PILI is excited to introduce our newest PILI Alumni Class Representatives: Michael Parks of Thompson Coburn and Angela Frye of Verizon Wireless. The Alumni Class Representatives serve as ambassadors for PILI’s mission and work to personally connect with their PILI Intern and Fellow classmates to strengthen the community of 4,000 PILI Alumni. One former Intern and one former Fellow represent five-year groups of PILI Intern & Fellow Alumni.
Michael was a PILI Fellow at the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois in 1992. “Being a PILI Fellow was the perfect way to cap off my law school experience,” Michael said. “It provided me an opportunity to become immersed in public interest work, and paved the way for me to continue doing pro bono work in my private practice.”
Now a partner at Thompson Coburn LLP, Michael counsels clients on patent and trademark issues and represents them in federal courts across the United States. He also serves on the President’s Council of the Museum of Science & Industry and as a board member at Equip for Equality.
Angela was a PILI Fellow at the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office in 1997. “I have always been grateful for my PILI Fellowship experience,” she said. “I saw first-hand the dedication and hard work that public interest attorneys put forth every day, but also learned about the huge need for lawyers in private practice to take on pro bono work as they advance in their legal careers.”
Angela now works as Assistant General Counsel at Verizon Wireless, where she is a pro bono leader. She dedicates her own time to pro bono clients and volunteers with organizations such as the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic. She also encourages her colleagues to get involved in pro bono service as well.
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