About the Event
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 recipients of pro bono service awards. Advance registration is required using the form below.
At this event, we will present the Tenth Judicial Circuit Joseph A. Dailing Pro Bono Service Award to one or more lawyers practicing in the Tenth Judicial Circuit who have provided outstanding pro bono services to low-income individuals and charitable organizations in the last year. Prairie State Legal Services, the Peoria County Bar Association and the Tazewell County Bar Association will also present their pro bono awards at this event. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White will be our special guest speaker at the event.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 Pro Bono Service Award through Friday, September 4th. To see past award recipients, click here »
If you have any other questions, please contact Abigail Causer by email or at 217-693-6017.
View all of PILI’s Pro Bono Week 2026 Events »
Can’t see the registration form? Click here »
REGISTER HERE FOR THE RECEPTION
ABOUT THE JOSEPH A. DAILING PRO BONO SERVICE AWARD
The Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee named 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.
About the 2025 Award Recipient
Yolanda Riley obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Speech Communication and Criminal Justice from Illinois State University. She earned her Juris Doctorate Degree at Southern Illinois University School of Law. She is a Peoria native who is very passionate about her work and advocating for her clients. Yolanda also provides free legal workshops and counsel through Peoria Public Schools’ Wrap-around Center, where she maintains a special focus on family law and helping clients expunge or seal criminal records, which can help them obtain better jobs, housing and other services. She was nominated for her outstanding pro bono work at the Peoria and Tazewell Self-Represented Litigant Help Desks, local legal clinics, and through the Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panel.
Other 2025 Award Recipients:
Prairie State Awards
- Equal Access to Justice: Tim Kirk, Heyl Royster
- Joined in Justice: Nicole Morrow, City of Peoria
Peoria County Bar Association
- Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year: Mitch Gilfillan
- Pro Bono Young Lawyer of the Year: Noah Dwyer
- Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year: Murphy and Dunn
Tazewell County Bar Association
- Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Kelly Giraudo
Prior Joseph A. Dailing Pro Bono Service Award Recipients:
- Judge Michael Brandt, Ret. (2024)
- Tamara (Tami) Meister (2023)
- Louis P. Milot (2022)
- Kerrianne Waters (2021)
- Michael Fleming (2020)
- G. Edward Murphy (2019)
- Abigail Fleming (2018)
- Sumner Bourne (2017)
- Jeff Krumpe (2016)
- Spencer L. Daniels (2015)