About the 2022 Event
REGISTER NOW! The Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will host this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week, recognize the efforts of local pro bono volunteers and celebrate its Pro Bono Service Award Recipient. Additionally, Prairie State Legal Services, the Peoria County Bar Association and the Tazewell County Bar Association will also present pro bono awards to local volunteers at the event. The event will be held at the Renaissance Room at the Janssen Law Center in Peoria. Advance registration is required using the form below.
We are thrilled to announce that Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White will be our special guest speaker.
The Committee will present its Pro Bono Service Award to be given at the Celebrate Pro Bono Reception. Additionally, recipients of pro bono awards from the Peoria County Bar Association, Tazewell County Bar Association and Prairie State Legal Services will also be honored at the event.
2022 TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT AWARD RECIPIENTS
The following honorees have provided outstanding pro bono services to low-income individuals or charitable organizations in the last year.
- Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee’s Joseph A. Dailing Pro Bono Service Award: Louis P. Milot
- Peoria County Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year: James D. VanRheeden
- Peoria County Bar Association Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Abigail Fleming
- Peoria County Bar Association Law Firm of the Year: Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, P.C.
- Tazewell County Bar Association Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: James Bradshaw
- Prairie State Legal Services Joined in Justice Award: Toby Gardner
- Prairie State Legal Services Equal Access to Justice Award: Stephen Heine
About the Joseph A. Dailing Pro Bono Service Award Recipient: Louis Milot
Louis is a solo practitioner with a busy law practice, and he also is a part-time Peoria County Assistant Public Defender handling a high caseload in Juvenile Abuse and Neglect Court. Since becoming licensed in 1990, Louis has made pro bono representation a high priority. He accepts referrals of pro bono matters from Prairie State Legal Services and the Conflict Panel of the Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee on a consistent basis in the areas of family law as well as other civil legal areas. Louis has provided the Family Justice Resource Center with ongoing pro bono consultation and representation for individuals who have had children removed from their homes due to allegations of abuse or neglect. Louis is exceptionally committed to making the law just, accessible, responsive, and meaningful to everyone in our judicial system.
About the Joseph A. Dailing Pro Bono Service Award
The Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee has decided to name its annual Pro Bono Service Award after Joseph A. Dailing who passed away in 2022, leaving behind an incredible legacy of advocating for access to justice for all. Joe was the founding Executive Director of Prairie State Legal Services. Under Joe’s leadership, Prairie State grew to serve 30 counties, served tens of thousands of people in need and addressed inequities in how government agencies treated people who relied upon services. Joe retired from Prairie State Legal Services in 2006, but continued his work in advocating for access to justice. He became the first Executive Director of the Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice, an access to justice entity created by the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association. In this role he led Illinois efforts to open 98 legal self-help centers throughout the state. Joe continued his work promoting access to justice nationally and internationally. He traveled to the Republic of Georgia to assist the country’s Department of Justice in creating a legal aid system. He also consulted nationally to help improve a number of other legal aid programs. In 2017, Joe developed and implemented a leadership training program for PSLS staff to help the organization build future leaders. We are thrilled to honor Joe’s legacy with this special recognition.
If you have any questions about this event, please contact PILI Managing Attorney Jessica Schneider at 312-832-5125 or by email.
View all of PILI’s Pro Bono Week 2022 Events »
Watch the 2021 Virtual Event Video »
Watch the 2020 Virtual Event Video »
Register Here for the Reception
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