Dear Michael,

We are looking forward to our Annual Pro Bono Reception next week on June 25th and hope you will join us! At this event, we will recognize those named to our 2025 Pro Bono Honor Roll and Pro Bono Recognition Roster while enjoying drinks, appetizers and networking at the Ivy Room in Chicago. Get your tickets now!

On May 28th, we officially welcomed our 2025 Summer class of Law Student Interns and Graduate Fellows at our Intern & Fellow Orientation. Interns and Fellows were presented with educational sessions throughout the day and a Self-Represented Litigant Simulation that had Interns and Fellows try to navigate common processes of the civil legal system. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to the educational programming.

We have several exciting pro bono and educational opportunities planned for this summer 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

PILI's Annual Pro Bono Reception is in one week!

Join us on Wednesday, June 25th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Ivy Room in Chicago to celebrate the inspiring and life-changing pro bono work being done in Illinois.

We look forward to celebrating those named to PILI's

2025 Pro Bono Recognition Roster and 2025 Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll.

Congratulations to all of those being honored this year and thank you for your pro bono service and commitment to access to justice for all!

We are very grateful to this year's event sponsors for their generous support!!

News & Updates

• PILI is thrilled to welcome Allison Cain to the team! Allison joined PILI as the Senior Manager for Operations & Administration in June 2025 after serving in that role on an interim basis since January. In this role, her responsibilities include financial management & development, operations & administration, and human resources. Read more »

• PILI welcomed 112 Law Student Interns and Graduate Fellows at our Summer Orientation. Our Interns and Fellows will contribute an additional 39,700 hours of public interest work this summer through our Participating Agencies across Illinois. Read more »

• Join us for our 2025 Virtual Pro Bono CLE Series. Our next session, "Ethical Considerations for Legal Aid & Pro Bono Representation," will be held on June 24th from noon to 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Attendees at this session will receive 1.0 hour of Illinois MCLE Professional Responsibility Credit subject to approval. An additional session is scheduled for July 17th. Attendees are asked to make a small pro bono commitment in return for the free CLE. Register here »

• Save the Date for our Alumni Reception on August 12th. The Alumni Network Leadership Council welcomes all 2025 PILI Interns & Fellows to a reception recognizing and celebrating the important work our PILI Interns & Fellows did this summer to expand the availability of legal services for people, families and communities in need. PILI Board Members, Alumni, Intern & Fellow Advisors, and our supporters are invited to join us at this special celebration of the impact of our Law Student Internship & Graduate Fellowship Programs. Learn more »

• Illinois Supreme Court Approves MCLE Credit for Pro Bono Pilot Project 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 by allowing Illinois attorneys to earn MCLE credit by doing pro bono work through Illinois Free Legal Answers for which PILI is the state administrator. Learn more »

• PILI's Educational Seminar Series is open to all public interest law interns! These weekly lunchtime seminars focus on substantive legal topics, career development strategies and skill building relevant to public interest law. Programs are held live and in person at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, and virtual participation is also offered. Sign up »

Other Upcoming Programs & Events

• June 18th - Summer Educational Seminar Series: A Path Forward - End of Cash Bail, Restorative Justice & Record Clearing
• June 24th - Summer Educational Seminar Series: Ethical Considerations for Legal Aid & Pro Bono Representation
• June 24th - Virtual Pro Bono CLE Series: Ethical Considerations for Legal Aid & Pro Bono Representation
• June 25th - Annual Pro Bono Reception
• July 1st - Summer Educational Seminar Series: Engaging with Your Community
• July 9th - Summer Educational Seminar Series: Best Practices for Inclusion of People with Disabilities
• July 16th - Law School Pro Bono Roundtable
• 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 23rd - Volunteer Opportunity: DuPage Expungement Clinic
• October 3rd - Volunteer Opportunity: Peoria Expungement Clinic
• December 10th - Annual Awards Luncheon