Thank You for a Successful 2024 Annual Pro Bono Reception

Posted on July 1, 2024July 2, 2024 by Camille Fleming

PILI Board Vice President Kyle Petersen, President Daniel Lange and Executive Director Michael Bergmann at the 2024 Annual Pro Bono Reception.

On June 26th, PILI held our Annual Pro Bono Reception celebrating the inspiring and life-changing pro bono work being done in Illinois through effective pro bono programs, innovative partnerships, and the unwavering dedication of individual attorneys and legal professionals.

We had an incredible turnout, and it was wonderful to connect with so many of our supporters and friends - from our Law School Interns and Graduate Fellows, to members of our leadership bodies, to representatives from our Participating Agencies, to pro bono volunteers from across the state. We are especially grateful to our generous event sponsors for their support of PILI and our Pro Bono Program!

At the event, we unveiled our 2024 Pro Bono Recognition Roster and our Pro Bono Honor Roll. The Pro Bono Recognition Roster honors law firms and corporations that have made significant commitments and contributions to pro bono throughout the state of Illinois by providing legal assistance to individuals, families and communities in need. Those recognized through our Honor Roll have been chosen by PILI staff for their volunteer contributions through the pro bono opportunities available through PILI’s Pro Bono Program.

We also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the launch of PILI's Pro Bono Initiative for the New Millennium. Established in 1999, the goal was to expand the amount and types of pro bono work being done by lawyers at both corporate legal departments and law firms. Read more about the 25th Anniversary of PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative here »

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative

Posted on June 23, 2024June 26, 2024 by Michael Bergmann

In 1999, PILI launched the Pro Bono Initiative for the New Millennium. Our goal was to expand the amount and types of pro bono work being done by lawyers at both corporate legal departments and law firms. As part of its launch, a Pro Bono Summit was held with leaders from Chicago-area law firms and corporate legal departments.

Read insights from some individuals who were there from the beginning »

Pauline Levy of McDonald’s Corporation, the first recipient of PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative Award in 2000, presents the 2001 Pro Bono Initiative Award to Jerry Gilson of the firm then known as Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

In 2002, a large group of Chicago-area law firms and corporate legal departments joined PILI for a signing ceremony to formally acknowledge their shared commitment to incorporating pro bono legal services into their business cultures. At the time, this early statement of pro bono principles was groundbreaking. It acknowledged the critical role of the legal profession in addressing the unmet legal needs of Illinois’ poor and underrepresented individuals. Those trailblazing law firms and corporate legal departments agreed to actively engage in and support pro bono practice, and pledged to develop pro bono policies within their firms and legal departments.

PILI recognized a growing roster of law firms and corporate legal departments committed to pro bono through our Pro Bono Initiative Honor Roll until 2006. Since 2010, we have honored the significant pro bono contributions of law firms, corporate legal departments and legal industry corporate partners throughout the state of Illinois with our annual Pro Bono Recognition Roster »

Over the last 25 years, PILI has served as a resource for law firms and corporations looking to develop or expand their pro bono programs. PILI developed our Pro Bono Reference Guide as a resource for firm and corporations, organized Pro Bono Technical Consultations bringing together established pro bono leaders to provide guidance and insight for developing programs, and convened various pro bono constituent groups to share best practices and successes. PILI continues this work today »

In 2011, we turned our gaze outside of Chicago, recognizing the unmet legal needs and lack of available resources in other parts of the state. In response to this, PILI began to expand our reach with the establishment of our Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committees. PILI’s Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committees strive to increase equal access to justice by promoting and enhancing pro bono legal services within a specific judicial circuit. Specifically, we:

Raise awareness of the need for free or low-cost legal services;
Identify and reducing barriers to providing free or low-cost legal services;
Promote pro bono legal services and recruit attorneys and legal professionals to participate in existing pro bono programs;
Identify gaps in the delivery of legal services to low-income individuals and families and develop innovative approaches to filling those gaps through pro bono; and
Recognize the pro bono contributions of attorneys and legal professionals.

As of 2024, PILI now has eleven such committees across the state.

