Programs
Law Student Internship Program
PILI’s Law Student Internship Program connects law students with legal service agencies in Illinois. Interns work 400 hours full-time during the summer or 200 hours part-time during the school year, with PILI ensuring quality supervision by experienced attorneys and providing extra educational, networking and mentoring opportunities. Through this program, PILI helps legal service agencies increase their impact while also helping law students develop their legal and client interaction skills, build their professional networks, and strengthen their commitment to public interest law and service.
Graduate Fellowship Program
PILI’s Graduate Fellowship Program places new associates from Chicago law firms at legal service agencies, where they work 300 hours during the summer or fall before starting at their firms. This is a unique opportunity to gain lawyering experience, build professional networks, and engage in something meaningful while studying for the bar. New associates who participate in PILI’s Graduate Fellowship Program are connected to pro bono from the very beginning of their careers, and after joining their firms, they often continue to work with the agency on pro bono matters. This benefits you and your firm, as well as area legal aid agencies and their clients.
Alumni Network
More than 4,000 law students and graduates have participated in PILI’s Internship & Fellowship Programs. PILI’s Alumni Network builds and maintains the connection between past PILI Interns and Fellows and the public interest law community through educational, networking, leadership, and service opportunities.
Pro Bono Program
Our Pro Bono Program works to increase the availability of pro bono legal help for those who cannot afford an attorney in Illinois by developing innovative pro bono opportunities, offering pro bono programming and resources, cultivating best practices, and celebrating the life-changing pro bono performed throughout the state.