Dear Michael,

We are looking forward to our Alumni Reception next month at The Gage in Chicago from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12th. Join the Alumni Network Leadership Council as they welcome our 2025 PILI Law Student Interns & Graduate Fellows to our Alumni Network. All are invited to attend this reception recognizing and celebrating the impact of PILI Interns & Fellows this summer on the individuals and communities they have served as well as the careerlong commitment to public interest law and pro bono service of our Alumni Network. Get your tickets today!

We also have several exciting pro bono and educational opportunities planned for the coming months, including CLE programs, our weekly Intern & Fellow Summer Educational Seminar Series as well as several pro bono clinics. Details are below and you can always find a list of upcoming events on our website. We hope to see you over the next month!

Sincerely,

The Staff at PILI

You believe in justice and opportunity. PILI turns these values into action every day across Illinois. 

Every day, we help people facing life-altering legal challenges access the help they need to reclaim stability, safety, and hope. We open doors for law school students, recent graduates, and lawyers to serve where they're needed most: making a real difference in communities too often left behind.

When you donate to PILI, you’re not just giving. You’re standing up for justice that gives people a voice in our civil legal system; justice that empowers legal professionals to bring their skills to underserved communities; and justice that provides opportunity and hope for Illinoisans in need. 

This work is only possible because of supporters like you. That’s why we’re asking you to stand for justice with us this summer and make a donation to PILI between now and PILI's first-ever Giving Day on Friday, August 15th.

It's award season at PILI!

We are now accepting nominations for pro bono awards through our

Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committees to be given during the celebration of

Pro Bono Week in October and our annual awards will be presented at our

Annual Awards Luncheon on December 10th in Chicago.

Nominations are due by Friday, August 29th.

News & Updates

• Thank you for a successful 2025 Annual Pro Bono Reception! On June 25th, PILI held our Annual Pro Bono Reception at which we celebrated those named to our 2025 Pro Bono Recognition Roster and our Pro Bono Honor Roll. Thanks to all who joined us and special thanks to our event sponsors for their support of PILI and our Pro Bono Program. Read more and see event photos here »

• PILI Receives Renewed Funding. PILI is so grateful for the renewed and increased funding from several funders including DuPage Bar Foundation, Illinois Access to Justice, Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network (IL-AFLAN), Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyer's Division, Jerome Mirza Foundation, Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois and the Polk Bros. Foundation. Read more »

• Join us for our 2025 Virtual Pro Bono CLE Series. Our next program, "Protecting Your Client from Violence & Harassment" will be held in July 17th from noon to 1:00 p.m. and attendees will receive 1.0 hour of MCLE credit. We will also offer a two-part program, "Negotiation Training for Legal Aid and Pro Bono Attorneys" on September 9th and November 12th. Both programs are from noon to 1:30 p.m. and attendees will receive 1.5 hours of Illinois Professional Responsibility MCLE credit. These programs are free in return for a small pro bono commitment. Learn more and register here »

• Illinois Attorneys Can Now Request MCLE Credit for Pro Bono Work through Illinois Free Legal Answers. The Illinois Supreme Court has established the MCLE for Pro Bono Pilot Project effective July 1, 2025 in an effort to help to address unmet legal needs in Illinois. Attorneys can earn 1 hour of MCLE credit for every 2 hours of pro bono participation with Illinois Free Legal Answers, up to 5 credits per 2-year MCLE reporting period. Attorneys must submit a form to PILI in order to request and receive credit. Learn more »

Other Upcoming Programs & Events

• July 17th - Virtual Pro Bono CLE: Protecting Your Client from Violence and Harassment
• July 17th - Summer Educational Seminar Series: Protecting Your Client from Violence and Harassment
• July 22nd - PILI YPB & Alumni Council Joint Meeting and Reception
• July 24th - PILI Law Student Intern Evaluation Session
• July 25th - Volunteer Opportunity: Bloomington Power of Attorney Clinic
• July 30th - Summer Educational Seminar Series: Post Graduate Fellowships: From Pipe Dream to Project in Action
• August 5th - Summer Educational Series: Hot Topics in Public Interest Law
• August 12th - PILI Alumni Reception: Welcoming the Newest Class of Interns & Fellows
• August 15th - PILI Giving Day
• August 23rd - Volunteer Opportunity: DuPage Expungement Clinic
• September 26th - Volunteer Opportunity: Peoria Expungement Clinic
• December 10th - Annual Awards Luncheon