PILI is grateful to Bide Akande of the Office of the Cook County Public Defender, who has been serving as Chair of our Young Professionals Board for the last year and will conclude his term at the end of this month.
Prior to serving as an Assistant Public Defender with the Office of the Cook County Public Defender, Bide was a Senior Associate at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP where he focused his practice on litigating reinsurance claims, commercial contract disputes and product liability claims. Bide graduated from the University of Illinois School of Law and was a member of the Student Bar Association, Phi Alpha Delta Mock Trial Team, International Law Organization as well as the American Civil Liberties Union.
Bide has been an active member of the Young Professionals Board for many years, serving in a variety of leadership roles before becoming Chair and has been instrumental in the fundraising and planning of Young Professionals Board events like Giving Day and Arcade for Legal Aid.
As Bide concludes his service as Chair, we asked him a few questions about her involvement with PILI.
WHAT DREW YOU TO PILI AND ITS MISSION?
I was drawn to PILI because of its fundamental and direct approach to a critical flaw in our justice system: the lack of a constitutional right to counsel in civil matters. The fact that tens of thousands of Illinoisans facing dire circumstances, like housing instability or discrimination, are left to navigate the complex legal system alone is a profound injustice. PILI’s mission to engage, inspire, and empower the legal community to advance equal access to justice isn’t just aspirational; it’s a practical and necessary intervention. I was particularly compelled by PILI’s role as a facilitator, connecting those who need help with those in the legal community who have the skills and desire to provide it.
HOW HAS YOUR COMMITMENT TO PRO BONO SERVICE AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE PLAYED A ROLE IN YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
My commitment to pro bono service and access to justice has been a grounding force in both my life and career. Professionally, it has served as a constant reminder of why I chose to practice law—to help people and ensure our system is fair and accessible. It has provided me with practical experience in areas of law I might not have encountered otherwise, sharpening my skills and broadening my perspective. On a personal level, it has been incredibly fulfilling. Using my skills to directly assist someone facing a daunting legal challenge provides a sense of purpose that transcends daily work. It reinforces the belief that our profession has a responsibility to serve the community and that ensuring equal access to justice is a core tenet of being a lawyer. I partially blame my work with PILI for inspiring my choice to work for the Cook County Public Defenders Office, a choice for which I will never financially recover.
WHY DO YOU LIKE SERVING ON THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD?
Long story short: The vibes are excellent!
Long story long: Serving on the Young Professionals Board allows me to actively contribute to cultivating that deep-rooted culture of service PILI envisions. It’s an opportunity to work with a passionate and innovative group of peers to engage our generation of the legal community. The board is a unique platform to help inspire my colleagues to see pro bono not as an optional extra, but as an integral part of their professional identity. It’s about building the future of the legal community in Illinois, one that is collaborative, service-oriented, and optimized to best serve the people and families who need us most. Also, the Arcade for Legal Aid is pretty rad.