PILI Alumni Spotlight: Nidhi Narielwala, 2018 Graduate Fellow

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PILI is excited to welcome Nidhi Narielwala to our Alumni Network Leadership Council as the 2018 Graduate Fellow Alumni Representative. Each year, PILI appoints one Intern and one Fellow from the most recent class to serve on the council for a two-year term.

Nidhi is now a first-year associate at Baker McKenzie. She recently graduated from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and completed her PILI Graduate Fellowship at the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois last summer. At the ACLU of Illinois, she worked on a wide range of projects from the welfare of LGBTQ youth to addressing police misconduct in Chicago to the Women’s and Reproductive Rights Project.

“My PILI Fellowship at the ACLU was the perfect start to my career after law school. It gave me valuable insight into the hardships faced by indigent and minority communities when dealing with the judicial system, including the lack of proper representation,” said Nidhi. “I have always been passionate about women’s reproductive rights and LGBTQ rights, and this Fellowship gave me the opportunity to be directly involved in helping protect the constitutional rights of those communities.”

Before law school, Nidhi completed a year of service as a ninth grade Math and English tutor in Boston, Massachusetts at a high school that serves underprivileged communities.  As a law student, she was an Intern at the Legal Services Center at Harvard Law School, a Summer Associate at Baker McKenzie and a Technology & Civil Liberties Extern at the ACLU of Northern California in San Francisco.

While at Washington University School of Law, Nidhi participated in a number of public interest law activities. She served as the Pro Bono Committee Chair on the school’s Public Service Advisory Board. She also taught First and Fourth Amendment law to high school students in inner-city St. Louis through a Teaching Fellowship with the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project. As a part of her Fellowship, she coached a team of high school students at the National Marshall-Brennan Moot Court Competition. Nidhi also advocated on behalf of children involved in child protection order cases and custody cases through her school’s Children’s Rights Clinic. For her service throughout law school, she received a Public Interest Law Certificate and the Dean’s Public Service Award.

During her PILI Fellowship, Nidhi greatly appreciated the community of people she met at the ACLU of Illinois. She distinctly remembers her experience on June 27, 2018. On that day, Justice Kennedy announced his retirement, and the Supreme Court both upheld Trump’s third Muslim Travel Ban, and struck down California’s FACT Act, which required crisis pregnancy centers to post visible notices about other state-sponsored options for pregnancy, including abortion. “It was uplifting to be surrounded by people who, like me, were upset, but had not lost hope,” said Nidhi. “In that moment, I felt incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to help the ACLU’s fight for constitutional rights for all in the face of bigotry and hatred.”

Since her Fellowship, Nidhi has maintained an active pro bono practice. She is in the Privacy and Technology Transactions practice group and has had several pro bono opportunities that intersected with her practice area, such as helping a nonprofit with their data privacy compliance framework required under HIPAA. She also volunteers with Ladder Up assisting with free tax return preparations to low-income communities throughout Chicago. In addition to her role on PILI’s Alumni Network Leadership Council, Nidhi is also a member of the ACLU of Illinois’ Next Generation Society. “By maintaining my pro bono practice and actively participating in public interest law organizations, I can stay connected to the public service community and continue to help those in need.”

Read more PILI Alumni spotlights »

Volunteers from Ropes & Gray Assist Clients at Legal Prep Community Law Clinic

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Thank you to the volunteers from Ropes & Gray who volunteered together at the Legal Prep Community Law Clinic in March! They assisted low-income clients with legal issues including adoption, HIPAA, adult guardianship and foreclosure.

PILI’s Alumni Network Leadership Council collaborates with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) and Legal Prep Charter Academies to host a monthly community-based clinic for the student families and neighbors of Legal Prep in the Garfield Park neighborhood.

PILI coordinates this monthly clinic, typically held on the first Tuesday of each month. If you are interested in hosting or your firm is interested in adopting a clinic date, please contact PILI Program Manager Brent Page by email or by phone at 312-832-5128.

