PILI is excited to announce the formation of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, a collaborative effort dedicated to strengthening pro bono engagement and expanding access to justice in Lake County. This will be PILI’s twelfth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee.
Comprised of judges, attorneys, and legal professionals from across the circuit, the Committee will work to identify community needs, promote pro bono opportunities, and help connect volunteer attorneys with individuals who need legal assistance but cannot afford representation. The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit is located in the Second Appellate District and is led by Chief Judge Daniel B. Shanes.
The Committee will be chaired by the Honorable Patricia L. Cornell of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, with Jennifer J. Howe of Lesser Lutrey Pasquesi & Howe, LLP serving as Vice Chair. Together with fellow members of the bench and bar, they will help guide the Committee’s efforts to strengthen pro bono service throughout the region.
As PILI continues to support pro bono efforts across Illinois, the launch of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee represents an important step in expanding the network of legal professionals working to ensure that everyone—regardless of income—has access to legal help.
Below, Chair Judge Patricia L. Cornell and Vice Chair Jennifer J. Howe share reflections on what inspired their involvement with the Committee and their hopes for its impact in the Nineteenth Circuit.
Honorable Patricia L. Cornell
What excites you the most about launching the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee at this moment?
The most exciting part of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee are the members. Each of the selected committee members brings a unique perspective and a plethora of knowledge. This will ensure that the Pro Bono Committee will be able to determine not only the needs but a solution for the people of Lake County.
What does pro bono service mean to you personally?
My grandmother was very active in the AMVETS Auxiliary for my entire life because of my grandfather’s service in the U.S. Navy. My grandmother brought me to the Great Lakes Naval Base to volunteer, and we often shopped and created care packages to ship to military servicemembers overseas—these are only two of the many things we did annually. I took several cases pro bono cases every year as a practicing attorney. Giving back to the community was stressed to me as a child and it remains an important aspect of my life both personally and professionally.
How do you hope this Committee will inspire attorneys in the region to get involved?
Sometimes it just takes one action to get people involved. My hope is that the committee members will themselves get inspired and communicate with their fellow bar members which will allow others to learn how they can get involved and, hopefully, a sense of obligation to get involved.
Jennifer Howe
What excites you the most about launching the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee at this moment?
Especially now, lawyers and the legal process are constantly in the public eye and subject to criticism. That’s why it’s important in this context, to take action demonstrating our circuit’s collective dedication to make the legal process more accessible and helpful to all members of the community.
Why is strengthening pro bono engagement in your region especially important right now?
Many lawyers in our community are dedicated in some way to public service, but don’t often know how to connect with those in need. One of the important goals of the Committee will be to connect lawyers who want to help with those who need their help.
What does pro bono service mean to you personally?
It is a win-win. Practicing law can be challenging and mentally exhausting, even on the best days. However, when I am doing work for those in need, those who really appreciate what I do and how I can help, it makes me feel refreshed and invigorated as a lawyer. It reminds me of why I went to law school in the first place. The result is that I receive just as much, or even more, than I could ever give as a pro bono lawyer.
How do you hope this Committee will inspire attorneys in the region to get involved?
I hope that with the creation of this committee, we remind our community of lawyers that they are needed and that they can make a difference, not only for clients in need, but for their own practices and lives.