Call for Nominations for PILI Annual Awards
PILI is accepting nominations for awards to be bestowed at PILI's Annual Awards Luncheon, which will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2009 in downtown Chicago. PILI is accepting nominations for these awards through Tuesday, September 8th.

• The PILI Distinguished Public Service Award honors an individual whose commitment to public interest work has shaped a career dedicated to service.

• The Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize one former PILI Intern and one former PILI Fellow for outstanding contributions of public interest and/or pro bono work.

• The Pro Bono Initiative Award acknowledges a single entity for its significant pro bono work in the community.

PILI Recognized Life Director, Dolores Hanna
PILI Life Director, Dolores Hanna, was honored at the July 22nd meeting of PILI's Board of Directors.  The Board recognized Dolores for her more than twenty-five years of distinguished service to PILI, first as a member of its board of directors, and then continuing as a Life Director. She has also been a leader in PILI's vigorous fund development efforts, both by making significant personal charitable contributions to PILI, and by recognizing the importance of planned and testamentary giving to endowing the future of PILI's work.  Through her many years of personal attention and effort, Dolores has promoted PILI's valuable mission to friends and colleagues with heartfelt passion and poise, resulting directly in PILI's newly established Florence E. Miller Endowment Fund  Read more about the Florence Miller Testamentary Gift...

Pictured: PILI President, Stephen Libowsky of Howrey LLP; Dolores Hanna and PILI Executive Director, Susan Curry.

PILI is on Linked In and Facebook
PILI has established a group on LinkedIn with a special subgroup for PILI Alumni.  PILI has also created a fan page on Facebook.  Show your support for PILI by joining our group on LinkedIn and beconing a fan of our page on Facebook.  This is also a great way to stay connected with other PILI supporters and PILI Alumni.  Follow the links in the right sidebar of this newsletter.

PILI Interns (first or second year law students) and PILI Fellows (recent law school graduates) work at, and learn about, legal institutions serving the public interest. 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.


PILI Class of 2009 Interns and Fellows
PILI's summer class of 2009, numbering over 140 Interns and Fellows, have been participating in PILI's summer-long educational  program.  At our kickoff event on June 3rd, Interns & Fellows gathered to hear Cook County Public Guardian Robert Harris' (pictured) inspiring remarks about public service.  In addition to the hours they serve at PILI's 50+ Participating Agencies, Interns and Fellows also attend a speaker series on a variety of substantive law and professional development topics. Several networking and social event have also been part of their schedules.  Read more...

In 2007, PILI established an Alumni Program for its over 3,000 former PILI Interns and Fellows in an effort to ensure their lifelong commitment to public interest law.  Below is the latest news about PILI's Alumni Program.  Visit PILI's website to learn more about its Alumni Program.


Jenner & Block Hosts PILI Alumni Program and Reception
On July 23rd, PILI Alumni gathered along with PILI Supervisors from PILI's Participating Agencies at an alumni event hosted by PILI Alumnae, Reena Bajowala from Jenner & Block.  This event featured a panel discussion entitled, "The Current Economy's Impact on the Public Interest Law Landscape," which was followed by a networking reception.  Jenner & Block was also recently recognized as the AmLaw Top Pro Bono Firm for the second year in a row.  Read more...

Pictured: PILI Alumni and supervisors from PILI's Participating Agencies network at alumni event.

PILI Alumni in the News: Laurie Mikva and Christina Tchen
Laurie Mikva, 1981 PILI Intern at the Better Government Association, was nominated by President Obama to serve on the Legal Services Corporation.  From 1993-2008, Mikva worked in Champaign, Illinois, as a staff attorney at Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc., the legal aid provider for central and southern Illinois.  Specializing in areas of family law and domestic violence, Mikva represented clients in cases involving divorce, custody, orders of protection and child support.  Read more...

Tina Tchen, 1983 PILI Intern at BPI, was appointed by President Obama to serve as Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.  Tchen was previously a partner in corporate litigation at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. In that capacity, Tchen represented public agencies in state and federal class actions, including the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the Illinois Department of Public Aid, and the Chicago Housing Authority.  Read more...

Alumni Spotlight:  1989 PILI Intern, Amy Zimmerman

2009 Pro Bono Forum on September 24th: Advancing Pro Bono in the New Economy
PILI, in conjunction with The Chicago Bar Foundation, will bring together pro bono leaders from law firms, corporations, law schools and legal aid agencies to discuss timely pro bono issues and share pro bono best practices. The 2009 Pro Bono Forum will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2009 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at The Chicago Bar Association.  The topic for the panel discussion will be "Advancing Pro Bono in the New Economy."  Advance registration is required.  Click here to learn more and to register for this program.

PILI to Co-sponsor 16th Annual CBA Young Lawyers Section Pro Bono and Community Service Fair
The 16th Annual Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Pro Bono and Community will be hosted by Kirkland & Ellis at their new riverfront offices.  The Fair is being held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 29th as part of the 2009 CBA/CBF Pro Bono Week celebration.  Additional details will be available soon.  You may also contact Jenni Bertolino at the CBA YLS for additional information at jbertolino@chicagobar.org or 312-554-2031.

PILI Marks 10th Anniversary of its Pro Bono Initiative at Celebrating Pro Bono Reception
PILI's annual "Celebrating Pro Bono" reception was held on June 11th at the Harold Washington Library Center.  Over 250 pro bono leaders from law firms, corporations, law schools and public interest law organizations attended, along with the Class of 2009 Interns and Fellows.  Illinois Appellate Justice Sheila M. O'Brien (pictured) was the guest speaker.  This is PILI's annual opportunity to spotlight our community's pro bono relationships and successes and the work of PILI's Pro Bono Initiative.  This year's reception also maked the 10th anniversary since PILI established its Pro Bono Initiative.  A very special thanks to all of our sponsors.  Read more...

Pro Bono Spotlight: United Air Lines, Inc.
Three years ago, United's law division had no formal pro bono policy in place and no process in place to track and recognize the pro bono work undertaken by United's attorneys.  Today, over fifty percent of the attorneys at United have participated in providing pro bono service, each contributing an average of fifteen hours annually.  United attorneys volunteer with the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, Cabrini Green Legal Aid and others.  United attorneys have also partnered with their outside counsel on a variety of pro bono projects.  Read more...