Learn more about the Legal Prep Community Law Clinic »

Pro Bono Is the Key to Expanding Access to Our Courts

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This article, written by PILI Executive Director Michael Bergmann and PILI Program Manager Brent Page, originally appeared as a feature on www.americanbar.org. 

Thousands of Americans step into courtrooms across the country each year—many of these individuals are facing serious legal issues, are scared, and are without the knowledge needed to represent themselves adequately. They take off work to file one-sentence petitions that are later thrown out on technicalities. Their voices are ignored by judges or silenced by opposing counsels with objections. Or they fear the system and give up before even stepping through the courthouse doors. Despite the widely held belief that every citizen deserves equal opportunity in our legal system, and the hard work of legal aid attorneys and efforts of advocates to reform the court system, there is still a large number of people who are unable to adequately engage with the legal system when they have a legal problem. In many instances, economic, institutional, and structural barriers limit the ir access to justice.

The Access to Justice Crisis

Access to justice is an essential ingredient to a fair legal system. People need to be have the ability to seek and obtain a legal resolution through the legal processes. Outside the legal community, people are sometimes shocked to hear there is no “right to counsel” for litigants, as is the practice in criminal law. The 2017 Justice Gap Report conducted by Legal Services Corporation reveals that 86 percent of the civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans received inadequate or no legal help. So many who face serious and complex matters such as consumer issues, evictions, domestic violence, child custody disputes, bankruptcy, and divorce are left to attempt to resolve these issues on their own.

There are many ways the court structure and legal process is complex and intimidating for someone without a lawyer trying to navigate the system. Many litigants may not speak English or may not be sufficiently proficient to understand everything the judge or court order says. Many courts have looked internally on how to make their system more accessible for self-represented litigants, including language translation services for litigants who do not speak English, using technology like Skype so petitioners do not have to take time off work for status hearings, and updating court forms to incorporate more plain language and less legal jargon.

One major obstacle for litigants to access the court system may be actual physical access to the courthouse—whether the problem is older court buildings that are not sufficiently accessible for people with disabilities or people located in more rural areas from whom a courthouse maybe several hours away or difficult to get to. Moreover, for those not in urban areas, there is often not a legal aid office in close proximity and often fewer pro bono attorneys able to provide assistance. The lack of funds for gas or bus fare to get to the courthouse can prohibit low-income individuals from being able to make their court appearance. Or they may not have childcare or the funds to set up childcare. These barriers have caused some legal service providers to offer grants to their clients to help fund their transportation or even create volunteer driving programs.

Legal Service Corporation

The concept of access to justice began in the 1960s when advocates began considering the barriers low-income individuals face when attempting to address a legal issue. To address these needs, Congress passed and President Richard Nixon signed the Legal Services Corporation Act. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a publicly funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that seeks to ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing funding for civil legal aid to those who otherwise would be unable to afford an attorney. LSC distributes funds to legal service programs across the country who work to provide legal services to low-income Americans. According to the most recent data reported for LSC programs, these funds provided services for 736,404 cases and served 1,790,667 people in need in 2016. LSC is the largest single funder of civil legal aid in the United States, but its funding has been significantly cut since its peak in 1980.

LSC distributes more than $300 million each year to more than 130 independent nonprofit legal aid programs, but when adjusted for inflation, current funding levels are $119.9 million less than when the program was established in 1976. If LSC funding would have kept up with inflation, we would be funding LSC at $936 million each year. There are also restrictions to the funding, including that LSC-funded programs cannot serve undocumented individuals or incarcerated persons.

Legal Aid

Many times, those who cannot afford an attorney in civil legal matters look to the legal service providers to guide them through the process. Even with generous and critical support of LSC, state and local bar foundations, law firms, corporate legal departments, and individuals across the country, most legal aid programs still do not have sufficient resources to meet their community’s need. The number of those in need exceeds both the financial and human resources available to meet that need. These challenges are only exacerbated in tough times, when resources are even more limited or threatened entirely.

