PILI Interns (first or second year law students) and PILI Fellows (recent law school graduates) work in and learn about public interest law, and begin what PILI hopes is a lifelong commitment to public interest law and pro bono work. Below is the latest news about PILI's Internship and Fellowship Programs.  Visit PILI's website to learn more about the Internship and Fellowship Programs.


Application Process Continues for PILI's Summer 2010 Law Student Internship Program
The  Summer application period opened on December 1, 2009 and will be open through March 31st, or until every eligible agency has completed its hiring. This year, due to the economic crisis and its impact on the legal profession, law firms are sponsoring fewer Fellows as many firms have reduced or eliminated their summer programs.  With regard to the Law Student Internship Program, there continues to be more applicants than there are positions available.  While there is certainly a need for additional Interns at many of our agencies, PILI is only able to increase its Intern allocations by maintaining existing and securing additional funding. Applications must be submitted online for PILI's Law Student Internship Program.  Read more...

Today, over 3,000 law students and graduates have participated in PILI's Internship and Fellowship Programs. The Alumni Program maintains the connection between these public interest lawyers, PILI and the public interest law community. Below is the latest news about PILI's Alumni Program.  Visit PILI's website to learn more about its Alumni Program.


PILI Alumni Program & Reception: Service Opportunities in the Public Interest Law Community
PILI is organizing a program and reception for Alumni on Thursday, April 8th from 5:30 to 7:30 to be hosted by Kirkland & Ellis LLP.  The one hour program will focus on providing information to alumni about pro bono, board service and other volunteer opportunities within the public interest law community.  Following the program, there will be an informal networking reception for alumni.  Advance registration is required.  Read more...

PILI Launches Alumni Public Interest Law Training Series
This year, PILI is launching a training series for alumni to learn about specific areas of law and related pro bono opportunities with public interest law organizations.  The first program will be hosted by Hinshaw & Culbertson on Thursday, May 20th and will feature Lawyers Committee for Better Housing.  The second program will be held on Monday, August 2nd and will feature Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.  Advance registration for these complimentary programs is required.  Read more...

Get Involved in PILI's Alumni Program and Join an Alumni Project Team
PILI is always looking for former Interns and Fellows to work with us on our Alumni Program.  In addition to the Alumni Circle, the program's leadership group, there are also several project teams on which we would welcome your involvement.  Our current teams include, Mentoring, Programming and Development.  Read more...

Alumni Spotlight:  2004 PILI Fellow, Monica Mosby
As a PILI Fellow at the Federal Defender Program, Monica Mosby was both excited and scared on her first day of work when an attorney sat several large case files in front of her and said, "We go to trial in two weeks; get yourself up to speed."   Mosby described her time as a PILI Fellow as "absolutely amazing."  During her Fellowship, she was thrown into the mix of the office right away when she was staffed as part of a trial team.  Read more...

Pro Bono Spotlight: McDonald's Corporation
McDonald's Legal Department is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the formation of its Pro Bono Program.  Over the past ten years, McDonald's lawyers, paralegals and staff have helped hundreds of low-income individuals with their legal needs and educated countless  students on the legal system and legal careers.  McDonald's was one of the first corporations in the Chicagoland area to get its Pro Bono Program up and running.  In fact, it was the Chicago Public Interest Law Initiative that helped McDonald's Legal Department start its Pro Bono Program, by providing it with sample policies and helping to pair it with agencies in need.  It also was PILI that first recognized McDonald's leadership in Pro Bono in 2001 with its appropriately titled "Trail Blazer Award."  Since that time, McDonald's Legal Department and its attorneys have been recognized by numerous organizations for their outstanding pro bono work.  Read more...

Pictured:
Members of McDonald's Legal Department who are active in its Pro Bono Program.

Extended Placement Update
In Illinois, there have been approximately 60 extended public interest law placements from the class of 2009 and graduates from the class of 2010 are now seeking placements.  These individuals come from law firms around the country and have had their start date deferred, their employment offer revoked, been laid-off, or opted to participate in their firm's sabbatical program.  PILI has been working with The Chicago Bar Foundation and other public interest groups from around country on this issue and has locally taken the lead in placing many of these individuals with public interest law organizations.  Information for candidates, law firms and agencies is available on our website.  Read more...