a lasting impact on my career, and I hope to pay that generosity forward.

Introducing New Leadership of PILI’s Board of Directors

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At its July 2026 meeting, the PILI Board of Directors elected new officers for PILI’s next two fiscal years. Lisa McCraw was elected President, Mark O’Meara was elected Vice President, Elizabeth P. Lewis was elected Secretary, Kimberly Barton was elected Treasurer, and Kyle Petersen was elected Immediate Past President. Their terms began on September 1, 2026 and will conclude on August 31, 2027.

 

LISA J. MCCRAW, PRESIDENT

Lisa joined the PILI Board of Directors in 2013, and most recently served as Vice President. She maintains an active pro bono practice of her own, providing counsel to nonprofits in the Quad Cities on corporate governance and contract review. She has also participated in PILI’s Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee’s service projects, including the Volunteer Lawyer Project for tenants facing eviction and the Wills and Power of Attorney clinic for low-income seniors. Lisa most recently served as Assistant General Counsel of Litigation at Deere & Company and is based in Moline. During Lisa’s tenure as chair of Deere’s pro bono committee, the company was recognized for its significant pro bono legal work in the community with PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative Award in 2012.

MARK O’MEARA, VICE PRESIDENT

Mark is a partner with Chapman and Cutler LLP in the Banking and Financial Services Department and is also a member of the Commercial Lending Group. He joined the PILI Board of Directors in 2016, and most recently served as Secretary. Mark has a focus on representing financial institutions through structuring and documenting secured and unsecured transactions, loan restructuring and workout transactions. He has experience in asset-based lending, project financing, cash-flow lending and more. Mark served in forming and counseling a social impact fund managed by Local Initiatives Support Corporation that provides project loans to acquire, preserve, and improve affordable housing in the Detroit metropolitan area. Mark represented a financial services company in the Pay for Success financing of a new social impact project that aims to address the underlying causes of asthma by providing in-home asthma care and environmental interventions to low-income New Yorkers.

ELIZABETH P. LEWIS, SECRETARY

Elizabeth serves as the Pro Bono and Community Service Partner at McDermott Will & Emery. She leads the Firm’s pro bono, community service and charitable giving initiatives to define the Firm’s programmatic mission, identify strategies for growth and launch pro bono and community service initiatives. Elizabeth also regularly works with nonprofit organizations on legal clinics, community service events and other opportunities for social impact. She also regularly represents individual and nonprofit clients on a wide variety of issues ranging from special education, school discipline, family law, tax exemption and a variety of other tax and business law issues. Elizabeth joined the PILI Board of Directors in 2015. She previously served on the Alumni Network Leadership Council, including as Chair. She is the first to join as an officer of the Board of Directors from the Alumni Network Leadership Council.

KIMBERLY BARTON, TREASURER

Kimberly Barton is currently a Vice President and Assistant General Counsel in the Commercial Bank at JPMorgan Chase & Co.  Kimberly practiced at Chapman and Cutler LLP prior to joining JPMorgan Chase in 2016. She has a JD from the University of Iowa College of Law and a BBA in Finance, Investments and Banking, International Business and French form the University of Wisconsin – Madison.  Kimberly has provided pro bono assistance to low-income housing developers and small businesses, asylum seekers and other immigrants, and victims of domestic violence. Kimberly currently serves on the Chicago Pro Bono Committee as well as the Legal Charitable Giving Committee at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

KYLE A. PETERSEN, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Kyle is a partner in the Wage & Hour Litigation Group at Seyfarth Shaw where she dedicates much of her time to representing employers across the U.S. in court litigation and administrative matters relating to wage and hour laws. Kyle is a PILI Alum, having served as a PILI Graduate Fellow after her graduation from Chicago-Kent College of Law. She joined the board in 2015 and most recently served as President. Kyle is the first ever PILI Alumni to have served as President of the Board of Directors. At Seyfarth Shaw, Kyle provides preventative counseling and works with employers to minimize their exposure to investigation and litigation under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws. Kyle has also represented management against a number of discrimination and harassment claims pertaining to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act and more. Kyle’s work has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Illinois Super Lawyers (2009-2013).