Based solely on numbers, there are nowhere near enough legal aid programs or staff to handle legal needs for every low-income person. According to the Justice Index, out of the more than 1.2 million attorneys in the United States, there are fewer than 7,000 legal aid attorneys. Put another way, there is only one legal aid attorney available for every 6,000 people living at or near the poverty line. Yet, there is one private attorney available for every 235 people in the general population who are above the poverty threshold.

The Role of Pro Bono

The private bar is one key to addressing the issue of access to justice. According to the American Bar Association’s 2017 report “Supporting Justice: A Report on the Pro Bono Work of America’s Lawyers,” 81 percent of attorneys have provided pro bono services at some point in their lives, and in 2016, attorneys provided an average of 36.9 hours of pro bono. While this may seem impressive, it means one out of five attorneys has never taken a pro bono case, and according to the same report, in 2016 48 percent of attorneys did not undertake any pro bono matters that year.

Despite ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1, which states that lawyers should aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services per year, there is generally no mandatory requirement imposed by state bars for attorneys to provide pro bono services. Several states require attorneys to report on whether they have provided pro bono hours or financial contributions as a way to track and encourage such action, while other states ask attorneys to voluntarily report such actions. The majority of states do not require attorneys to even submit any sort of reporting on whether they have provided pro bono work or contributed to legal service agencies.

With government support for legal service providers stagnant, pro bono work may be the only way to adequately fill the gaps created by lack of resources for low income individuals with legal needs. Individual attorneys must service one case and one client at a time to provide for the millions of people who have serious legal needs and no way to access the legal system.

Limited-Scope and New, Innovative Projects

One newer area where pro bono can and has made an impact is limited-scope representation. Limited-scope representation is an approach where a lawyer provides legal assistance in a specific, discrete aspect of a matter, and the client represents him- or herself in the remainder. The hope of limited-scope representation is that attorneys can step in to help with a critical aspect of the legal problem completely, such as providing limited legal advice, drafting and reviewing documents, or even appearing in court for a segment of a case. Although limited-scope representation will probably not solve the access-to-justice problem, it is a helpful tool attorneys can use in many states to provide a greater amount of services to those in need. Many legal service providers and pro bono attorneys are utilizing this tool in order to serve a greater number of clients in key parts of their legal problem.

Many new, innovative projects use limited-scope representation and other creative means to harness the power of legal assistance. One of the most recent innovative projects is called ABA Free Legal Answers (abafreelegalanswers.org), which is being spearheaded by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. Through this program, each state has established its own free virtual legal advice clinic. Qualifying individuals post their civil legal question to their state’s website. Attorney volunteers, who must be authorized to provide pro bono assistance in their state, log in to the website, select questions to answer, and provide legal information and advice. Users are then e-mailed when their question receives a response. Attorneys can volunteer through their state’s Free Legal Answers site at their convenience at any time, whether at the office or in their pajamas. Some law firms have even set up blocks of time where they grab snacks and gather their attorneys together to volunteer and provide legal advice to those in need.

How You Can Help

Thinking about the need for legal services among low-income individuals can be overwhelming, but as an attorney you have a huge role to play in helping someone who cannot find or afford a lawyer. Pro bono work can be helping someone who is the victim of domestic violence or trafficking, saving individuals from being evicted or losing their home, or assisting someone drafting a will. No matter what your experience or whether you have done pro bono work in the past, there is a program, case, or client suited for your interest and expertise. Whether transactional law or litigation, a long-term commitment or a limited-scope project, a matter requiring expertise in your particular field or a matter outside your area that you can take on with support of a legal aid program, there is a case for every willing pro bono lawyer.

No matter where you live, there are great pro bono opportunities that could use your help. Check with your local or state bar—they are great resources that often know the need and opportunities in your community. One national online resource dedicated to using technology and volunteer lawyers to increase access to justice is www.probono.net. They have a volunteer guide and wealth of resources divided by region, including volunteer opportunities and training calendars. Also, whether you are at work, at home, or your child’s baseball game, check out ABA Free Legal Answers at abafreelegalanswers.org.

