As part of celebrating our 40th Anniversary, we challenged our program participants and supporters to describe PILI using one word. These are some of the words we heard: Opportunity, Empowering, Life-Changing, Inspiring, Passion, Hub, Justice, Collaborative and Innovative. We believe these words illustrate the value and impact of PILI.
Since 1977, PILI has given law students the opportunity to assist low-income and underrepresented people with legal needs in Illinois through our Law Student Internship Program. We empower PILI Interns by providing a stipend coupled with educational, advising and networking opportunities, opening the door for them to pursue a public interest law career. In 2018, we will fund the largest group of PILI Interns to date and have raised their stipend to more fully cover their living expenses. Altogether, these PILI Interns will generate more than 20,000 hours of legal services to Illinois’ most vulnerable people and communities.
Additionally, our Graduate Fellowship Program provides first-year law firm associates with a life-changing experience that inspires a career-long commitment to pro bono. Over the next year, PILI Fellows will generate another 20,000 hours of legal services. Our Alumni Network now encompasses 4,000 former PILI Interns and Fellows whom we support in maintaining their passion for public interest law or pro bono service. Through our Pro Bono Initiative Program, we serve as a hub that unites the full spectrum of the legal profession to work together to increase access to justice across the state. Read more about our impact over the last year in our 2017 Year in Review »
As we look to our next 40 years, we know that our job is not done. Our collaborative work with partners statewide to find innovative ways to fill the justice gap is only beginning. But we cannot do it without your support. Will you make a donation to PILI to support our work before the end of the year?
We look forward with excitement to carrying out our mission in the years to come. Your giving makes a future possible in which we have a legal community across the state with a deeply rooted culture of service, working collectively to ensure that access to justice is a reality for all.