Law Firm Leaders Discuss Increasing Pro Bono at Peoria Summit

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Almost 37% of Illinois citizens are low-income, with 6.3% of the total population living in extreme poverty. Law firm leaders play an important role in providing those in poverty with legal assistance by supporting and encouraging a culture of pro bono within law firms. On September 11th, the Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee hosted a summit where members of the judiciary, law firm leaders and other pro bono stakeholders met to discuss how to increase pro bono participation at their firms.

Honorable Paul P. Gilfillan, the Chief Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, kicked off the event by emphasizing the importance of pro bono service and sharing his belief that pro bono is an obligation of each attorney.

Then, Honorable Lisa Wilson, the Chair of the Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, led a panel of judges from the Tenth Circuit including the Honorable Mark Gilles and the Honorable Suzanne Patton to share their perspectives on the need for pro bono . The judges explained that they had seen an increase of self-represented litigants in their courtrooms and that it was difficult for them, as judges, to explain the legal process without offering legal advice. They said anytime a lawyer was involved, either advocating on behalf of a client or offering limited scope services or brief advice, the process was sure to run smoother for everyone. They also explained that they had watched attorneys improve on their skills through pro bono cases.

Next, local attorneys Mitch Gilfillan, Jeffrey Krumpe and Tom O’Neal discussed their experiences with pro bono services. They discussed that it was really important that leaders within the firm emphasize the importance of pro bono service and create a culture of service within the firm. They talked about how it was important to make time for pro bono service and suggested finding one thing that each firm or individual attorney could do to increase access to justice, even just a little, and focus on doing that thing.

Closing out the program, Michael Bergmann of PILI and Denise Conklin of Prarie State Legal Services discussed the variety of pro bono opportunities available in the Tenth Judicial Circuit, ranging from discrete opportunities to full representation. More about these opportunities can be found here.

PILI provides more information for law firms and corporations to expand and enhance their pro bono practice.

The next event hosted by the Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee is a free CLE titled “A Primer for Helping Those in Need of Legal Assistance” on October 1st. Learn more and register here »

Read the August 2019 PILI Post

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Last week, we ended our summer programming with the Alumni Reception: Welcoming the Newest Class of Interns and Fellows. Our current Interns and Fellows had the chance to network with PILI Alumni and Board Members and, thanks to our sponsors and supporters, we raised over $7,000 for the Alumni Named Internship Campaign!

August 31st is the end of PILI’s fiscal year and we’re asking that you make a donation to help us end the year strong and to continue to engage, inspire and empower those advancing equal access to justice in the year to come!

In this newsletter, we also have links to the Fall 2019 Internship application and the 2019 Award Nominations. We also spotlight the eight Alumni named as Equal Justice Works Fellows and introduce you to three new board members. As always, we hope you will stay in touch with us through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and now Instagram!

[button href=”https://conta.cc/31QmuYq”]Read it Now[/button]

Preparing Students for Future Service: Highlights from the 2019 Law School Pro Bono Roundtable

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On July 24th, representatives from area law schools met at the offices of Ogletree Deakins for PILI’s annual Law School Pro Bono Roundtable. This year, the group covered several topics related to preparing students for future public interest law and pro bono service.

Introducing PILI’s Pro Bono Opportunities to Law Students

PILI Executive Director Michael Bergmann and Senior Managing Attorney Brent Page discussed PILI’s efforts to expand pro bono opportunities for law students, particularly through Illinois Free Legal Answers clinics. PILI has already hosted several clinics at law schools with current students and alumni. The law school leaders shared strategies to make sure the clinics would be successful. PILI set a goal to host at least one clinic in all Illinois law schools over the next two years. The group also discussed how law students could participate in PILI’s Legal Help Within Reach program to give students a unique pro bono opportunity while helping people in need in rural and underserved communities.

Serving Law Students in Light of Revised NALP Restrictions

Katelynn McBride Barbosa of Notre Dame Law School shared some of the recent changes in NALP restrictions that would affect law students, including when students can apply for internships and jobs. PILI had typically had two different application start dates for 2Ls and 1Ls due to NALP restrictions but the attendees agreed moving to one application date of November 1st is the best idea. They also discussed how to prepare students for conferences and career service fairs where they may now be able to interview positions wherein they hadn’t been able to before.