If this is your first time looking into pro bono work, there are many ways to get connected. You may want to start by talking with attorneys and other colleagues to find out if they are already involved with any pro bono programs. You could also research programs in your local community and even contact your local bar associations or other legal nonprofit organizations. Some local bar associations even organize pro bono fairs where legal aid agencies in the area can promote their programs to potential volunteers. Also, be sure to look at www.probono.net/oppsguide which contains a list of pro bono volunteer opportunity from many states, while other states have developed their own resource pages. Whether you are a newly admitted attorney or have years of experience, many legal aid organizations have training programs or drafted materials to help you get prepared to take a pro bono matter.

One commonly cited barrier stopping attorneys from doing pro bono work is the claim that they personally do not have malpractice insurance. However many legal service agencies that use volunteer attorneys for pro bono matters have malpractice insurance that will cover their volunteer attorneys. In addition, the malpractice insurance policy at the firm or corporation where you work may cover pro bono work in addition to your regular paid work.

Although pro bono work is essential for the clients and communities impacted by the work, there also many benefits for the lawyers providing those services. Beyond the professional and skill development that pro bono cases can provide, some of the most impactful cases of your career may be linked to your pro bono work. As attorneys, we are the only ones who can make this impact on the lives of pro bono clients.

There is much work to be done to help fill the access-to-justice gap and provide legal services to clients who would otherwise go unassisted. Not only is pro bono work personally and professionally rewarding, as you are using your legal skills to help someone in need, but it also allows you to gain experience you might not get from billable work.

So often, access to justice is a challenge for the poor and underserved across the country. As a country with laws that can affect every aspect of people’s lives, every person should have some level of access to those laws, whether it is a defense in an eviction proceeding or representation in a trial that could lead to termination of parental rights. Although a lot has been done to address barriers, there is still a huge need, and every part of the legal profession needs to come together to craft a solution. The legal community depends on advocates from legal services agencies, government and court entities, and the private sector to work toward guaranteeing a fair and equal court system for all. Whether through giving of your own time through pro bono or financially donating to a worthy legal service agency, together we can do our part to ensure greater access to justice for all.

Pro Se May Be a Solution, But it’s Also a Symptom: A Response to The Atlantic’s “The DIY Divorce”

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A contributing writer for The Atlantic recently wrote an article about how she represented herself in her divorce. PILI’s Executive Director, Michael G. Bergmann, wrote the following response about why that is not always the answer when people cannot afford legal representation.

Deborah Copaken’s story in her article “The DIY Divorce” grossly oversimplifies and misrepresents the realities of those who have to face America’s court system alone. Even with the financial difficulties she outlines in the article, Copaken does not represent the typical pro se litigant, mainly because she was able to avoid many of the expensive and sometimes dangerous consequences of a divorce. Not to mention, she did not actually have a “DIY Divorce” since she repeatedly received legal help from a friend who was a lawyer.

Copaken’s lawyer-friend explained best why a pro se solution was the right one for her, mainly that she was educated, spoke English and the divorce itself was relatively amicable. Additionally, even with Copaken’s real financial hardships, she described a situation closer to middle class than poor. Most people who face a legal problem alone are close to or well below the poverty line and are disproportionally people of color. Unlike Copaken, they cannot afford to keep missing work if the other party forces multiple hearings like her husband. They cannot afford to forego alimony or forfeit child support. And most don’t have Copaken’s education to help them work through the intricacies of the legal system.

In actuality, having to navigate a legal issue alone is a symptom of a complex and costly system. For low-income litigants, foregoing legal representation could cost them even more financially and could also prove dangerous, such as in situations where domestic abuse is involved. As outlined in the 2018 article, Access to Justice Through Limited Legal Assistance, those who have legal assistance achieve better outcomes. The article cites one study that found that women with lawyers were able to secure a protective order 83% of the time compared with only 32% of women who did not have a lawyer. Another study showed that those with representation are more likely to receive positive outcomes for child support and custody than those representing themselves. Over and over again, litigants achieve better results with legal help than those who go it alone. That said, in our current civil justice system, there are those that will be forced to proceed pro se because legal aid is stretched too thin and for many, paying for a lawyer is literally a choice between that and child care, food and other basic necessities.