As the number of Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committees expanded, PILI has helped close gaps in the availability of pro bono legal services around Illinois. Initially, PILI launched a pilot Self-Represented Litigant Help Desk in the Tenth Circuit followed later by a Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panel. PILI later expanded the pilots to include the Third and Sixth Circuits as well. In 2018, PILI joined the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network (IL-AFLAN), which provides civil legal services across Illinois to veterans, active duty military and their spouses and dependents. Through IL-AFLAN, PILI is responsible for accepting referrals through the Network and placing them with pro bono attorneys in 101 counties in Illinois, excluding Cook County. Then, in 2019, PILI became the state administrator for Illinois Free Legal Answers, a secure website where low-income Illinoisans can ask a lawyer for help with a civil legal issue. PILI manages the day-to-day operations of the site, including volunteer recruitment, management and training. With the help of a statewide network of pro bono volunteers, we now help thousands of clients a year with everything from brief legal advice and limited scope representation to full representation. Check out all of PILI’s pro bono opportunities »

Today, PILI’s Pro Bono Program works to increase the availability of pro bono legal help for those who cannot afford an attorney in Illinois by developing innovative pro bono opportunities, offering pro bono programming and resources, cultivating best practices, and celebrating the life-changing pro bono performed throughout the state. We are proud to continue the legacy of the leaders and supporters of PILI who established the Pro Bono Initiative as we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of its founding. We will mark this special anniversary at our 2024 Annual Pro Bono Reception on June 26th.

June 2024 PILI Post

Posted on June 20, 2024June 20, 2024 by Camille Fleming

Check out June 2024 PILI Post»

PILI Announces its 2024 Pro Bono Recognition Roster

Posted on June 20, 2024July 2, 2024 by Camille Fleming

On June 26, 2024 as part of our Annual Pro Bono Reception, PILI will recognize the 37 law firms and corporations named to the 2024 Pro Bono Recognition Roster.

The Pro Bono Recognition Roster honors law firms and corporations that have made significant commitments and contributions to pro bono throughout the state of Illinois by providing legal assistance to individuals, families and communities in need.

Congratulations to those named, whose substantial pro bono contributions are making a difference in addressing the legal needs of low-income and underrepresented Illinoisans!

2024 PRO BONO RECOGNITION ROSTER

Allstate Insurance Company
ArentFox Schiff LLP
Baker McKenzie
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Chapman and Cutler LLP
Charles River Associates
Cooley LLP
Crowell & Moring LLP
Dechert LLP
Dentons US LLP
Donner & Company Law Offices LLC
Exelon
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP
Gipe Family Law & Mediation LLC
Jenner & Block LLP
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
King & Spalding LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Lane & Waterman LLP
LexisNexis
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Mayer Brown LLP
McDonald’s Corporation
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Much Shelist
Neal Gerber Eisenberg LLP
Pepping, Balk, Kincaid & Olson, Ltd.
Perkins Coie LLP
Reed Smith LLP
Ropes & Gray LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Sidley Austin LLP
State Farm Insurance Company
Steptoe LLP
Winston & Strawn LLP
Zurich North America

Click here to see past Pro Bono Recognition Rosters »

Four Volunteers Named to PILI’s 2024 Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll

Posted on June 20, 2024June 27, 2024 by Camille Fleming

As part of our Annual Pro Bono Reception on June 26, 2024, we will celebrate those named to PILI’s Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll. Those recognized through our Honor Roll have been chosen by PILI staff for their volunteer contributions through the pro bono opportunities available through PILI’s Pro Bono Program. We are so grateful to these extraordinary volunteers whom we regularly rely on to help individuals, families and communities in need.

The four volunteers named to PILI’s 2024 Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll are:

Christopher Crawford

Quinn Johnston

Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panel

What motivates you to do pro bono?

I do pro bono because everyone needs access to good legal representation. I am mindful of my duty to be a good citizen. I need to help my fellow neighbors where I can. The clients I have met through pro bono work often find themselves in difficult situations. The last thing they need to be stressed about is navigating the legal system. Donating money is great, but donating time is even better. It’s best to do both. My faith also motivates me to do pro bono work. Finally, pro bono service generally results in a win. It feels good when the work you do results in the something positive.

Why do you think other people should do pro bono?

Lawyers, by the nature of the profession, are called upon to be good citizens. Citizenship is very important to me. No matter our political beliefs, we can foster a sense of unity be aspiring to be good citizens. A lawyer has a license and a unique set of skills that can help others. Helping other is central to being a good citizen.

Why do you like to do pro bono through PILI and why is it important for you to have a pro bono role with PILI

The staff at PILI is great to work with. They understand that those of us who accept pro bono assignments are busy. They provide informational support when needed, are responsive and follow up on files to make sure they are handled correctly. I’m just happy to be recognized. I feel good about being a lawyer when I help others. I feel good about being a lawyer generally, but service to others make me feel even better. It cleanses any cynicism that can build up as we get caught up in the business and routine of life.