Planning and Marketing Programs Effectively for Law Students

Kathryn Shelton of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law led a discussion about how to best plan and market pro bono programs for law students. Some mentioned having success hosting smaller, more intimate programs for students. They also discussed how to best use streaming services like Facebook and YouTube Live to make programs more accessible.

Preparing Students for the Realities of the Workforce

Sucheta Misra of the John Marshall Law School led this discussion on how to best teach students about professionalism in the workplace including answering phones and sending emails. They also discussed wellness and mental health and how to talk to students about these issues in law school. In addition, the group discussed how handle concerns law students have in professional settings.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2019 Law School Pro Bono Roundtable. Register now for the Illinois Forum on Pro Bono on November 7th, which also brings together law school, corporate, agency and law firm pro bono leaders.

Learn more about the PILI’s Pro Bono Program »

Learn more about PILI’s Roundtables and Forums »

PILI Elects Three New Board Members

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At their July 2019 meeting, the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) board elected three new members with terms to start at the beginning of FY2020 on September 1, 2019, including Kimberly Barton of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Melissa Picciola of Legal Aid Chicago and Trisha Rich of Holland & Knight.

Kimberly Barton is currently a Vice President and Assistant General Counsel in the Commercial Bank at JPMorgan Chase & Co.  Kimberly practiced at Chapman and Cutler LLP prior to joining JPMorgan Chase in 2016. She has a JD from the University of Iowa College of Law and a BBA in Finance, Investments and Banking, International Business and French form the University of Wisconsin – Madison.  Kimberly has provided pro bono assistance to low-income housing developers and small businesses, asylum seekers and other immigrants, and victims of domestic violence. Kimberly currently serves on the Chicago Pro Bono Committee as well as the Legal Charitable Giving Committee at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

“I believe equal access to justice is incredibly important, now more than ever, and I am looking forward to helping PILI achieve that goal,” said Kimberly.

Melissa Picciola is the Director of Volunteer Services at Legal Aid Chicago, overseeing volunteer and pro bono projects. She supervises internships, in-house volunteers, community legal clinics, and law firm and corporate partnerships and has created volunteer focused projects at Legal Aid Chicago, serving clients in advance directives, eviction defense, and record expungement. She also oversees Legal Aid Chicago’s 45-member, statewide AmeriCorps VISTA program. She joined Legal Aid Chicago in 2018 after a career in legal aid. She has practice experience in family law and domestic violence, eviction defense, and representing people with disabilities on individual and systemic matters. Melissa received both her undergraduate and law degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Melissa Picciola is replacing Kate Shank who has been serving on the board since 2016.

“I am thrilled to be joining the board of an organization with a mission I am so passionate about,” Melissa said. “I am looking forward to working with the entire PILI organization to help bring out about equal access to justice.”

The board also elected Trisha Rich as a representative from the Chicago Bar Association Board of Managers for a one-year term. Trisha is Partner in Holland & Knight’s Chicago office, where she works as a commercial litigation and professional responsibility attorney.  She founded and coordinates the Attorney Defense Initiative, the first privately sponsored pro bono initiative in the nation that focuses on assisting impaired lawyers facing disciplinary charges. She is a Director of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers and serves as the Deputy Professional Responsibility Partner for Holland & Knight’s Chicago office. She has worked as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Law in the area of legal ethics and professional responsibility. Trisha received her JD from the University of Michigan and an MA in Philosophy and BBA in Business and Economics from Western Michigan University.

“One of the most important issues that we need to tackle in the legal system is providing affordable and accessible legal services to underrepresented populations, who are often vulnerable and prone to being taken advantage of,” said Trisha. “PILI’s work is this area is instrumental and I’m excited to be able to contribute.”

We look forward to working with Kimberly, Melissa and Trisha next year. PILI is also glad to have Federico M. Rodriguez of Rodriguez Legal Group, LLC remain on the PILI board for another year as the other representative from the Chicago Bar Association Board of Managers.

PILI is extremely grateful to Mary Ann O’Connor of JPMorgan Chase & Co. who will conclude her service to PILI as a director at the end of this fiscal year. Mary Ann has served as a director since 1996, including serving as president from 2004 to 2006.  Mary Ann will continue to support PILI as a Life Director. PILI is also thankful to outgoing board members Kate Shank and Nina Fain for their service and leadership.

Eight PILI Alumni Receive 2019 Equal Justice Works Fellowships

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Equal Justice Works recently announced the 2019 Fellows and we were excited to learn that eight PILI Alumni are part of the class! The Equal Justice Works Fellowship is a program that funds public interest attorneys for two years while they work on a specific project at a host agency.

Five of the PILI Alumni will be doing their Equal Justice Works Fellowships at the agency at which they did their PILI Internship.

Kaitlin Cutshaw will promote housing and educational stability for children negatively impacted by eviction through direct representation and policy reform at the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing. “I completed my PILI Internship with Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH), which is now my host organization for my Equal Justice Works Fellowship,” said Kaitlin. “I wouldn’t have been able develop my project to promote housing stability for school-aged children in Chicago had it not been for PILI!”

William Hrabe will advise and represent low-income families to remedy violations found by the Illinois State Board of Education of Chicago Public School’s widespread delay and denial of special education services to potentially thousands of children with disabilities at Equip for Equality. “I am so excited to get back to Equip for Equality and work to ensure that Chicago Public Schools’ students with disabilities get the services they need,” said Will. “My Equal Justice Works Fellowship allows me to continue the work I started with the advocacy coalition last summer as a PILI Intern.”

Susana Sandoval Vargas will provide direct representation, impact litigation and outreach to low-wage Latina immigrant workers in the Chicagoland area to empower them to defend their workplace rights and create systemic change at MALDEF. “As an immigrant, as a DREAMER, I know and understand first-hand the hardships that immigrants face in the United States every day,” said Susy. “For that reason, I am deeply passionate about my Equal Justice Works Fellowship project which will help protect the immigrant community. I am grateful to the Public Interest Law Initiative who gave me the opportunity last summer to work along side my host organization, MALDEF, to defend Latino civil rights.”

Carl Sessions will manage the only in-court brief advice desk for pro se tenants and identify and represent tenants who have viable claims related to uninhabitable conditions or landlord retaliation to secure relief and prevent displacement at Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing. “My PILI Internship at Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) was integral to the development of my Fellowship, which will also be at LCBH,” said Carl. “As a PILI Intern, I represented tenants in eviction court and saw the manifold ways that the courts’ assembly line justice hurts working class people. My Fellowship will build upon the relationships and projects I began as a PILI Intern.”

Ana Torres will advocate for people of color undergoing a cycle of poverty and debt due to government policies such as Chicago’s punitive vehicle impoundment practices, which impose excessive financial penalties and other barriers to success at the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois. “The PILI Internship gave me a broader understanding as to what a career in public interest may look like, which further solidified my commitment to serving underrepresented  communities,” said Ana. “It also opened up the opportunity for me to work with what would turn out to be my Equal Justice Works Fellowship host organization a year later, and develop a project to challenge Chicago’s punitive fines and fees system which disparately impacts people of color with low income.”

The other three PILI Alumni Equal Justice Works Fellows will be working at different agencies than where they did their PILI, drawing on those experiences as they start on their work.

Ashley Carter was an Intern at Legal Aid Chicago and will now create a legal clinic for survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and stalking who seek Civil Protection Orders in Washington, DC at the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project. She said, “My experience solidified my passion for working with survivors of domestic violence, and I was able to litigate my first full Protection Order trial as a student attorney. I’m thrilled that my Equal Justice Works Fellowship will allow me to continue that work by opening a courthouse legal clinic for domestic violence victims.”

Candice Dundy was an Intern at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law and will now reduce the number of youth of color experiencing homelessness by providing holistic legal services with a race equity lens and engaging youth to inform and improve direct and systemic advocacy in Seattle at the Legal Counsel for Youth and Children. “Being a PILI Intern helped me prepare for this fellowship immensely,” said Candice. “Through PILI, I was not only able to participate in numerous networking events, but I was also able to obtain invaluable internships at Shriver Center on Poverty Law and Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice, both of which taught me immeasurable knowledge on effective advocating in the public interest field.”

Alison Heinen was a an Intern at the Chicago Legal Clinic and will now empower and educate detained immigrant mothers by providing them holistic direct representation and developing a coalition to bring them sustained attention assistance in Chicago at the Community Activism Law Alliance. “I would not have ended up in my fellowship placement without PILI! I had never heard of CALA until I attended a PILI luncheon where two attorneys from their staff spoke on a panel,” said Ali. “I was very excited about CALA’s community lawyering approach to legal advocacy. That excitement helped me land CALA as my host organization for an Equal Justice Works Fellowship focused on immigration law.”