Luckily for Copaken, she had legal help. Her lawyer-friend answered questions, assisted with forms and helped Copaken navigate the legal system. The relationship outlined in the article looks very similar to a relationship between a client and a lawyer working on a pro bono, limited scope basis. And if Copaken, as a white, educated English-speaker was unable to navigate her amicable divorce completely on her own, why should we expect anyone else to?

Right now, there is an army of lawyers and organizations working tirelessly to help make the justice system accessible for those who cannot afford a lawyer. Perpetually underfunded and understaffed, these programs are working on real solutions to assist pro se litigants and make sure everyone has access to justice. In Illinois, where I’m from, Illinois Legal Aid Online provides online tools and resources curated and written by lawyers to help guide people through the legal system. The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice is also working to improve the system for pro se litigants by doing things like simplifying forms and making them available in multiple languages. Additionally, a large network of legal aid organizations and pro bono volunteers provide legal assistance for free to those whose problems are too complex to go pro se. At the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), where I am the Executive Director, we are working to both increase pro bono service across the state by developing innovative pro bono opportunities, while also opening courthouse-based Self-Represented Litigant Help Desks to assist pro se litigants.

Instead of encouraging people to DIY their legal issues like a fun home improvement project, we should be encouraging more lawyers to do, or to do more, pro bono. According to the most recent annual report available from the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (2017), 32,446 lawyers performed 1,913,322 hours of pro bono legal services. That is a terrific start, but as of that report, there were 64,449 licensed lawyers in Illinois. That means that only about half of Illinois lawyers are doing pro bono. Legal aid programs across Illinois (and around the country) need the skills, training and experience of all lawyers to take on full representation, to perform limited scope representation, and to help at help desks and clinics.

Rather than expecting people to represent themselves, we should be focused on fixing a justice system that leads people to consider that as, or for it to be, their only option. We should be providing resources for those that need it, while also building a system that actually provides equal and accessible justice for all. More than anything else, we should not be forcing people to face what is often the worst moments of their lives, be it divorce, domestic violence, eviction or any other civil legal issue, alone.

PILI Alumni Spotlight: Pilar G. Mendez, 2018 Law Student Intern

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PILI is excited to welcome Pilar Mendez to our Board of Directors as the 2018 Law Student Intern Alumni Representative. Each year, PILI appoints one Intern and one Fellow every year from the most recent class to serve on the board for a two-year term.

Pilar is a second-year law student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She was an Intern at the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois where she worked on a number of legal writing and research projects related to women’s and reproductive rights, police practices, institutional reform and LGBTQ rights. “PILI really opened my eyes to the local public interest and pro bono community,” Pilar said.

Before law school, Pilar worked in public health and earned a Master of Public Health degree in Global Health Policy from George Washington University. She worked in health care research and was an ORISE Health Equity Research Fellow at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of Minority Health.

The ACLU provided Pilar with experiences outside of her health care specialty. “I learned the value of being open to new opportunities that may not initially be something I was interested in – taking chances and exploring the types of assignments and areas of the law that are new to me,” she said. “It made me want to take more constitutional law related courses at school and try my hand at litigation.”

Since her PILI Internship, Pilar worked for the Chicago Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth where she assisted staffers on constituent concerns such as health care, the environment and immigration. She is currently a judicial extern in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Her long-term goals include assisting in writing effective evidence-based national health policies.

“I have focused my career thus far on people and worked on issues and policy areas aimed at improving access to care and closing the justice gap,” said Pilar. “Though I am still in school, my commitment to service is inherent in everything I do.”

