Pro Bono Volunteer Opportunities in the Third Judicial Circuit
Through the below pro bono opportunities, you can provide critically needed legal services to individuals and families in need in the Third Judicial Circuit. We hope you will get involved and also help spread the word!
The following is a list of pro bono opportunities available in the Third Circuit through the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI):
Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network
Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network (IL-AFLAN) provides civil legal services across Illinois to veterans, active duty military and their spouses and dependents. As an IL-AFLAN member, PILI refers pro bono matters to volunteer attorneys in the 101 counties outside of Cook County.
ILLINOIS FREE LEGAL ANSWERS
A project of the American Bar Association, Free Legal Answers was created to increase access to advice and information about non-criminal legal matters for those who cannot afford legal assistance. It is a secure website where low-income Illinois residents can ask a lawyer for help with a legal issue. Volunteer lawyers then log onto the site and provide assistance. It is a virtual walk-in legal clinic administered by PILI.
PILI PRO BONO MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Through PILI’s Pro Bono Mentorship Program, volunteer attorneys who lack experience in a particular area of law will be paired with a more experienced attorney for advice and counsel to ensure competent representation of pro bono clients. The purpose of this program is to increase the number of clients who receive pro bono assistance while simultaneously offering a unique and invaluable learning opportunity for attorneys.
Third Judicial Circuit Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panel
The Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panel provides a referral source for Land of Lincoln Legal Aid to send potential clients who have been denied service due to a conflict of interest. A potential client is only eligible for referral to the program if they have been denied services by Land of Lincoln due to a conflict and the potential client has been referred to the program. Once PILI had approved the case, we will try to place it with a local pro bono attorney in the Third Circuit to provide assistance. This project is launching in early 2022 thanks to funding through the Illinois Access to Justice grant program.
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid
A variety of pro bono opportunities are also available in the Third Circuit through Land of Lincoln Legal Aid:
Many opportunities exist for volunteers to assist Land of Lincoln clients through direct representation, counsel and advice, document preparation, and clinic settings. Due to limited resources, Land of Lincoln attorneys cannot assist everyone who is eligible for their services, so they rely on volunteer attorneys to help many of their clients who are in need of legal assistance.
MADISON COUNTY LEGAL ADVICE CLINIC
Through the Legal Advice Clinic, volunteer attorneys provide no cost legal advice to low-income Madison County residents. Offered twice a month with thirty minute appointment windows, the clinic seeks to provide pro bono services to low-income families, the disabled, and other vulnerable persons within the community.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES LEGAL SERVICES
Catholic Charities Legal Services assists people with little to no income in obtaining pro bono legal assistance from area attorneys in specialized fields while also providing compassion, empathy, and a listening ear to all who come seeking help. Through the CCLS program, our program director matches a client's legal case with an area lawyer who has agreed to represent him/her in the court of law. Learn more»
Dispute Resolution Institute
The mission of Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc. (DRI) is to help people in conflict find common ground, resolve disputes, and reach agreement. We envision a world where mediation and other forms of dispute resolution are the first choice for people in conflict. Currently, DRI provides mediation services both in and out of the Illinois court system. We currently provide mediations in the following areas: family, divorce, eviction, foreclosure, agricultural, and community issues. Volunteer opportunities include both mediation and non-mediation opportunities, including but not limited to mediating in-person, mediating via zoom, serving as a coach for mediators in training, and serving as a role player during mediation trainings. If you have additional skills, you believe are within the needs of our mission, please reach out!
Learn more about the Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee »