On December 10th, PILI will bring together members of the Illinois legal community for its Annual Awards Luncheon, celebrating those who exemplify the highest ideals of the profession. Each year, this event recognizes individuals and an organization whose commitment to public interest law, pro bono service, and equal access to justice strengthens communities across our state.
This year, PILI is proud to honor four outstanding award recipients whose leadership, advocacy, and dedication reflect PILI’s mission to engage, inspire, and empower those advancing justice for all.
Congratulations to our 2025 honorees!
PILI INTERN ALUMNI AWARD: ARTURO HERNANDEZ
Arturo Hernandez has built a distinguished career advancing the rights of people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. A 2011 PILI Law Student Intern with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH), he now serves as Senior Attorney leading CCH’s criminal records relief work, including cannabis expungements through New Leaf Illinois. Arturo’s advocacy has achieved life-changing outcomes for clients and contributed to CCH’s amicus brief in Grants Pass v. Johnson before the U.S. Supreme Court. His leadership, mentorship, and dedication to racial equity embody PILI’s mission and the spirit of public service.
PILI FELLOW ALUMNI AWARD: JUDY K. HE
A 2017 PILI Graduate Fellow at The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, Judy He has continued to champion equal access to justice while rising as a leader in Crowell & Moring’s Intellectual Property Group. Averaging over 200 pro bono hours annually, Judy has led complex federal cases and provided critical representation through the Tahirih Justice Center and the National Immigrant Justice Center. A past Chair of PILI’s Young Professionals Board, Judy is recognized as both a mentor and an advocate whose excellence and empathy advance PILI’s mission every day.
PRO BONO INITIATIVE AWARD: GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP
Greenberg Traurig exemplifies an unwavering commitment to expanding commitment to expanding access to justice through meaningful pro bono work. The firm strongly encourages associates to devote at least 25 hours each year to pro bono work and offers billable credit for up to 100 hours—standards that reflect the firm’s belief that serving the underserved is integral to the practice of law. Collectively, lawyers across Greenberg Traurig contribute tens of thousands of hours to pro bono representation each year. In Chicago alone, attorneys provided more than 4,000 hours of pro bono service in 2024. Through its sustained pro bono service, meaningful partnerships, and investment in the next generation of public interest advocates, Greenberg Traurig embodies the values honored by PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative Award.
DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD: JUSTICE MARY JANE THEIS
Justice Mary Jane Theis has dedicated her career to advancing justice and expanding access to legal services across Illinois. From her beginnings as a Cook County Public Defender to serving at every level of the Illinois judiciary, she has shaped the profession through her leadership and commitment to fairness. Justice Theis served on the Appellate Court for 17 years before being appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court in 2010, where she has served since. As Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court from October 2022 to October 2025, she established the Supreme Court Executive Committee on the Practice of Law to improve access for those unable to secure representation. Her careerlong dedication to justice, mentorship, and service exemplifies the highest ideals of the legal profession.