Five Reasons PILI is Thankful
As we gather for Thanksgiving, we at PILI are reflecting on the people and partnerships that make our mission possible.
This season, we want to share five reasons why we are deeply thankful:
- The Law Students & Recent Graduates Who Step Up
Our Law Student Interns and Graduate Fellows dedicate their time, talent, and passion to serving people facing life-altering legal challenges. They bring energy, compassion, and a commitment to equal access to justice. - Our Public Interest Law Partners Whose Collaboration is Essential
PILI’s Participating Agencies and pro bono partners continue to do extraordinary work at a time of growing need. We are so grateful for their partnership so that we can have the greatest collective impact for individuals, families and communities in need across Illinois. - Our Alumni Leading With Purpose
From courtroom advocacy to community engagement to leadership across the profession, PILI Alumni demonstrate every day that equal access to justice is a lifelong commitment. Their continued service and dedication mentors and inspires the next generation of public interest leaders. - Volunteers Who Say “Yes” When It Matters Most
Whether answering questions through Illinois Free Legal Answers, assisting self-represented litigants at help desks, volunteering at one of our clinics, or providing representation to a veteran with their civil legal issue—your volunteerism changes lives. - The Supporters Who Make This Work Possible
Law firms, corporations, foundations, bar associations, law schools, and individual donors provide the fuel that powers our mission. Your generosity allows us to engage, inspire, and empower those advancing equal access to justice throughout Illinois.
As we celebrate the season, the staff and Board of Directors at PILI send our warmest wishes for a joyful and restorative Thanksgiving. And if you feel moved to support PILI’s mission this year, we invite you to volunteer, connect, or give in whatever way feels meaningful.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at PILI.
PILI’s offices will close for the holiday on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th. We will reopen on Monday, December 1st.
Meet PILI’s 2025 Alumni Network Leadership Council Representatives
The Alumni Network Leadership Council (ANLC) leads the engagement efforts of PILI’s Alumni Network—supporting community-building, programming, and opportunities for former PILI Interns and Fellows to stay connected to PILI and to one another. Each year, two representatives from the most recent class join the Council to elevate the voice of recent Interns and Fellows and help strengthen the pipeline of Alumni engagement and service.
We are excited to introduce our 2025 ANLC Representatives, who each bring a thoughtful commitment to public interest work, a belief in the power of alumni connection, and a vision for advancing service beyond their placements.
Paige Bradley
2L, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
2025 Law Student Intern
What has been the most meaningful experience or lesson you’ve taken away since completing your PILI Internship?
My PILI Internship experience showed me how many different avenues I can take to serve my neighbors. From direct services to impact litigation to court reform advocacy, public interest legal internships like the ones PILI provides offer so many creative approaches to address our area’s most complex legal and social issues. I am so excited to work with such important organizations during the rest of my legal career as an attorney, volunteer, or supporter.
How did your PILI placement shape the way you approach your current role or future career goals?
My PILI role provided a step into the public interest legal system that solidified my interest in the work. It’s an honor to earn a legal degree, and my placement helped me understand both the gravity of what I learn in school and how I can make the most meaningful change within my area of influence.
As a new representative on the Alumni Network Leadership Council, what do you hope to contribute during your term?
I am looking forward to learning more about how the ANLC has engaged our community in the past so I can provide the most meaningful support during and beyond my term. I hope to support and improve Alumni engagement efforts and offer more social, volunteering, and networking opportunities for the public interest law community. I have organized with different community and cause groups for almost a decade, so it would be wonderful to bring some lessons I learned about long-term engagement into my work with the ANLC.
How do you think PILI Alumni can best support today’s Interns and Fellows?
I believe continuing the Intern & Fellow Advising Program and offering more volunteer and social opportunities can help connect Interns and Fellows to the larger organization. From an Intern perspective, I think the organization is doing a lot of things right. I’m excited to contribute to and expand on those efforts.
Outside of your legal work, what inspires or motivates you in your daily life?
My partner inspires me every day! She uses her skills and compassion to contribute to community safety and create a more safe and beautiful world. I also love to grow plants, like houseplants, herbs, and flowers, to reconnect to and invest in our environment.
Michael Stein
Associate at Kirkland & Ellis
2025 Graduate Fellow
What has been the most meaningful experience or lesson you’ve taken away since completing your PILI Fellowship?