We are so proud of all our PILI Alumni and the work they are doing! Learn more about the PILI Alumni Network here »

Support PILI with a Donation this Summer

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PILI engages, inspires and empowers those advancing equal access to justice. We introduced this new mission statement at the Annual Pro Bono Reception to encapsulate all PILI has been doing over the last 42 years. So who is PILI currently engaging, inspiring and empowering and how?

First, there are PILI Interns and Fellows. This year, 66 law students and 78 recent graduates will give nearly 50,000 hours of service to those in need of legal help through PILI’s Internship and Fellowship Programs. PILI has inspired and empowered these emerging lawyers to enter their careers engaged in public interest law and pro bono service. PILI connects them with over 60 agencies fighting for justice in Illinois and prepares them to become these agencies’ associates, allies, leaders and supporters.

Second, there are the pro bono volunteers and pro bono leaders. In the past year, PILI’s Pro Bono Program has engaged over 250 pro bono volunteers to serve over 400 clients statewide. It has empowered over 400 CLE attendees with the skills they need to serve people who need legal help. It has connected over 100 pro bono leaders across Illinois with the opportunities to enhance and promote pro bono service through pro bono roundtables, forums and committees. And PILI has inspired over 300 participants of its pro bono events to recognize pro bono service as an important value for the legal profession.

Third, there is you. By supporting PILI, you advance equal access to justice. You engage the next generation of lawyers in public interest law and pro bono practice. You inspire a culture of service in every legal profession across every stage of a legal career. And, you empower PILI to serve as the hub through which the legal community can collaborate to increase access to justice for those who most need it in Illinois.

PILI is where many discover and preserve a passion for pro bono. PILI is also where you find community with others who advance equal access to justice. Please make a donation today so that, together, we can fulfill our vision of making equal access to justice a reality for all.

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IBF, ILAO & PILI Announce Changes to Illinois Free Legal Answers

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The Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF), Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) and Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) are excited to announce their combined efforts to further the impact of Free Legal Answers in Illinois. After establishing this project in Illinois in 2017 and building a solid foundation for its future, ILAO will transition the state administrator role for the site to PILI as of August 1, 2019. At that time, PILI will take over the day-to-day operations of the site including volunteer recruitment, management and training with the help of funding from the IBF. ILAO will continue to contribute invaluable support through www.IllinoisLegalAid.org by providing client referrals and being a resource for pro bono volunteers answering questions through the site.

“The IBF is proud to have been the primary funder of ILAO’s efforts to launch Illinois Free Legal Answers and in only three years, making it an indispensable resource to help narrow the justice gap in Illinois between those who need civil legal assistance from a lawyer and those who can afford one,” said Deane B. Brown, IBF President and Shareholder with Hughes Socol Piers Resnick Dym, Ltd. “We’re equally thrilled to support PILI’s efforts to utilize its growing statewide expertise in recruiting attorneys to provide pro bono service through Illinois Free Legal Answers”

A project of the American Bar Association, Free Legal Answers is a secure website where lower-income Illinois residents can ask a lawyer for help with a legal issue. Qualified users post questions about civil legal problems. Volunteer lawyers then log onto the site and select questions to answer. It’s a virtual walk-in legal clinic.

Under ILAO’s leadership, since its launch in 2017, 3,435 questions have been answered by volunteer attorneys through Illinois Free Legal Answers. “This statewide partnership for PILI and ILAO is exciting,” said ILAO Executive Director Elizabeth Evans, “It opens so many doors toward our shared mission of extending legal support and increasing access to justice in every Illinois community. Together we will go further, faster.”

Over the several past years, PILI has partnered with ILAO to organize several Free Legal Answers clinics around the state. Building off the strong foundation laid by ILAO, PILI plans to use the structure of their statewide Pro Bono Program to expand pro bono participation on the site to help even more people in need.

“We are excited to offer this new opportunity to our volunteers and to incorporate Free Legal Answers in with our other pro bono projects,” said Michel G. Bergmann, PILI’s Executive Director. “We are so grateful for the work of ILAO in launching the site in Illinois and look forward to continuing our work together helping people in need of legal services.”

For attorneys and clients who would like to use the site to ask and answer legal questions, the website address will remain il.freelegalanswers.org.