 

Casey Nelson Named Chair of the Alumni Network Leadership Council

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2026-2027 Chair of PILI’s Alumni Network Leadership Council Chair Casey Nelson of McGuireWoods

PILI’s Alumni Network, consisting of thousands of former Law Student Interns and Graduate Fellows, is led by the Alumni Network Leadership Council. The Council is composed of PILI Alumni committed to remaining connected to PILI and public interest law while giving back through service, leadership and philanthropy.

With the start of PILI’s new fiscal year on September 1st, Casey J. Nelson of McGuireWoods assumed leadership of the Alumni Network Leadership Council as Chair. Casey previously served as Chair-Elect and has been a member of the Council since 2016.

“I’m honored to serve as the new Chair of the Alumni Network Leadership Council,” Casey said. “This year, I look forward to building upon the strong foundation established by my predecessors by expanding opportunities for Alumni engagement and by welcoming the newest PILI Alumni into this incredible community. PILI has a unique ability to rally lawyers from all areas of the legal profession around a shared commitment to public service, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help advance that mission and strengthen the community that makes it possible.”

Casey is a Partner in the Chicago office of McGuireWoods, where she concentrates her practice in middle-market finance transactions, with a particular focus on senior secured acquisition financings. She also serves as co-chair of the firm’s Chicago office Pro Bono Committee and Women Lawyers Network and is an active member of its Recruiting Committee.

Casey began her involvement with PILI in 2015 as a Graduate Fellow at Legal Aid Chicago. She has remained deeply engaged in pro bono service throughout her career, including through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Wills for Heroes and Illinois Free Legal Answers.

As Chair, Casey will lead the Council’s efforts to strengthen connections among PILI Alumni, expand opportunities for engagement and service, and welcome the newest generations of Intern and Fellow Alumni into PILI’s growing network.

Brandon Knop Named Chair of PILI’s Young Professionals Board

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2026-2027 Young Professionals Board Chair Brandon Knop of United Airlines

Established in 2017, PILI’s Young Professionals Board (YPB) is a group dedicated to empowering PILI through fundraising and by serving as PILI’s ambassadors in their communities. YPB members are emerging leaders who have begun their professional careers in the past fifteen years.

With the start of PILI’s new fiscal year on September 1st, Brandon Knop of United Airlines assumed leadership of the YPB as Chair. Brandon previously served as Chair-Elect and has been an active member of the YPB for several years.

“PILI has been an important part of my professional journey, from my time as a PILI Fellow to the years participating in pro bono projects and serving as a YPB Board member,” Brandon said. “I’m excited to serve as YPB Chair and build on the Board’s strong foundation, with a focus on engaging members and supporting PILI’s mission to make justice more accessible in our community.”

Brandon is currently Counsel for Commercial Transactions at United Airlines. He earned his law degree from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and began his involvement with PILI as a Graduate Fellow working with Legal Aid Chicago. Since then, he has remained connected to PILI through pro bono service and his leadership on the Young Professionals Board.

As Chair, Brandon will lead the YPB’s efforts to raise funds, expand awareness of PILI’s programs and engage emerging professionals in supporting public interest law and pro bono throughout Illinois.

Meet PILI’s Fall Semester 2026 Law Student Interns

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PILI is excited to welcome our Fall Semester 2026 Law Student Interns!

This semester, 11 Law Student Interns will provide 2,200 hours of legal services supervised by experienced attorneys at one of PILI’s Participating Agencies. In addition to the work experience, the PILI Internship also includes supplemental educational, networking and advising opportunities for these second and third-year law students.

OUR Fall 2026 LAW STUDENT INTERNS INCLUDE:

  • Kourtney Anderson from University of Illinois College of Law at Greater Chicago Legal Clinic
  • Galilee Barron from Loyola University Chicago School of Law at National Immigrant Justice Center—LGBTQ Project*
  • Caroline Carilli from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law at Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago*
  • Savannah Cedeno from University of Illinois Chicago at Legal Aid Society*
  • Lauren Constantine from Loyola University Chicago School of Law at Equip for Equality*
  • Ashvini Kartik-Narayan from Loyola University Chicago School of Law at Center for Disability & Elderly Law*
  • PinYi Lee from Loyola University Chicago School of Law at Legal Aid Chicago
  • Katie Nail from DePaul University College of Law at Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
  • Nina Ruiztagle from DePaul University College of Law at Ascend Justice
  • Senobia Sanchez from University of Illinois College of Law at Illinois Legal Aid Online
  • Lesley Zepeda from University of Illinois Chicago at National Immigrant Justice Center—Counter-Trafficking Project*

Six of these Internships are made possible by special donations for Named & Honorary Interns (designated with an asterisk above). Meet our Named & Honorary Interns »

Learn more about the Law Student Internship Program »

Have questions about PILI’s Law Student Internship Program? Please contact PILI Program Associate Alex Schumacher email or by phone at 312-832-5130.

