As part of our 2022 Annual Pro Bono Reception, we will celebrate those named to PILI’s Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll. Those recognized through our Honor Roll have been chosen by PILI staff for their volunteer contributions through the pro bono opportunities available through PILI’s Pro Bono Program. We are so grateful to these extraordinary volunteers whom we regularly rely on to help individuals, families and communities in need.
The seven volunteers named to PILI’s 2022 Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll are:
Maria Puppo Martinez
Illinois Free Legal Answers
Maria is a volunteer with Illinois Free Legal Answers, 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. To date, Maria has answered 285 questions from clients in need and has also worked with law students from DePaul University College of Law as part of Illinois Free Legal Answers clinics organized by PILI. Explaining why she volunteers with PILI through Illinois Free Legal Answers, Maria says she see Illinois Free Legal Answers as “a very accessible pro bono opportunity and that PILI has a great team to collaborate with as a volunteer.”
Jennifer Bonesteel
Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panel
Jennifer has been a regular volunteer, helping low-income clients with a variety of civil legal matters in the Tenth Judicial Circuit through our Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panel. This panel provides a referral source for participating legal aid agencies to send potential clients who have been denied service due to a conflict of interest. Jennifer also volunteers through PILI’s Self-Represented Litigant Help Desks in both Peoria and Tazewell County Courthouses. When asked why others should do pro bono, Jennifer said “those who have more should give back.”
Brad Lane
Legal Prep Community Law Clinic
Brad is a member of PILI’s Board of Directors 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. He has volunteered since the clinic’s inception and recruited other volunteers from Crowell & Moring to participate in the clinic each year. Brad explains why he does pro bono, in part, is because “for me, finding solutions for my pro bono clients is a rewarding experience.”
Jody Keller
Self-Represented Litigant Help Desk
Jody is the backbone of our Self-Represented Litigant Help Desk, in Tazewell County, helping to coordinate services through the help desk and working with both our volunteers and clients. 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. PILI has established Help Desks in the Champaign, Macon, Madison, Peoria and Tazewell County Courthouses. Jody thinks that others should do pro bono because “you never know when someone needs a little help that can make all the difference in the world for them.”
Robert Jacobson
Self-Represented Litigant Help Desk
Rob volunteers at our Self-Represented Litigant Help Desk at the Champaign County Courthouse. 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. Reflecting on why he likes volunteering with PILI. Rob says he “appreciates how easy PILI makes it for us to volunteer.”
Sharon Marcisz
Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network
Sharon has worked with clients as one of our pro bono attorneys through the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network, or IL-AFLAN. As a member of IL-AFLAN, PILI refers pro bono matters in the 101 counties outside of Cook County, to provide civil legal services to veterans, active duty military and their spouses and dependents. She has also partnered with other attorneys to learn new legal areas for pro bono. When asked what motivates her to do pro bono, Sharon said “I think we have a duty as attorneys to offer our services to the underserved and underprivileged. And, it’s very rewarding personally and professionally.”
Teresa Dickinson
Legal Help Within Reach
Teresa volunteered to prepare wills and Powers of Attorney for clients through Legal Help Within Reach in a partnership between PILI and Habitat for Humanity Greater Peoria Area. Through this pro bono opportunity, PILI recruits attorneys and law students from urban areas to volunteer at free legal clinics in rural and underserved communities. Teresa also volunteers through PILI’s Self-Represented Litigant Help Desks in both Peoria and Tazewell County Courthouses and helps recruit others. She says she enjoys doing pro bono work for her client “to help put their minds at ease.”
You can learn more about all of PILI’s pro bono opportunities and sign up to volunteer here. Or, you can email us to get connected with the right opportunity for you.