About IBF:  Almost 70 years ago, a handful of visionary leaders founded the Illinois Bar Foundation. Their initial commitment was to provide aid to deserving members of the Illinois Bar who, because of age or infirmity, could no longer provide for their own care or support. Since then, the Foundation has expanded its scope to include enhancing meaningful access to the civil justice system, especially for those with limited means. To learn more about the IBF, visit www.illinoisbarfoundation.org, or contact IBF Executive Director, Dave Anderson, by email or by phone at 312-920-4683.

About ILAO: For 18 years, ILAO has simplified the law so that all people can resolve their problems. Through innovation, they lower barriers to the law so that people can understand their legal options, make informed decisions and, when necessary, represent themselves in court. To learn more about ILAO, visit www.illinoislegalaid.org, or contact ILAO Executive Director, Elizabeth Evans, by email or by phone at 312-977-9047, extension 11.

About PILI: PILI engages, inspires and empowers those advancing equal access to justice. They envision making equal access to justice a reality through a legal community with a deeply rooted culture of service, where pro bono and public interest law engagement is optimized to best serve people, families and communities in need. To learn more about PILI, visit www.pili.org, or contact PILI Executive Director, Michael Bergmann, at by email or by phone at 312-832-5129.

Volunteer for Free Legal Answers »

Thank you for supporting our Annual Pro Bono Reception!

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PILI’s Annual Pro Bono Reception celebrates 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 are so grateful to our event sponsors, attendees and donors who made the 2019 Annual Pro Bono Reception such a success! Together, we raised over $85,000 to support PILI’s Pro Bono Program. These funds will help us to increase the availability of pro bono legal help for those in need. Thank you!

    

View photos from the event »

Congratulations to the 48 law firms and corporations who were recognized for their pro bono contributions and named to PILI’s 2019 Pro Bono Recognition Roster.

Save the date!

Our next event will be the PILI Alumni Reception: Welcoming the Newest Class of Alumni on August 15th!

PILI Introduces New Mission, Vision & Value Statements

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PILI recently announced that it has adopted revised mission and vision statements as well as a new value statement. The below video was shown to attendees at PILI’s Annual Pro Bono Reception on June 19th to introduce the new mission statement.

PILI Executive Director Michael Bergmann told those assembled that he was “very excited about our new mission, vision and value statements because together they encapsulate PILI’s expanding role in bringing the Illinois legal community together to provide legal assistance to people, families and communities in need.” He continued, “whether it’s engaging law students in public interest law through Internships, inspiring recent graduates to kick-start their pro bono service through Fellowships or empowering attorneys to volunteer through our Pro Bono Program, PILI has been there, advancing equal access to justice for all.”

Check out the video below as well as the new mission, vision and value statements.

Mission Statement

PILI engages, inspires and empowers those advancing equal access to justice.

Vision Statement

We envision making equal access to justice a reality through a legal community with a deeply rooted culture of service, where pro bono and public interest law engagement is optimized to best serve people, families and communities in need.

Value Statement

We believe equal access to justice is a fundamental right. We believe serving those in need through public interest law and pro bono service is the key to ensuring that right. We believe the Illinois legal community should work together to provide these services, and that it is PILI’s role to facilitate this collaboration. We expect our work to result in a more accessible justice system for all.

Click here to learn more about how you can get involved in our work »

For additional information, contact PILI Executive Director Michael Bergmann by email or at 312-832-5129.

PILI Announces its 2019 Pro Bono Recognition Roster

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On June 19th, at our Annual Pro Bono Reception, PILI honored 48 law firms and corporations named to the 2019 Pro Bono Recognition Roster.

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

2019 Pro Bono Recognition Roster

Allstate Insurance Company
Baker McKenzie
Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Boodell & Domanskis
Brinks Gilson & Lione
Chapman and Cutler LLP
Charles River Associates
Deere & Company
Dentons US LLP
DLA Piper LLP
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Exelon
Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP
Frisse & Brewster Law Offices
Goldberg Kohn Ltd
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Jenner & Block LLP
Jones Day
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
King & Spalding LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Lane & Waterman LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
LexisNexis
Mayer Brown
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
McDonald’s Corporation
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Much Shelist, PC
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP
Nixon Peabody LLP
Paul Hastings LLP
Perkins Coie LLP
Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP
Reed Smith LLP
Ropes & Gray LLP
Salvatore Prescott & Porter PLLC
Schiff Hardin LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Sidley Austin LLP
State Farm
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Thompson Coburn
United Airlines, Inc.
Winston & Strawn LLP

View the 2019 Recognition Roster »