For Stephanie Dykeman, her PILI Fellowship was just the beginning of a career with an emphasis on pro bono service. Now a litigation associate at Winston & Strawn, Dykeman describes her summer at the Chicago Legal Clinic as “truly a one-of-a-kind experience.” She is grateful for the exposure to areas of law she was unlikely to encounter in a large law firm. “I was afforded the unique opportunity to be an advocate right out of law school – and before I had even passed the bar,” says Dykeman. “I was taught to stand up on my own two feet, to make strategic decisions and to zealously advocate for my clients who desperately needed the legal help.” Dykeman’s most meaningful pro bono experience has been a federal court trial where she successfully represented a Lake County African-American family in their suit against three Neo-Nazi Skinheads who assaulted and threatened the family. The family won a judgment of $230,000. “Not only was it an incredible experience for me as a lawyer, as I was able to do a direct examination and the closing argument, it was also incredibly personally rewarding to assist a family in turmoil with such a difficult matter,” recalls Dykeman. Dykeman worked on the case with The Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law while she was an associate at Kirkland & Ellis. “I have always made pro bono work a priority in my practice,” says Dykeman. “I don’t just do the minimum – I commit myself to taking on meaningful, long-term pro bono matters that have a real impact.” Dykeman is currently leading a project (through a partnership between Winston & Strawn and the Center for Disability and Elder Law) assisting Jewish elderly with powers of attorney and living will declarations. She is also active with Winston & Strawn in helping Jewish elderly pursue their Holocaust reparations claims for lost property and slave labor during World War II. Reflecting on her PILI Fellowship, Dykeman notes “I met some incredibly dedicated people who continue to inspire me today. I was able (and lucky) to be part of an organization that was going out there and doing the work to make Chicago a better place.”
Originally published Oct 2010 Read more PILI Alumni Spotlights »