Read more PILI Alumni spotlights »

PILI Alumni Spotlight: Irene Hickey Sullivan, 2018 Graduate Fellow

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PILI is excited to welcome Irene Hickey Sullivan of Kirkland & Ellis to our Board of Directors as the 2018 Graduate Fellow Alumni Representative. Each year, PILI appoints one Intern and one Fellow from the most recent class to serve on the board for a two-year term.

Irene is a first-year associate at Kirkland & Ellis. She recently graduated from the University of Chicago Law School and completed her PILI Graduate Fellowship at Chicago Volunteer Legal Services last summer. As part of CVLS’ Access to Justice Program, she worked on various aspects of foreclosure cases, housing voucher terminations and other administrative review cases.

“As a PILI Fellow, I accomplished many important milestones for a young attorney: I stood up in court and performed direct client representation for the first time,” said Irene. “Marking these achievements while learning about new areas of law and working toward CVLS’ mission of providing quality legal representation to Chicago’s underserved communities was an excellent way to start my legal career.”

Before law school, Irene worked as a School Growth Coordinator at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School network. As a law student, she was an intern for the Honorable Amy J. St. Eve in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois as well as in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. She was the 2018 Ann Barber Watson Service Award Winner and in addition to her service on PILI’s Board, Irene is an Associate Board Member for Urban Initiatives and an Alumni Mentor for Loyola Academy.

While a Fellow at CVLS, Irene gained experience working directly with pro bono clients. “Although I may have otherwise gained the experience gradually throughout my career, during my PILI I was interacting with clients and potential clients on a daily basis,” explained Irene. “I felt my ability to work productively with clients improved significantly as the summer went on.”

Since starting at Kirkland & Ellis, Irene has continued to work closely with Chicago Volunteer Services on pro bono matters including a voucher termination case against the Housing Authority of Cook County, which resulted in a favorable settlement for her client. She is currently working with CVLS on a pro bono divorce case and a second voucher termination case against the Chicago Housing Authority.

“Although I have only been an attorney for a few months, I have prioritized making pro bono service a consistent component of my practice,” said Irene. “Since starting at Kirkland, I have always had at least one active pro bono matter. My relationship with CVLS has made this a straightforward process!”

Read more PILI Alumni spotlights »

Mark P. Rotatori Elected to Public Interest Law Initiative Board Of Directors

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The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) has elected Mark P. Rotatori, a partner at Jones Day, to serve on its Board of Directors. Mark focuses on Business & Tort Litigation, Tax Audits & Controversies, State & Local Taxation, Product Liability Litigation and Federal & State False Claims Defense. He is also the Chicago Office’s Pro Bono Partner and is a leader in the legal community, where he serves as a board member for Equip for Equality and as a member of the local tax steering committee for Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve such a wonderful organization,” said Mark. “PILI’s mission of expanding access to legal services for people in need is a passion of mine as well. Our society has created a legal system to address and resolve issues affecting people, but has not made the necessary resources available to them. As a director on PILI board, I hope to be able to make a difference in the lives of those in need by making access to legal services a priority.”

Mark is replacing Lee Ann Russo, who recently retired from Jones Day and was named a PILI Life Director. Lee Ann joined the board in 2006 and served as Board President from 2012 to 2014.

PILI is grateful to Mark and Lee Ann for their service. The Board of Directors is currently led by President Sarah Bernstein of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP.

See a full list of PILI’s Board Members here »

Encouraging Pro Bono Throughout the Firm: Highlights from the 2019 Law Firm Pro Bono Roundtable

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On February 13th, representatives from Illinois law firms met at the offices of Baker McKenzie for PILI’s Law Firm Pro Bono Roundtable where they discussed ways to encourage pro bono volunteerism throughout their firms. Topics included harnessing momentum for pro bono, onboarding for pro bono, making the case for pro bono to partners, and exploring innovative pro bono models.

Harnessing Momentum for Pro Bono

Elizabeth Lewis of McDermott, Will & Emery led a discussion about ways to harness momentum for pro bono. Some suggestions included engaging associates in pro bono service in hopes that they will continue volunteering throughout their careers, as well as looking to partners and firm leadership to heavily encourage or even mandate pro bono from associates. The general consensus was it is important for pro bono leaders to offer several pro bono projects that fit within the interest and culture of their firm and to set clear expectations and a supportive infrastructure to ensure a positive experience for volunteers.