Brittany Elliott

Embrich & Elliott Law

Self-Represented Litigant Help Desks

What motivates you to do pro bono?

I am motivated to do pro bono work by the desire to assist those in the community that cannot afford legal services by sharing the knowledge I possess that could potentially be life changing for a person without means.

Why do you think other people should do pro bono?

I believe it is an attorney’s duty to utilize their knowledge and services to assist those regardless of financial circumstances.

Why do you like to do pro bono through PILI and why is it important for you to have a pro bono role with PILI?

PILI makes taking on pro bono cases very simple. I am provided with all intake information, as well as documentation to get started in the event I am able to take the case. I appreciate the amount of time this saves.

Harold Hilborn

Much Shelist, P.C.

Illinois Free Legal Answers

What motivates you to do pro bono?

Pro bono work provides the kind of personal satisfaction that comes much more sporadically with paid work for clients who are businesses. It’s clear that when pro bono clients have legal problems, the stress weighs on them, and when I can help relieve that by providing legal advice, it just makes me happy.

Why do you think other people should do pro bono?

Having a license to practice law is a privilege, one that excludes lots of otherwise qualified people from charging for some of the services that lawyers provide. Lawyers benefit greatly from this monopoly, and it’s not too much to ask to give back with a little sweat equity that directly benefits people who can’t afford lawyers.

Why do you like to do pro bono through PILI and why is it important for you to have a pro bono role with PILI?

Illinois Free Legal Answers makes is easy and convenient to do pro bono. I’m able to do it on my own schedule and commit as little or as much time as I have. I enjoy that it gives me exposure to areas of the law that have no relation to what I do in my everyday practice, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that with a little research and investigation, I can figure it out and provide good advice.

Yolanda Riley

The Law Offices of Yolanda J. Riley, LLC

Pro Bono Clinics

What motivates you to do pro bono?

Besides having a sense of moral and professional obligation, I enjoy providing pro bono services for clients who wouldn’t have had the chance at legal representation. I handle all my cases, whether private or pro bono, with the same vigor and I know my pro bono clients are truly grateful.

Why do you think other people should do pro bono?

Other attorneys should participate in pro bono work if their time allows. It may be just 3-20 hours a year for you, but your services are invaluable to those in need.

Why do you like to do pro bono through PILI and why is it important for you to have a pro bono role with PILI?

I believe in PILI’s mission, and I have seen firsthand the dedication the organization has to Illinoisans. Being a part of PILI’s pro bono work allows me to have a part in advancing equal access to justice for those in my area.

PILI Receives Renewed Support from Several Foundations

Posted on June 20, 2024June 20, 2024 by Camille Fleming

PILI has recently received renewed funding from several funders. We are so grateful for their continued support of PILI’s mission to engage, inspire and empower those advancing equal access to justice.

DuPage Bar Foundation

The DuPage Bar Foundation has granted PILI $1,000 to support both the Pro Bono Program and Law Student Internship Program in DuPage County. The DuPage Bar Foundation serves as the charitable arm of the DuPage County Bar Association providing charitable contributions, law school scholarships, opportunities for community service and assistance for members in need.

Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network (IL-AFLAN)

PILI is grateful to the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation for their renewed $42,500 grant to support PILI’s ongoing participation in the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network (IL-AFLAN). IL-AFLAN provides civil legal services across Illinois to veterans, active-duty military, their spouses, and dependents. Through IL-AFLAN, PILI is responsible for accepting referrals through the Network and placing them with pro bono attorneys in 101 counties in Illinois, excluding Cook County. PILI recruits volunteer attorneys, provides training and support, and offers malpractice coverage.

Illinois Bar Foundation

The Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF) is a longtime supporter of PILI and its statewide work through our Pro Bono Program. PILI is grateful to the Illinois Bar Foundation for their renewed support in the amount of $17,500. We share the IBF’s mission to enhance the availability of justice for those without attorneys, and through these programs we work to promote pro bono throughout the state.

Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division

PILI received renewed support of $6,500 from the ISBA YLD Children’s Assistance Fund to support the ISBA YLD Named Law Student Intern in Summer 2023. Through this fund, the ISBA YLD, in concert with the Illinois Bar Foundation, seeks to provide grants to organizations across the state related to children and law. PILI is grateful to the ISBA YLD for its longtime support of PILI and our Law Student Internship Program and the increase in our grant to match the increase in our Internship stipend.

