PILI Working to Assist Deferred and Displaced Attorneys With Extended Placements at Public Interest Law Organizations
In response to difficult economic times, PILI and others, including The Chicago Bar Foundation, have been exploring the possibility of placing law firm attorneys and deferred incoming associates in extended fellowship or rotations programs at public interest law organizations. With firms now introducing or expanding the fellowship model, PILI will serve in a "brokering function" between public interest law organizations and law firms regarding these various longer-term pro bono commitments; there are many similarities between our existing summer fellowship model and these new longer-term models, particularly the deferrals, which may become increasingly common.  Read more...

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.


2009 is a Record Year for PILI's Summer Internship Program
This year, PILI has seen a record increase in applications for its Summer Internship Program.  Total individual applicants rose 14.5%, the number of nationwide law schools represented by the applicants rose 30% and the total number of applications submitted to participating agencies rose 10%. 

Cook County Public Guardian to Address Summer 2009 Interns and Fellows at Kick-off of Summer Educational Series
On June 3, 2009, Cook County Public Guardian, Robert F. Harris, will be the guest speaker at the kick-off luncheon for PILI's Summer Educational Series for Interns and Fellows.  During the program entitled "Protecting Children and the Disabled, " Mr. Harris will speak about the work of the Cook County Public Guardian and his path to his career in public interest law.  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.


Alumni Program on "The Path to a Career in the Public Interest Law Sector"
The first alumni program and reception of 2009 will be hosted by Howrey LLP (321 N. Clark Street) from 5:30 to 7:30 on Tuesday, April 28th. A panel of PILI alumni will describe their path to their career in public interest law.  Topics to be covered during the discussion will be: path to the judiciary, working for a legal service agency, government service, and living on a public interest law salary, e.g. LRAP, government loan forgiveness programs.  Read more...

Alumni Spotlight:  2007 PILI Fellow, Patrick Gallagher

Alumni Spotlight: 2007 & 2008 PILI Intern, Ruth Lopez
Ruth Lopez was a "Double PILI," as a 2007 spring and summer PILI Intern at the Chicago Legal Clinic and as a 2008 summer PILI Intern at the Legal Assistance Foundation in their Westside neighborhood office.  Since the summer of 2008, Ruth has focused on completing her final year of law school at Chicago-Kent Law School, working with LAF as a law clerk and, currently serving on the PILI Board of Directors as an Intern representative.  Read more...

Join Us for PILI's Annual "Celebrating Pro Bono" Reception
On Thursday, June 11, 2009 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., PILI will host its Annual "Celebrating Pro Bono" Reception at the Harold Washington Library Center Winter Garden Room.  This year's reception will include informal conversation, networking, appetizers and refreshments. Please join your colleagues from law firms, corporations, legal aid agencies and law schools to celebrate pro bono relationships and successes. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.  Read more...

Pro Bono Spotlight
Jenner & Block continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to pro bono service. 100% of Jenner & Block associates and approximately two-thirds of partners devoted at least 20 hours to pro bono work in each of the past two years. In 2008, the Firm's attorneys contributed over 70,000 hours to pro bono service, and The American Lawyer recognized Jenner & Block as the #1 law firm in the country for pro bono service on its annual "Pro Bono Honor Roll." Jenner & Block does not concentrate its pro bono work in pre-selected areas, but rather performs a wide range of pro bono work driven by the interests of its lawyers.  Read more...