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:

First 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:

• First Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  December 4th, 2020 - 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Friday, December 4, 2020 at 12:00 p.m.

• Illinois Free Legal Answers Virtual Clinic

  December 8th, 2020 - 11:30 am, at Virtual Event
  Join the Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee and the Sixth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee to learn about Illinois Free Legal Answers and to answer civil legal questions for those in need through the platform.

• Eleventh Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  December 9th, 2020 - 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Eleventh Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at noon.

• PILI Virtual Pro Bono CLE Series: Adult Guardianship & Elder Care

  December 10th, 2020 - 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  Join us for this free statewide CLE series to discuss timely pro bono issues! We will be hosting these virtual CLEs every 2nd Thursday of the month at noon for 1.0 hour of CLE credit throughout the rest of 2020. 

• Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  December 14th, 2020 - 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet at 12:00 pm on December 14, 2020.

• Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  December 17th, 2020 - 12:00 pm, at Live Webcast
  The Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, December 17th at noon.

• Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  January 6th, 2021 - 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 12:00 p.m.

• Twentieth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  January 7th, 2021 - 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Twentieth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, January 7th at 12:00 p.m.

• Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  January 14th, 2021 - 3:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually Thursday, January 14th at 3:00 pm.

• Sixth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  February 17th, 2021 - 12:00 pm, at Virtual Event
  The Sixth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, February17, 2020 at noon.

• Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Meeting

  February 18th, 2021 - 8:30 am, at Virtual Event
  The Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, February 18, 2020 at 8:30 a.m.