Jerome Mirza Foundation

The Jerome Mirza Foundation has increased its grant to PILI $35,000 to support our efforts to expand and enhance public interest law and pro bono service in Illinois outside of Chicago. Jerome Mirza, a 1963 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, was a leader in the field of trial advocacy and in the legal profession throughout his long career. This grant supports PILI’s Law Student Internship Program across the state, as well as the work of our Pro Bono Program to promote and expand pro bono across Illinois.

Polk Bros. Foundation

PILI is thrilled to announce that the Polk Bros Foundation has renewed their grant of $55,000. This grant will support our Law Student Internship Program, by funding a total of nine Summer Interns, including the Nikki Will Stein Honorary Intern and the Polk Bros. Foundation Named Intern. Learn more about our Honorary, Memorial & Named Interns » PILI is so grateful to the Polk Bros Foundation for its longstanding support of PILI and the Law Student Internship Program.

PILI Welcomes our Summer 2024 Law Students Interns & Graduate Fellows

Posted on June 18, 2024June 18, 2024 by Camille Fleming

PILI Law Student Interns & Graduate Fellows mingle during a welcome breakfast.

On Thursday, May 30th, PILI welcomed its 92 summer 2024 PILI Law Student Interns and Graduate Fellows and kicked off its Summer Educational Seminar Series with a daylong orientation. Law Student Interns and Graduate Fellows participated in person and also virtually. The orientation and weekly sessions are being generously hosted by DePaul University College of Law.

The program was a success with the help members of PILI’s Alumni Network, public interest legal professionals and judges who presented educational sessions throughout the day. Topics included: Getting to Know the Communities You Serve, Writing for Public Interest Law, Conflict Management and How to Be an Effective Advocate.

This summer, PILI’s Law Student Interns and Graduate Fellows will collectively generate an additional 32,700 hours of legal assistance. As PILI Executive Director Michael Bergmann stated when addressing the Interns and Fellows, “The work you’re doing this summer will change lives. You may not get to see it before you leave – the case may go on beyond your time, the policy that gets developed may take a while to implement, the initial impact on your client may seem small but may set off a series of events that leaves them better in the end.”

Our thanks to all who participated and contributed to the educational programming which serves as a base for our Interns and Fellows on which to build from throughout the summer. We hope these sessions will better prepare our Interns and Fellows for their summer positions as well as their lifetime of public interest law and pro bono service.

Learn more about the PILI Educational Seminars »

View past seminars on PILI’s YouTube channel »

Meet our current class of Interns and Fellows »

Are you a public interest law intern or fellow in Illinois this summer? Sign up for updates and register for our Summer Educational Seminar Series here »

Illinois Legal Community Unites to Address Current Immigration Crisis

Posted on June 17, 2024June 17, 2024 by Michael Bergmann

As new arrivals continue to come to Illinois from the U.S.-Mexico border, many Illinois legal aid organizations are assisting them to ensure they have access to the rights they are entitled to and empowering them with information.

Volunteer Opportunity in Chicago and its Impact

In partnership with the city, state and federal governments as well as many other agencies, The Resurrection Project is organizing large-scale workshops assisting newly arrived migrants with obtaining Employment Authorization and Temporary Protected Status.

Below is some data on the incredible impact of the migrant assistance workshops since this project began last November.

Applicants seen at workshops: 8,885

Times applicants attended workshops (some came back to complete the process): 10,120

Applicants processed by USCIS: 7,696

TPS/EAD applications completed by USCIS: 4,906

EAD-only applications completed by USCIS: 2,790

Adult applicants who met with and received support from Illinois workforce staff at the workshops: 3,433

The vast majority of the 7,696 applicants have or will receive work permits and social security numbers. This allowed thousands of people to find employment, and in many cases move out of shelters or other state-assisted housing.

This critical impact would not have happened without the support of the 564 legal professionals (504 attorneys and 60 paralegals/project assistants) who volunteered for 1,225 workshop shifts. These volunteers were supported by and worked alongside hundreds of staff and other volunteers under the direction of The Resurrection Project, including legal organization staff, interpreters, law students, and other volunteers.

Now, workshops are continuing through August 31st. Starting June 17th, workshops will run on Mondays and Fridays. Volunteer shifts for legal professionals are from 8:30 AM through 1:00 PM, although you are welcome to stay longer if there is a need. All workshops will take place at one location in a federal building downtown. Your role will vary depending on your immigration law experience and whether you speak Spanish, but you need not have either experience to volunteer. Summer associates and law students are welcome. If you would like to attend as a group, please select a day and register your participants individually–the earlier you do so the more likely it is that you can all attend together.

