Participating Agencies
Below is the complete list of the 30 public interest law agencies in Illinois that have been approved to participate in PILI’s Law Student Internship Program. Please do not contact the agency directly to apply for a PILI Internship as all applications must be made through PILI’s online application system. Most positions are located in the Chicago area, and we also currently fund Internships in Alton, Bloomington, Carbondale, Champaign, East St. Louis, Peoria, Rock Island and West Chicago, Illinois.
Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago
Interested in disability rights and working with attorneys who specialize in disability rights? Want to learn about the disability rights movement? Access Living is a disability rights organization that uses advocacy and litigation to promote the full integration of people with disabilities into the fabric of society. The Civil Rights Team focuses on discrimination – instances in which people with disabilities confront barriers to housing, government services and programs, and public accommodations (i.e. businesses open to the public). Interns and Fellows get to do real legal work. Under the supervision of attorneys, they interview clients, investigate cases, analyze documents, write demand letters, draft complaints and other legal pleadings, conduct legal research, and manage their own caseload. Interns and Fellows are integrated into the day-to-day operations of the Team. They attend staff meetings, legal strategy meetings, and other relevant events.
ACLU of Illinois
The ACLU is devoted to protecting and expanding the civil liberties and civil rights of all Americans. The Roger Baldwin Foundation is the litigation arm of the ACLU of Illinois.
Ascend Justice
Ascend Justice provides free legal assistance to survivors of gender-based violence and families impacted by the child welfare system.
Cabrini Green Legal Aid
Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA) provides high-impact, free legal services to low-income Chicagoans in four areas of law: family, housing, criminal records, and criminal defense. We actively integrate legal and social services in order to improve our legal outcomes and extend our impact beyond crisis support.
CARPLS
CARPLS is a legal aid hotline that provides advice, information, and referrals to low-income residents of Cook County. Our mission is to increase access to the legal system for low-income people through our hotline work, as well as through Self-Help Projects, which include written and web-based pro se and client education materials, and our court-based advice desks, which prepare clients to represent themselves on pro se matters.
Center for Conflict Resolution
The Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) is a Chicago-based organization founded in 1979. In the past three decades, CCR has grown to become one of the nation’s premier not-for-profit providers of mediation services and training.
Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL)
The Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) is a not-for-profit, pro bono Chicago law firm, serving low-income elderly and disabled persons since 1984. With 1,100 volunteer attorneys from throughout Chicago’s distinguished legal community, CDEL handles cases in many practice areas, including estate planning, housing, consumer claims and dissolution of marriage.
Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts
Chicago Appleseed is a social impact research and advocacy organization which uses multidisciplinary research to identify community injustices, and to develop and advocate for practical solutions. We focus on the areas of Criminal Justice Reform, Judicial and Lawyer Ethics, Immigration Court Reform, and Family Law.
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
The Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is the only legal organization in Illinois solely dedicated to providing legal representation and advocacy to homeless or at-risk individuals, youth and families. Our team of six attorneys and intake specialist provide assistance in the areas of education, civil rights, access to health care and public benefits and other civil legal services.
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
The Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is a non-profit law and advocacy organization, whose mission is to promote and protect the civil rights of poor, minority, and disadvantaged people in order to facilitate their participation in the social, economic, and political systems of our community and nation.
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
With more than 44 years of experience, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) is the first and pre-eminent pro bono civil legal aid provider in Chicago. With its pool of nearly 2,500 volunteer attorneys, CVLS is unique in its ability to offer a wide range of totally free civil legal aid to the poor and working poor on an individual basis.
Citizen Advocacy Center
The Citizen Advocacy Center builds democracy for the 21st century by strengthening public participation in community affairs. The Center believes in developing self-government.
Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest
The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC), the Midwest’s leading public interest environmental advocacy and eco-business innovation organization, seeks to hire PILI Fellows. Our Fellows support ELPC’s state and federal litigation and policy work throughout the Midwest.
Equip for Equality
Equip for Equality, Inc. is a private nonprofit, statewide organization whose mission is to advance the human and civil rights of people with disabilities by promoting the principles of equality, self-determination, and dignity. The five substantive priority areas of Equip for Equality are discrimination, community integration, safety from abuse and neglect, special education and self-determination.
Greater Chicago Legal Clinic
Founded in 1981, the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc. provides free or low-cost legal consultations and representation to disadvantaged individuals in the Chicago region from advice desks located at the Richard J. Daley Center: Foreclosure Advice Desk and Parentage and Child Support Pro Se Advice Desk.
Illinois Legal Aid Online
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) uses innovation to help people understand and act on their legal rights. ILAO provides 24/7 access to free, reliable, self-help legal tools in English, Spanish and Polish.
Immigration Project
The Immigration Project is a nonprofit organization that provides high quality immigration legal services in Central and Southern Illinois. We are the principal provider of non-profit immigration legal services in our service area which encompasses 86 counties. We are staffed by experienced immigration attorneys and excellent support professionals. We recognize that access to accurate, complete information regarding immigration law is geographically and economically restricted for underserved, immigrant populations in downstate Illinois. The Immigration Project endeavors to provide access to justice for immigrants and their families through immigration-related legal and educational services to immigrants, refugees, their families, and others in downstate Illinois, in a manner and context which recognizes the full dignity of each individual.
Impact for Equity
Impact for Equity is an innovative law and policy center that works to advance nuanced solutions to pressing racial, economic, and social justice issues in the Chicago region and Illinois. Our team of lawyers and policy staff are committed to addressing the structural racism and systemic oppression that has led to inequities and injustices, particularly for people and communities of color, in two program areas: Criminal Legal System/Police Accountability and Housing.
Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil right of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV, through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.
Land of Lincoln Law Student Intern – Alton
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid provides free civil legal services through five regional offices to low income individuals and senior citizens in 65 counties in Illinois. The Western Regional Office located in Alton, IL, provides legal services to individuals in 12 counties, ranging from rural to urban, including Madison County, IL, which is in the […]
Land of Lincoln Law Student Intern – Champaign
In its Eastern Regional Office, located in Champaign, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid’s lawyers provide a full range of civil legal assistance to low-income residents of 14 counties in central Illinois, including providing advice and counsel, litigation, and community education.
Land of Lincoln Law Student Intern – Carbondale
Located in Carbondale and Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid’s lawyers provide a full range of civil legal assistance to low-income residents, including providing advice, counsel, litigation, and community education. The Southern Regional Office provides legal services to individuals in 23 counties in deep Southern Illinois. An Internship with Land of Lincoln provides […]
Land of Lincoln Law Student Intern – East St. Louis
In its Central Regional Office, located in East St. Louis, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid’s lawyers provide a full range of civil legal assistance to low-income residents, including providing advice, counsel, litigation, and community education. The Central Regional Office provides legal services to individuals in 7 counties, ranging from rural to urban, including Saint Clair […]
Law Center for Better Housing
The Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) believes that every individual and family is entitled to decent housing as a basic need and human right. LCBH promotes the rights of tenants to safe, accessible, and affordable housing on a non-discriminatory basis through education, outreach, supportive services, advocacy, and legal representation. LCBH has been providing legal services to low-income renters in Chicago for over 37 years.
Legal Aid Chicago
Legal Aid Chicago handles a wide spectrum of civil cases on matters of core social and economic importance. Case handlers work in one of five practice groups: Consumer, Family, Housing, Immigrant and Workers’ Rights, and Public Benefits.
Legal Aid Society
The Legal Aid Society was established in 1886 and works with its seven social service centers to bring a variety of legal services to Chicago’s most vulnerable citizens in the communities where they live. The Domestic Violence Team focuses on issues related to family law, including domestic violence, divorce, and child custody and support issues.
Legal Council for Health Justice
Legal Council for Health Justice (formerly known as the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago) uses the power of the law to secure dignity, opportunity, and well-being for people facing barriers due to illness or disability.
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is a national Latino civil rights advocacy organization dedicated to preserving and expanding civil rights of Latinos in the areas of immigrant rights, education, political access, employment and public resource equity.
National Immigrant Justice Center
The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), formerly known as Midwest & Immigrant Human Rights, is a program of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights.
Prairie State Legal Services Law Student Intern – Peoria Office
Prairie State Legal Services is a not-for-profit law firm that provides civil legal services at no fee to the poor, elderly, and people with disabilities in 36 counties in northern and central Illinois. In almost all of those counties, Prairie State is the only source of civil legal aid for low-income, elderly and disabled residents. This summer Internship position is available in our Peoria service office, which assists clients in 10 counties in central and western Illinois.
Prairie State Legal Services Law Student Intern – Bloomington Office
Prairie State Legal Services is a not-for-profit law firm that provides civil legal services at no fee to the poor, elderly, and people with disabilities in 36 counties in northern and central Illinois. In almost all of those counties, Prairie State is the only source of civil legal aid for low-income, elderly and disabled residents. This summer Internship position is available in our Bloomington office, which assists clients in 3 counties in central Illinois.
Prairie State Legal Services Law Student Intern – Rock Island Office
Prairie State Legal Services is a not-for-profit law firm that provides civil legal services at no fee to the poor, elderly, and people with disabilities in 36 counties in northern and central Illinois outside of Cook County. In almost all of those counties, Prairie State is the only source of civil legal aid for low-income, […]
Prairie State Legal Services Law Student Intern – West Chicago Office
Prairie State Legal Services is a not-for-profit law firm that provides civil legal services at no fee to the poor, elderly, and people with disabilities in 36 counties in northern and central Illinois. In almost all of those counties, Prairie State is the only source of civil legal aid for low-income, elderly and disabled residents. This summer Internship position is available in our West Suburban office, which assists clients in 4 counties.
Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI)
PILI’s mission is to engage, inspire and empower those advancing equal access to justice. Through our programs, we connect law student, recent law school graduates, lawyers and legal professionals with public interest law and pro bono service opportunities. PILI is seeking a Law Student Intern to work as part of its Pro Bono Program.
The Shriver Center on Poverty Law
The Shriver Center on Poverty Law fights for economic and racial justice. Over our 50-year history, we have secured hundreds of victories with and for people living in poverty in Illinois and across the country. Today, we litigate, shape policy, and train and convene multi-state networks of lawyers, community leaders, and activists nationwide. Together, we are building a future where all people have equal dignity, respect, and power under the law.
TransLegal, Chicago House and Social Service Agency
The TransLegal program provides direct legal services to transgender and gender expansive individuals and is part of the TransLife Care Program, which provides comprehensive programming and support to people in those communities.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of the General Counsel
The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is the legal team for HHS, providing quality representation and legal advice on a wide range of highly visible national issues. OGC supports the development and implementation of HHS’s programs by providing the highest quality legal services to the Secretary of HHS and the organization’s various agencies and divisions. OGC is comprised of three principal subcomponents: the Immediate Office, Headquarters Divisions, and Regional Offices. This internship posting is for the Chicago Regional Office in Region V, which covers Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, and serves as the primary legal advisor to the Indian Health Service Bemidji Area.