PILI Welcomes New Members to its Board of Directors

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With the start of our new fiscal year, we are excited to welcome three new members of our Board of Directors!

Abigail Fleming

Fleming Law Office

Abigail M. Fleming is a Partner at Fleming Law Office in Peoria, where she primarily practices in civil litigation defense. Licensed in Illinois since 2011, Abigail has represented individuals, businesses, insurance companies and their insureds, property owners and managers, condominium associations, and municipal leadership. She has extensive courtroom experience, including trying civil litigation cases before juries throughout Central Illinois, and is trained in negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.

Abigail has a longstanding commitment to pro bono service and the legal community. She serves on the Peoria County Bar Association’s Pro Bono and Diversity Committees, as well as PILI’s Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, and has received numerous recognitions for her professional and volunteer service. These include the Peoria County Bar Association Young Lawyer Volunteer of the Year Award, the Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee’s Lawyer of the Year Award, recognition on PILI’s inaugural Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll, and the Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year Award. She earned her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and her B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Sarah King

Clifford Law Offices

Sarah F. King is a Partner at Clifford Law Offices in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on medical malpractice, particularly cases involving mothers and babies. She has substantial trial experience and has served as an attorney of record in many of the firm’s significant cases, including as a lead attorney on a trial team that secured a record $101 million verdict on behalf of a child who sustained a brain injury at birth. Sarah is also a strong advocate for women’s rights and health equity, bringing that commitment to her work both inside and outside the courtroom.

Sarah is deeply involved in the legal community and in efforts to support women and children. She is a Past President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, co-founded the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association’s Women’s Caucus, and has held numerous leadership positions within the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. She is also a longtime leader with Women Everywhere: Partners in Service Project, which coordinates volunteer service by attorneys and judges to benefit women and children in Chicago. In 2024, Sarah was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. She earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law and her B.A. in English and Women’s Studies from Loyola University Chicago. Sarah is one of two Chicago Bar Association Board of Managers Representatives on PILI’s Board of Directors.

Elise Robie

Cook County Office of the Public Guardian

Elise Robie is an attorney with the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, where she works in the Adult Guardianship Division as a member of the Financial Recovery and Complex Litigation Unit. In this role, Elise works to recover funds on behalf of individuals under guardianship who have experienced financial exploitation. Elise is a PILI Alum, having been a PILI Law Student Intern at Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago during the summer of 2015.  She also served on PILI’s Alumni Network Leadership Counsel for three years from 2019-2022.

A public interest attorney with a focus on elder law and disability rights, Elise is committed to advocating for underrepresented and vulnerable populations throughout Chicago. Her work reflects a particular interest in protecting the rights, financial security, and well-being of older adults and people with disabilities.

 

Thank You to the Outgoing Chair of Our Alumni Network Leadership Council, Kimberly Mills

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Alumni Network Leadership Council Chair Kimberly Mills (L) with Chair Elect Casey Nelson (R) at the 2026 Alumni Reception

PILI is grateful to Kimberly Mills  who has been serving as Chair of our Alumni Network Leadership Council for the last year and will conclude her term at the end of this month.

Kim is a native of Los Angeles, California and graduated from the University of Southern California. She received her Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School. After graduating from law school, Kim clerked at the Orange County Public Defenders Office and for the Honorable Suzanne G. Bruguera in the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles. She received her LL.M. in Child and Family Law from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. While pursuing her LL.M., Kimberly was selected as the recipient of the Mary C. Russo Memorial PILI Law Student Internship affording her the opportunity to represent foster youth in special education and school discipline matters as a member of Legal Aid Chicago’s Education Project. Kim previously worked at Matt Cohen & Associates, as a faculty fellow and assistant director of Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Life After Innocence program, and at Cabrini Green Legal Aid. Currently, Kim is with the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender as an Assistant Public Defender and also serves as the Director of the Professional Identity Formation Program at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and is also an Adjunct Professor in the Law School Externship Program.