The degree to which pro bono legal services are needed in Chicago and the importance of the pro bono work that lawyers are doing every day.
How did your PILI placement shape the way you approach your current role or future career goals?
My PILI placement solidified the importance of making pro bono work a central part of my practice throughout my legal career.
In what ways are you continuing to engage in service or pro bono work today?
I engage in pro bono activities by staying involved with PILI and taking pro bono opportunities with my law firm.
How do you think PILI Alumni can best support today’s Interns and Fellows?
Making themselves available to current Interns/Fellows. Having a strong Alumni Network allows current Fellows and Interns to benefit from the lessons and mistakes that prior classes have made. I certainly benefited from my Alumni mentors.
PILI to Honor Leaders Advancing Justice at Annual Awards Luncheon
On December 10th, PILI will bring together members of the Illinois legal community for its Annual Awards Luncheon, celebrating those who exemplify the highest ideals of the profession. Each year, this event recognizes individuals and an organization whose commitment to public interest law, pro bono service, and equal access to justice strengthens communities across our state.
This year, PILI is proud to honor four outstanding award recipients whose leadership, advocacy, and dedication reflect PILI’s mission to engage, inspire, and empower those advancing justice for all.
Congratulations to our 2025 honorees!
PILI INTERN ALUMNI AWARD: ARTURO HERNANDEZ
Arturo Hernandez has built a distinguished career advancing the rights of people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. A 2011 PILI Law Student Intern with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH), he now serves as Senior Attorney leading CCH’s criminal records relief work, including cannabis expungements through New Leaf Illinois. Arturo’s advocacy has achieved life-changing outcomes for clients and contributed to CCH’s amicus brief in Grants Pass v. Johnson before the U.S. Supreme Court. His leadership, mentorship, and dedication to racial equity embody PILI’s mission and the spirit of public service.
PILI FELLOW ALUMNI AWARD: JUDY K. HE
A 2017 PILI Graduate Fellow at The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, Judy He has continued to champion equal access to justice while rising as a leader in Crowell & Moring’s Intellectual Property Group. Averaging over 200 pro bono hours annually, Judy has led complex federal cases and provided critical representation through the Tahirih Justice Center and the National Immigrant Justice Center. A past Chair of PILI’s Young Professionals Board, Judy is recognized as both a mentor and an advocate whose excellence and empathy advance PILI’s mission every day.
PRO BONO INITIATIVE AWARD: GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP
Greenberg Traurig exemplifies an unwavering commitment to expanding commitment to expanding access to justice through meaningful pro bono work. The firm strongly encourages associates to devote at least 25 hours each year to pro bono work and offers billable credit for up to 100 hours—standards that reflect the firm’s belief that serving the underserved is integral to the practice of law. Collectively, lawyers across Greenberg Traurig contribute tens of thousands of hours to pro bono representation each year. In Chicago alone, attorneys provided more than 4,000 hours of pro bono service in 2024. Through its sustained pro bono service, meaningful partnerships, and investment in the next generation of public interest advocates, Greenberg Traurig embodies the values honored by PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative Award.
DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD: JUSTICE MARY JANE THEIS
Justice Mary Jane Theis has dedicated her career to advancing justice and expanding access to legal services across Illinois. From her beginnings as a Cook County Public Defender to serving at every level of the Illinois judiciary, she has shaped the profession through her leadership and commitment to fairness. Justice Theis served on the Appellate Court for 17 years before being appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court in 2010, where she has served since. As Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court from October 2022 to October 2025, she established the Supreme Court Executive Committee on the Practice of Law to improve access for those unable to secure representation. Her careerlong dedication to justice, mentorship, and service exemplifies the highest ideals of the legal profession.
Reflecting on Pro Bono Week 2025: Showcasing Service & Celebration
PILI again joined the national celebration of Pro Bono Week, held this year from October 19–25, to recognize and inspire the legal community’s commitment to service. Organized nationally by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, Pro Bono Week is designed to highlight the difference lawyers make through volunteer service and to encourage even greater participation in pro bono work across the country.
PILI Young Professionals Board (YPB) member Yona Isaacs (L) and PILI Alumni Council member Jasman Sidhu (R) at Faegre Drinker for an Illinois Free Legal Answers clinic.