Onboarding for Pro Bono

Elise Tincher of Kirkland & Ellis led a discussion about onboarding for pro bono with both first-year associates and laterals. Participants discussed the struggle with onboarding laterals as they do not often come in a big group with a structured orientation process. One firm approaches this challenge by sending an email out to all new laterals with a video about the importance of pro bono at the firm and then follows up with an in-person meeting. Another firm sets up regular pro bono orientations for laterals to introduce them to the pro bono program. For first-year associates, most firms included pro bono as part of their orientation, while several firms encouraged their incoming associates to participate in PILI’s Graduate Fellowship Program and even bring a pro bono case with them when they start at the firm.

Making a Case for Pro Bono to Partners

Sarah Bernstein of Barack Ferrazzano led a discussion about making a case for pro bono to partners. It is important to be aware of the current firm attitudes and culture around pro bono and start to make incremental changes. Many attendees noted how clients were now asking about pro bono in their requests for proposals, which has had a significant impact on encouraging pro bono participation. Getting partners involved in pro bono cases or working on a joint pro bono project with clients can help encourage a culture of pro bono at the firm. Several firms give out pro bono awards to recognize volunteer efforts.

Exploring Innovative Pro Bono Models

Jonathan Baum of Katten Muchin Rosenman led a discussion about exploring innovative pro bono models, including a chance for attendees to share about their own innovative projects. Before launching any new project, it is important to consider the interest of pro bono volunteers and the capacity for the firm to take on new projects. Ask what the best use of resources is and partner with local legal agencies to assist with training and implementation. It can also be effective to make small, innovations to improve existing pro bono projects.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2019 Law Firm Pro Bono Roundtable. We are planning our Illinois Forum on Pro Bono for the fall, which brings together law firm pro bono leaders as well as corporate, agency and law school pro bono leaders.

Learn more about the PILI’s Pro Bono Program »

Learn more about PILI’s Roundtables and Forums »

Chapman and Cutler Adopt February Legal Prep Community Law Clinic

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Thank you to the volunteers from Chapman and Cutler who volunteered together at the Legal Prep Community Law Clinic in February! They assisted two clients with legal issues such as adult guardianship and adoption.

PILI’s Alumni Network Leadership Council collaborates with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) and Legal Prep Charter Academies to host a monthly community-based clinic for the student families and neighbors of Legal Prep in the Garfield Park neighborhood.

PILI coordinates this monthly clinic, typically held on the first Tuesday of each month. If you are interested in hosting or your firm is interested in adopting a clinic date, please contact PILI Program Manager Brent Page by email or by phone at 312-832-5128.

Learn more about the Legal Prep Community Law Clinic »

Increased Grant from LAGBAC Funds Three New Internships

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PILI is extremely grateful to the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC) Foundation for new funding that will allow PILI to open three new summer Internship allocations in Summer 2019. These positions will be at Legal Council for Health Justice, Howard Brown Health and Chicago House. Howard Brown Health and Chicago House are new Participating Agencies for PILI and all three agencies work with the LGBTQ community and people living with HIV/AIDS.

This grant is in addition to the two already existing LAGBAC Named School-Year Internships, one in the fall and one in the spring, both of which are at the National Immigrant Justice Center in their LGBT Immigrant Rights Initiative.

PILI Executive Director Michael Bergmann said “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with the LAGBAC Foundation to increase legal assistance available to the LGBTQ community. And, we are excited to welcome two new agencies into our Internship Program thanks to this generous funding.”

The LAGBAC Foundation’s mission is to improve access to the legal and judicial system for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, intersexed and questioning persons by giving law students the opportunity to learn valuable, practical legal skills while giving back to our community.

Learn more about the Named and Honorary Interns »

See a full list of our supporters »