Hello!

Happy Pro Bono Week!

It might seem a little early, but we've already posted our first event video! Keep an eye on our website, Facebook and YouTube pages to see all of our upcoming Pro Bono Week Events.

As Michael Bergmann pointed out in his recent ISBA Special Message video, pro bono is a way to ensure our justice system is equitable and accessible for all.

"Pro bono is important because only we as lawyers have the training, the skills and the knowhow to effectively navigate the legal system," he said. " Pro bono is the way to really change a life, sometimes even save a life."

While taking our events virtual is difficult, we are excited to share this week of celebration with all of you across the state. From DuPage to Decatur, from Mattoon to Madison, from Champaign to Chicago, attorneys have stepped up to provide pro bono services to those in need. And we're excited to share their stories with you.
 
Stay healthy and well!

Sincerely, 
During its 2020 Pro Bono Week celebration, PILI will recognize the extraordinary pro bono contributions of attorneys in five of Illinois’ judicial circuits.

Deborah Crouse Cobb,
Third Judicial Circuit:
John T. Phipps (posthumously),
Sixth Judicial Circuit:
Michael Fleming,
Tenth Judicial Circuit:
Patrick Edgerton,
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit:
Illinois Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal clinic where low-income Illinois residents can submit a question online to ask a lawyer for help with a legal issue. We're seeing an increase in questions during the COVID-19 Pandemic and need more volunteers to answer questions. Learn more.

Self-represented litigants in the Illinois Appellate Court face many unique challenges without adequate resources to assist them through the appellate process. This platform is the first-ever virtual legal advice clinic for civil appeals in Illinois. Volunteer lawyers with appellate experience are needed! Learn more. 

IL-AFLAN provides civil legal services across Illinois to veterans, active duty military and their spouses and dependents and PILI refers pro bono matters in the 101 counties outside of Cook County. Help us serve those who have served us!  Learn more.

PILI is excited to welcome eight fall Law Student Interns who will work 200 hours during the semester at legal service agencies in Chicago. Learn more.

PILI will grant $312,000 to fund 60 Law Student Interns at 30 public interest law organizations across Illinois during the 2020-21 academic year and the summer of 2021. Learn more.

Given the ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking our Annual Awards Luncheon Virtual on December 2nd. We will still be recognizing our four award recipients and admission will be free. While we are sad not to gather in person, we look forward to inviting all of our friends and supporters from across the state and the profession to join us this year. We will be announcing more details soon, but, in the meantime, check out our generous event sponsors to date whose support is critical to our work. Read more.