Starting in mid-October and running through mid-November, PILI and its Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committees are hosting and supporting events statewide that celebrate the spirit of service, honor pro bono volunteers, and provide new opportunities for engagement. And we did not just celebrate pro bono, we also did pro bono with several partners by holding Illinois Free Legal Answers Clinics, including DePaul University College of Law, State Farm, Wilkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and Northern Illinois University College of Law.
While the official week of celebration has come to a close, PILI’s commitment to pro bono continues year-round through our committees, clinics, and ongoing volunteer opportunities. Learn more about how you can get involved in pro bono service here.
Third Judicial Circuit: Pro Bono Reception Honors Local Leaders in Service
Thank you to our co-sponsors: Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Madison County Bar Association, and Walton Telken Bragge, LLC. We are also grateful to Judge Barbara Crowder (Ret.) for being our special guest speaker and to Chief Judge Christopher Threlkeld for his support and participation.
L to R: Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Chair Judge Maureen Schuette, award recipients Sarah Wallace and Brittany Elliott, Judge Barbara Crowder (Ret.) & Third Circuit Chief Judge Threkeld
Pro Bono Service Award – Brittany Elliott
Brittany Elliott, of Embrich & Elliott Law, is one of the Third Circuit’s most consistent Legal Advice Clinic volunteers, often serving monthly and taking on complex or sensitive matters referred by PILI. Known for her compassion and professionalism, Brittany ensures that self-represented litigants feel supported and heard. She also serves on the Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, extending her impact beyond individual cases.
Judge Barbara Crowder Pro Bono Champion Award – Sarah Wallace
Sarah Wallace, clerk with the Madison County Circuit Clerk’s Office, goes above and beyond to assist those seeking expungement. She guides individuals with warmth and understanding, connecting them to the Law Library and ensuring they take confident next steps. Her empathy and dedication exemplify the spirit of access to justice.
Fifth Judicial Circuit: Celebrating Service and Commitment Across the Circuit
L to R: This year’s award recipient Paul Wieck, with Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Chair Angel Wawrzynek
Thank you to our co-sponsors: Huber & Mudd, LLC and Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, and to Erika Harold, Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, for her inspiring remarks.
Pro Bono Service Award – Paul E. Wieck
Paul Wieck has demonstrated a careerlong dedication to service, currently serving as Treasurer of the Clark County Bar Association and an active member of the Illinois State Bar. This year, Paul was recognized for organizing the inaugural Coles County Expungement and Sealing Clinic and leading the Coles County Illinois Free Legal Answers Clinic, both of which expanded access to justice for those most in need.
Sixth Judicial Circuit: Honoring the Late John LaFond
The Sixth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee in partnership with the Champaign County Bar Association will host a Celebrate Pro Bono Happy Hour to commemorate Pro Bono Week on October 30th.
Community Legal Services Award – John LaFond
A lifelong advocate for equal justice, John LaFond spent his career at Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, representing those unable to afford counsel, particularly older adults and people with developmental disabilities. Deeply compassionate and humble, John exemplified the spirit of service that defines this award. As Judge Ramona Sullivan noted, he was recognized for “all of the pro bono he did behind Susan’s back,” capturing his quiet, steadfast dedication to helping others.
Tenth Judicial Circuit: Recognizing Leadership in Access to Justice
L to R: Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Chair Judge Wilson with this year’s award recipient Yolanda Riley
Thank you to our co-sponsors: Janssen Law Center, Peoria Bar Association, Prairie State Legal Services, and Tazewell County Bar Association. Special thanks to guest speakers Chief Judge Katherine Gorman of the Tenth Judicial Circuit and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White.
Joseph A. Dailing Pro Bono Service Award – Yolanda Riley
A passionate advocate from Peoria, Yolanda Riley offers free legal workshops and counsel through Peoria Public Schools’ Wrap-Around Center, focusing on family law and expungement to help clients access better opportunities. She also volunteers through the Peoria and Tazewell Help Desks, legal clinics, and the Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panel. Her work continues the legacy of service embodied by the award’s namesake, Joseph A. Dailing, a pioneer for access to justice in Illinois.
