Save the date for another Pro Bono Week celebration! Coordinated by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, Pro Bono Week is intended to inspire even greater pro bono participation by lawyers throughout the nation.
This initiative provides an opportunity for legal organizations across the country to collaboratively commemorate the vitally important contributions of America’s lawyers and to recruit and train the many additional volunteers required to meet the growing demand. The ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service undertook this initiative to provide a format for showcasing the incredible difference that pro bono lawyers make to our nation, to our system of justice, to our communities and, most of all, to the clients they serve.
In 2022, Pro Bono Week will be celebrated from October 23-29 and PILI is organizing a variety of events across Illinois around and during that week. Information about these events is included below and we will continue to update this information over the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please contact either Managing Attorney Abigail Causer (Southern Region) or Managing Attorney Jessica Schneider (Northern Region).
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18TH
Third Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Luncheon
The Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will host this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week, recognize the efforts local pro bono volunteers and celebrate its Pro Bono Service Award Recipient. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, October 18th from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Leclaire Room at Lewis and Clark Community College with Illinois Supreme Court Justice David Overstreet as our special guest speaker.
First Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono CLE & Reception
The First Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will host this CLE program and reception as part of the Pro Bono Week celebration to increase awareness about the need for pro bono legal services and how volunteers can help in the First Judicial Circuit. The Committee will also celebrate those who have performed pro bono work over the last year.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24TH
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Spirit of Pro Bono Breakfast
The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will host this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week, recognize the commitment of local pro bono volunteers and celebrate the Pro Bono Services award recipient. Attendees will also have the opportunity to do some pro bono work at the event through Illinois Free Legal Answers.
Tenth Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Reception
The Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will host this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week, recognize the efforts of local pro bono volunteers and celebrate its Pro Bono Service Award Recipient. The reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Renaissance Room at the Janssen Law Center in Peoria with Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White as our special guest speaker.
Tuesday, OCTOBER 25TH
Fifth Judicial Circuit Celebrate Bono Week Dinner
The Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee hosts this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week, recognize the commitment of local pro bono volunteers and to celebrate the Pro Bono Service Award Recipients. The dinner will be held on Tuesday, October 25th at Mattoon Country Club from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with Illinois Supreme Court Justice David Overstreet as our special guest speaker.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27TH
Sixth Judicial Circuit CLE & Awards Presentation
The Sixth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will co-host this CLE program with the Champaign County Bar Association from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on on Thursday, October 27th in Savoy. The event will commemorate Pro Bono Week, recognize the commitment of local pro bono volunteers and celebrate the Community Legal Services Award recipient.
Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Reception
The Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, in partnership with the Rock Island County Bar Association, will host this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week and recognize the efforts of local pro bono volunteers whose work has helped to expand and enhance access to justice in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. This event will be held on Thursday, October 27th beginning at 5:30 p.m. at The Axis Hotel in Moline.
Thursday, November 3rd
Eleventh Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Reception
The Eleventh Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will host this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week and recognize the commitment of local pro bono volunteers in increasing access to justice. The reception is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Bell Tower Room at Epiphany Farms Restaurant in Bloomington on Thursday, November 3, 2022.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH
Second Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Virtual CLE
The Second Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will host this virtual program to commemorate Pro Bono Week, recognize the commitment of local pro bono volunteers, provide CLE training and introduce attendees to a virtual pro bono opportunity. The program will explore the need for pro bono in the Second Judicial Circuit as well as provide an overview of Illinois Free Legal Answers – a virtual legal advice platform to help those in need of legal help – and guidance on how to answer frequently asked questions on the platform in the areas of expungement and sealing, wills and Powers of Attorney, and family law.
Thursday, November 17th
Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Virtual CLE
The Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will host this virtual complimentary CLE program that will explore judges’ perspectives on what is new in the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit, including the new time standards for cases announced by the Illinois Supreme Court this summer. These standards will particularly impact on family cases cases, which are one of the highest pro bono needs. The Committee will also recognize whose who have provided pro bono service in the last year.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH
Twentieth Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Breakfast
The Twentieth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee will host this event to commemorate Pro Bono Week, recognize the commitment of local pro bono volunteers and celebrate the Land of Lincoln Pro Bono Award recipient. The breakfast event will be held from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. at the DoubleTree in Collinsville in conjunction with the Family Law CLE program being held on Friday, November 18th.