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:

• 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.

• Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  September 22nd, 2020 - 12:00 pm, at Live Webcast
  The Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, September 22 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.

• Tenth Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Virtual Event

  October 26th, 2020 - 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee hosts this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week and recognize the efforts of Pro Bono Pledge Signatories and Pro Bono Service Award Recipients to expand and enhance access to justice in the Tenth Judicial Circuit.

• Third Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Virtual Event

  October 27th, 2020 - 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee hosts this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week and recognizes the efforts of Pro Bono Pledge Signatories and Pro Bono Service Award Recipients to expand and enhance access to justice in the Third Judicial Circuit.

• Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Virtual Event

  October 28th, 2020 - 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will showcase available pro bono opportunities and present the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Service Award.

• Fifth Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Virtual Event

  October 29th, 2020 - 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee hosts this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week and recognized the efforts of Pro Bono Pledge Signatories and Pro Bono Service Award Recipients to expand and enhance access to justice in the Fifth Judicial Circuit.

• Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  November 9th, 2020 - 3:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually Monday, August 9th at 3:00 pm.