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit: Celebrating Pro Bono
L to R: PILI Senior Managing Attorney Jessica Schneider with award recipient David Clark, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Kay O’Brien, and Eighteenth Judicial Pro Bono Committee Chair Judge Bryan Chapman
The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee hosted this event as part of the DuPage County Bar Association’s monthly Unwind Happy Hour to commemorate Pro Bono Week and recognize the commitment of local pro bono volunteers.
Pro Bono Service Award – David Clark
David Clark has long been a driving force for pro bono service in DuPage County and beyond. Founder of the DuPage County Bar Association’s Ask a Lawyer Program, he also helped launch the Eviction Task Force Mediation Program and revitalized courthouse Help Desks after the pandemic. Over the past year, David has contributed more than 25 hours of pro bono service through Illinois Free Legal Answers and local clinics, while mentoring others to engage in service and strengthening the culture of pro bono throughout his community.
L to R: Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair Judge Joseph Pedersen with award recipient Jack Slingerland
Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit: Celebrating Dedication and Service to Community
Thank you to our co-sponsors: Prairie State Legal Services, DeKalb County Bar Association, and Kendall County Bar Association, with support from the judges of the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit. We are also grateful to guest speakers Chief Judge Bradley J. Waller of the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Rochford.
Pro Bono Service Award – Jack C. Slingerland
Co-owner of Slingerland & Clark, P.C., Jack Slingerland has devoted more than 100 hours this year to pro bono service through CASA, Lawyer in the Lobby, and local legal clinics. He also mentors NIU law students, inspiring the next generation of public service lawyers. With over 30 years of experience, his compassion and leadership make a lasting difference in the lives of clients and colleagues alike.
L to R: Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair Judge John McAdams with award recipient Daniel Transier
Pro Bono Service Award – Daniel Transier
Daniel Transier, of the Law Office of Daniel Transier, volunteers regularly with the Kendall County Courthouse’s Lawyer in the Lobby Program, providing more than 25 hours of service this year. In addition to his pro bono work, he serves as a Guardian ad Litem, conflict public defender, and Administrative Hearing Officer for the United City of Yorkville. His dedication to justice extends beyond the courtroom through mentorship, civic engagement, and community service.
Pro Bono Week may have come to an end, but our work continues.
Each event, award, and volunteer story represents a collective commitment to advancing justice and strengthening communities across Illinois. Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us—and to those who continue to make pro bono service a cornerstone of our shared mission. Learn more about PILI’s pro bono programs and how to get involved here.
PILI Receives Renewed Foundation Support
In October 2025, PILI 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.
PILI has received a renewed grant of $10,000 from the CFCI Community Needs Grant of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. This grant will support PILI’s Law Student Internship Program and will specifically help fund an Intern in Peoria. PILI Law Student Interns work at legal service agencies for 400 hours during the summer or 200 hours during a school year semester. PILI ensures quality supervision by experienced agency attorneys, and providing extra educational, networking and mentoring opportunities. This grant will also support the Self-Represented Litigant Help Desks and the Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Panel in the Tenth Judicial Circuit including, Peoria and Tazewell counties. The Community Foundation of Central Illinois was created to serve donors with diverse interests at various levels of charitable giving and to strengthen the community through engaged grant making and strategic partnerships with other organizations.
PILI also received a renewed grant in the amount of $55,000 from the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) to support PILI’s efforts providing self-help legal assistance through several of our projects across the state, including Self-Represented Litigant Help Desks in the Third, Sixth and Tenth Judicial Circuits, Illinois Free Legal Answers and Legal Help Within Reach. The funding for the IEJF, which comes through an appropriation through the Office of the Attorney General, directly helps families in crisis, victims of domestic violence and seniors facing abuse and financial exploitation. The IEJF supports innovative, cost-effective legal aid programs that empower clients to resolve legal issues and regain control of their lives.
Thank you to these and all of our supporters!
Introducing the New Board of Directors’ Alumni Representatives
PILI is excited to welcome Molly Levinson and Victoria Wang to our Board of Directors as our new Law Student Intern and Graduate Fellow Alumni Representatives. Each year, PILI selects representatives from the most recent class of Interns and Fellows to serve on the board for a two-year term.
Molly Levinson
How did your PILI Internship experience influence the way you approach your career today?
Having gone straight from undergrad to law school, PILI was pivotal in enlightening me on how legal education translates into real-world practice. My PILI Internship reinforced my commitment to building a career in public interest and working to mitigate challenges people face in the legal world as more than an academic pursuit, but a true career path.