As Kim concludes her service as chair, we asked her a few questions about her involvement with PILI.

LOOKING BACK ON YOUR TERM AS CHAIR, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? 

I’m most proud of building a stronger connection with PILI. I introduced small but meaningful changes, like table topics at the Alumni Reception, to create a more welcoming environment that eases the pressure current Interns and Fellows often feel about networking at events. I also worked closely with PILI staff to refine the Alumni database, helping us better reach out to Alumni and continue growing our Alumni community.

WHAT HAS SERVIGN ON THE ALUMNI NETWORK LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEANT TO YOU PERSONALLY OR PROFESSIONALLY?

It’s been such an honor. I believe deeply in the work PILI does, and this role has given me a meaningful way to strengthen my connection to the organization and its mission. Serving on the Council has helped me grow, and I feel far more confident in my ability to connect with new alumni.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE PILI ALUMNI TAKE AWAY FROM BEING PART OF THIS NETWORK?

Community, connection, and contribution — those are the three words that come to mind. I feel like part of a wonderful community of people dedicated to public interest work, connected not only to fellow Alumni but also to the Young Professionals Board. And at its core, PILI is about contribution: working to ensure that marginalized and vulnerable communities have access to legal services and support in navigating a complex, often intimidating system.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A PILI ALUM WHO IS CONSIDERING BECOMING MORE INVOLVED WITH PILI?

Join! Every good thing starts with a small step, and when a group of people who believe in the PILI mission come together to share and workshop ideas, great things happen. Not to mention, the members of the Alumni Network are some of the most wonderful people I know.

AS PILI APPROACHES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSAY, WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE ALUMNI NETWORK WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD OR ACCOMPLISH?

I’d love to see us continue growing the network and deepening engagement — building an even stronger, more active community of Alumni who stay connected to PILI and to each other.

Thank You to the Outgoing Chair of Our Young Professionals Board, Anthony Lewis

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PILI is grateful to Anthony Lewis of Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, who has been serving as Chair of our Young Professionals Board for the last year and will conclude his term at the end of this month.

Tony is currently a Principal at Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit where he concentrates his practice in the area of property tax and assessment law. He is also a member of the Illinois Property Tax Lawyers Association (IPTLA) and the CBA’s Real Estate Taxation Committee and the Assessment and Appeals Subcommittee. A passionate advocate for advancing equal access to justice.

Tony has been an active member of the Young Professionals Board since 2018, serving in a variety of leadership roles before becoming Chair and has been instrumental in the fundraising and planning of Young Professionals Board events like Giving Day and Arcade for Legal Aid.

As Anthony concludes his service as Chair, we asked him a few questions about her involvement with PILI.

LOOKING BACK ON YOUR TIME AS CHAIR, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

I am proud of continuing the success of the YPB’s annual event, Arcade for Legal Aid. Since I joined the YPB in 2018, this event has seen its fair share of challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic to an unexpected change in venue two weeks before the event to the ever-changing landscape of law firms and their ability to sponsor the event. Yet, despite all of this, we have continued to host a truly unique event that both supports PILI and provides a fun night of networking and entertainment.

I’m also proud of the Frogger high score I set at this event, but that’s neither here nor there…

WHAT INITIALLY MOTIVATED YOU TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH PILI, AND WHAT HAS KEPT YOU ENGAGED?

I was first introduced to PILI and the YPB by a friend who was working at PILI at the time. I honestly had not heard of PILI, but I was interested in joining a board of attorneys my age. That said, as soon as I learned more about PILI, I was immediately drawn to its mission and the pursuit to advance equal access to justice. Eight years later, I’m still motivated by this mission, and the incredible people at PILI and the members of the YPB keep me wanting to stay engaged.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO IS CONSIDERING JOINING THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD OR BECOMING MORE INVOLVED WITH PILI?

We all lead busy lives, and the idea of adding something else can certainly be daunting. However, despite all that goes on daily with my family, job and just life in general, I find PILI and the Young Professionals Board to be such a rewarding outlet. Whether it is the meetings, events or just being around like-minded individuals, it is truly time well spent. If an hour or two out of my day can ultimately help ensure a fairer and more accessible legal system for all those who struggle dealing with it, I’m more than happy to devote my time.