As part of our 2021 virtual Annual Pro Bono Reception, we celebrated those named to PILI’s Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll. Those recognized through our Honor Roll have been chosen by PILI staff for their volunteer contributions through the pro bono opportunities available through PILI’s Pro Bono Program. We are so grateful to these extraordinary volunteers whom we regularly rely on to help individuals, families and communities in need.
Five volunteers have been named to the 2021 Honor Roll.
Reuben Bernick
Illinois Free Legal Answers
Reuben is a volunteer with Illinois Free Legal Answers. Illinois Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal clinic where low-income Illinois residents can submit a question online to ask a lawyer for help with a civil legal issue. Reuben has answered over 750 questions from clients in need and has volunteered for our Illinois Free Legal Answers for Civil Appeals project as well.
Judge Michael Brandt (Ret.)
Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panel
Michael Brandt has helped with a lot of pro bono projects since retiring from the bench, including our Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panel. This panel, which is piloted in Peoria provides a referral source for participating legal aid agencies to send potential clients who have been denied service due to a conflict of interest.
Sabreena El-Amin
Legal Prep Community Law Clinic
Sabreena is a PILI Alum and YPB Member, as well as a volunteer with our Legal Prep Community Law Clinic, a monthly community-based clinic at Legal Prep Charter Academies in the Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago. She has also recruited volunteers to participate in the clinic.
Jeremy Heiple
Self-Represented Litigant Help Desk
Jeremy Heiple not only volunteers at our Self-Represented Litigant Help Desks, but helped to to pilot a virtual model in Tazewell this year. These help desks utilize volunteers to meet with self-represented litigants for 30-minute appointments to help them understand and navigate the legal process, fill out forms and answer questions. While we have established Help Desk in the Champaign, Macon, Madison, Peoria and Tazewell County Courthouses.
Gail Rogers
Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network
Gail Rogers has worked with clients through the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network, or IL-AFLAN. IL-AFLAN provides civil legal services across Illinois to veterans, active duty military and their spouses and dependents and as an IL-AFLAN member, PILI refers pro bono matters in the 101 counties outside of Cook County.