What perspectives from your Internship do you hope to bring into your role?
I hope to bring the perspective of someone who has experienced PILI as a Law Student Intern and as someone with a long history of public-interest internships generally. I hope to pull on those roles, in tandem with my experience with PILI, to share what the process of searching for internships in this field looks like today and how to best serve not only those who are searching for a career in public interest, but also those whose path may intersect with this field briefly.
How do you see alumni voices shaping PILI’s direction and impact?
Alumni voices are invaluable editions to the growth and development of PILI and its ability to continue guiding students. Having alumni identify what worked, where they needed more support, and how PILI can continue exposing students to professionals in the field will expand the impact of the program and serve Interns better.
What advice would you give to future Interns about making the most of their PILI experience?
I would encourage future interns to embrace all the resources and connections that come with having a PILI Internship. PILI creates countless opportunities for Interns to explore different areas of public interest law and network with a variety of interns and professionals. These connections not only create a strong network of public-interest support but also inspire students to be active in the field and make lasting impacts on public interest work.
What excites you most about being part of PILI’s alumni community at this moment in your career?
I’m excited about the opportunity to give back while still at the beginning of my career. I want to use my position to amplify intern voices, share feedback, and ensure that future interns are just as supported. I’m looking forward to contributing to the public interest sector and making this community stronger through increased dialogue between students and professionals.
Victoria Wang
How did your PILI Fellowship experience influence the way you approach your career today?
My Fellowship at Resolution Systems Institute gave me a close-up look at how people experience the justice system, often during stressful and uncertain moments. It reminded me that behind every case are real lives, and that perspective will continue to guide my approach to legal practice.
How do you see Alumni voices shaping PILI’s direction and impact?
PILI Alumni can demonstrate what a lifelong commitment to service looks like. By sharing our experiences, we help ensure PILI’s programs remain relevant, impactful, and connected to the realities of both public interest and private practice.
What advice would you give to future Fellows about making the most of their PILI experience?
Take time to reflect on what you’re learning and how it connects to your long-term goals. And don’t hesitate to reach out; PILI advisors, staff, supervisors, peers and Alumni are eager to share their insights. These connections often last well beyond the fellowship.
What excites you most about being part of PILI’s Alumni community at this moment in your career?
I’m excited to stay connected to a community that values service. As I begin my legal career, I look forward to learning from alumni who have found creative ways to integrate pro bono work into their professional lives, while also supporting PILI’s mission in a lasting way.
Meet PILI’s Fall Semester 2025 Law Student Interns
PILI is excited to welcome our Fall Semester 2025 Law Student Interns!
This semester, 11 Law Student Interns will provide 2,200 hours of legal services supervised by experienced attorneys at one of PILI’s Participating Agencies. In addition to the work experience, the PILI Internship also includes supplemental educational, networking and advising opportunities for these second and third-year law students.
OUR Fall 2025 LAW STUDENT INTERNS INCLUDE:
- Nicole Shields from DePaul University College of Law at the Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago
- Hanna Pappas from DePaul University College of Law at Ascend Justice
- Jessica Wiesneth from Northern Illinois College of Law at Center for Disability & Elder Law*
- Christina Hartman from University of Chicago at Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
- Abigail Steinberg from Chicago Kent College of Law at Equip for Equality*
- Justin Fernando from University of Illinois College of Law at Greater Chicago Legal Clinic*
- Leah Barry from University of Wisconsin Law School at Illinois Legal Aid Online
- Taylor Redd from Loyola University Chicago at Legal Aid Chicago
- Dakota Chisholm from Chicago Kent College of Law at Legal Aid Society*
- Irina Suglia Katerynicz from Indiana University Maurer School of Law at National Immigrant Justice Center – Counter Trafficking Project*
- Lauren Monasa from Indiana University Maurer School of Law at National Immigrant Justice Center – LGBTQ Project*
Six of these Internships are made possible by special donations for Named & Honorary Interns (designated with an asterisk above). Meet our Named & Honorary Interns »
Learn more about the Law Student Internship Program »
Have questions about PILI’s Law Student Internship Program? Please contact PILI Program Associate by email or by phone at 312-832-5130.