National Volunteer Week, celebrated this year from April 19-25, 2026, is an opportunity for PILI to recognize and acknowledge our own outstanding and dedicated volunteers. Without our vast network of volunteers throughout Illinois, PILI would not be where it is today. Today, we are spotlighting members of our Alumni Network Leadership Council who meet the moment by using their own time and talents to increase access to justice.
Scott Goehring
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Why are you involved with PILI? I was fortunate to be a PILI Graduate Fellow the summer between graduating from law school and beginning at my law firm, when I spent the summer with Legal Aid Chicago’s Housing Group Practice. That experience made me want to remain connected to PILI and seek out pro bono opportunities as a practicing attorney, which I have found through membership on the PILI Alumni Network Leadership Council and opportunities to help out with PILI’s Illinois Free Legal Answers, a virtual legal clinic where residents all over Illinois can seek help with their legal issues.
Natanya Pope-Sohel
Illinois Torture Inquiry & Relief Commission
Why are you involved with PILI? My involvement with PILI stems from my dedication to public interest law and my goal of paying forward the support PILI gave me throughout my law school journey.
What impact has your involvement with PILI had on you or your perspective on access to justice? PILI’s work constantly reinforces my belief that equitable access to justice is the foundation of a fair legal system, demonstrating how coordinated legal efforts can deliver meaningful help to those in need.
How/Why does this year’s PILI theme, “Meet the Moment: Your Action Today Shapes Justice Tomorrow,” resonate with you? The theme resonates deeply because we are at a critical juncture where people need more legal help; it reminds us that proactively safeguarding judicial integrity and equity today directly shapes and secures justice for tomorrow’s litigants.
Click here to see our other National Volunteer Week 2026 spotlights »