PILI’s Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committees strive to increase equal access to justice by promoting and enhancing pro bono legal services within a specific judicial circuit by:

• Raising awareness of the need for free or low-cost legal services;
• Identifying and reducing barriers to providing free or low-cost legal services;
• Promoting pro bono legal services and recruiting attorneys and legal professionals to participate in existing pro bono programs;
• Identifying gaps in the delivery of legal services to low-income individuals and families and developing innovative approaches to filling those gaps through pro bono; and
• Recognizing the pro bono contributions of attorneys and legal professionals.

Each Committee consists of members of the judiciary as well as pro bono leaders from local law firms, corporations, bar associations, and public interest law organizations. All of the Committees differ in size and their goals vary depending on the local make-up of the circuit.

PILI has launched Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committees in the following circuits. Follow the link to learn more about each Committee, the membership, current projects and upcoming events within the circuit:

Third Circuit »
Fifth Circuit »
Sixth Circuit »
Tenth Circuit »
Eleventh Circuit »
Fourteenth Circuit »
Eighteenth Circuit »
Twentieth Circuit »

PILI’s Pro Bono Pledge is being launched through our Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committees, in recognition of the responsibility of all members of the legal profession – from corporate lawyers to law firm lawyers to solo practitioners to legal staff – to increase access to our legal system. The Pledge has been launched in the Third, Fifth, Sixth, Tenth, Eleventh and Fourteenth Judicial Circuits.

For more information about PILI’s Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committees, contact PILI Executive Director Michael Bergmann by email or by phone at 312-832-5129.

Upcoming Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Events:

• Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting (Virtual)

  July 14th, 2020 – 12:00 pm, at Live Webcast
  The Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, July 14th at noon.

• Twentieth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  July 15th, 2020 – 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Twentieth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, July 15th at 12:00 p.m.

• Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  August 26th, 2020 – 3:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually Wednesday, August 26th at 3:00 pm.

• Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  September 2nd, 2020 – 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at 12:00 p.m.

• Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  September 16th, 2020 – 8:30 am, at Virtual Event
  The Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, September 16, 2020 at 8:30 a.m.

• Sixth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  September 17th, 2020 – 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Sixth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, September 17, 2020 at noon.

• Vermilion County Expungement and Sealing Summit

  September 19th, 2020 – 8:30 am, at Danville Area Community College
  The Vermilion County Summit is an opportunity for individuals to receive free legal consultations on their options for criminal records relief. Volunteer attorneys will prepare petitions to expunge and/or seal records for eligible participants to file in the appropriate circuit court.

• Eleventh Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  September 21st, 2020 – 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Eleventh Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet on Monday, September 21, 2020 at noon.

• Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  September 23rd, 2020 – 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet at 12:00 pm on September 23, 2020.