Otherwise for more information and to volunteer please sign up here. A training link and materials will be sent to you once you sign up, and there is an on-site orientation the day of the workshop. Lunch is provided. The Resurrection Project will enter into a Limited Scope Agreement with each applicant and will provide malpractice insurance. If you have questions about volunteering contact Jane Lombardi.

Volunteer Opportunities Outside Chicago

There are also immigrants needing assistance in other areas of Illinois, as they travel beyond Chicago. The Immigration Project (TIP) has numerous pro bono opportunities in the upcoming year, many of which require only one-day commitments from attorneys as well as those with some legal expertise such as paralegals and legal assistants. TIP will provide all necessary training, and that training usually occurs the morning of or by a less than one hour call or recording distributed in advance. These meaningful opportunities will help immigrants throughout Illinois gain stability and security in their lives.

One day commitments: TIP hosts monthly naturalization clinics for clients throughout their vast service area to apply for citizenship in a one stop model. These one-day commitments are hosted on Fridays in the Normal or Champaign Office spaces. In addition to assisting those in their final step of the immigration process, TIP is hosting Asylum and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) workshops similar to those in Chicago in various locations. TIP also travels throughout the state to assist those again through a one-day workshop model to apply for asylum and get general advice about their immigration process and claims.

Full representation pro bono opportunities: TIP is the sole legal service provider for a children’s detention center in Central Illinois. As a result of this relationship, TIP frequently represents children who are detained or recently detained who are survivors of abandonment, abuse, or neglect. These children frequently need orders from State Court judges to determine custody or guardianship orders. Pro bono attorneys can play an essential role in obtaining these orders so that these children can secure immigration relief inside of the US and gain stability in their lives, sometimes for the first time.

If you are interested in assisting TIP in any way, please email Marie Joe Noon. TIP welcomes any assistance you are able to provide given their vast service area and the desperate need of those they serve.

GE HealthCare Sponsors First Named PILI Law Student Internship

Posted on June 13, 2024June 13, 2024 by Michael Bergmann

GE HealthCare is supporting the work of PILI by funding a Law Student Intern in the summer of 2024. GE HealthCare is a leading global medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and digital solutions innovator, dedicated to providing integrated solutions, services, and data analytics to make hospitals more efficient, clinicians more effective, therapies more precise and patients healthier and happier.

The sponsored Intern, Kareem Butler from Loyola University School of Law, will work this summer at Legal Council for Health Justice, which works with Illinois communities to overcome and dismantle barriers to the care and services they need to stay healthy, fed, and housed.

“We believe in the importance of pro bono and external impact work, and are proud to support PILI and Kareem’s work this summer,” GE HealthCare General Counsel, Frank Jimenez said.

GE HealthCare, through its charitable foundation, advances equitable access to precision healthcare, by funding nonprofit organizations aimed at making healthcare more accessible, personal, human, and flexible – and ultimately, strive to remove barriers that separate underserved communities from equitable healthcare.

“We are very grateful to have the support of GE HealthCare for our Law Student Internship Program,” PILI Executive Director Michael Bergmann said. “We share GE HealthCare’s commitment to removing barriers to underserved communities, including with regard to healthcare.”

PILI designates a number of Named and Honorary Interns each year, thanks to special funding commitments made by individual and organizational champions for public interest law.

Thank You for a Successful 2024 Annual Pro Bono Reception

Help support our work to engage, inspire and empower those advancing access to justice by making a donation or getting involved today!

PRO BONO RECOGNITION ROSTER

PRO BONO HONOR ROLL

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Justice Sponsors – $7,500

Magistrate Sponsors – $5,000

Counselor Sponsors – $2,500

Advocate Sponsors – $1,000

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative

June 2024 PILI Post

PILI Announces its 2024 Pro Bono Recognition Roster

2024 PRO BONO RECOGNITION ROSTER

Four Volunteers Named to PILI’s 2024 Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll

Christopher Crawford

Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panel

Brittany Elliott

Self-Represented Litigant Help Desks

Harold Hilborn

Illinois Free Legal Answers

Yolanda Riley

Pro Bono Clinics

PILI Receives Renewed Support from Several Foundations

DuPage Bar Foundation

Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network (IL-AFLAN)

Illinois Bar Foundation

Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division

Jerome Mirza Foundation

Polk Bros. Foundation

PILI Welcomes our Summer 2024 Law Students Interns & Graduate Fellows

Illinois Legal Community Unites to Address Current Immigration Crisis

Volunteer Opportunity in Chicago and its Impact

Volunteer Opportunities Outside Chicago

GE HealthCare Sponsors First Named PILI Law Student Internship

May 2024 PILI Post