PILI Grateful for Support of its Efforts
PILI recently received a grant from the Illinois Bar Foundation and Exelon Corporation has renewed its annual grant to support PILI.  We are thankful to both organizations for their support.  Law firms and corporations also demonstrated their commitment to PILI's pro bono efforts by sponsoring the annual "Celebrating Pro Bono" reception.  See our event sponsors... 

PILI Extended Placement Program Develops in Response to Economic Crisis
PILI has been working with local and national partners, including The Chicago Bar Foundation, to place law firm attorneys and deferred incoming associates in Extended Placements at public interest law organizations. PILI has been serving in a "brokering function" between public interest law organizations and law firms regarding these various extended public interest law placements.  PILI has also expanded its website to include information about the Extended Placement Program.  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.


PILI Receives Testamentary Gift to Fund PILI Internships
On May 27, 2008, PILI and the entire Chicago legal community lost a dear friend when 94-year old Florence E. Miller passed away. A 1942 graduate of the John Marshall Law School, Florence was well known in the international trademark world, practicing intellectual property law for many years with Kimberly-Clark Corp., and with Brinks, Hofer, Gilson and Lione.  A strong advocate for women in the profession and for her commitment to public interest law, Florence named PILI as one of the beneficiaries of her estate. With this month's distribution of Florence's estate, PILI is in the process of establishing, per Florence's testamentary wishes, a permanent endowment fund, the income of which will support public interest law student internships. We at PILI are so grateful for this lasting contribution to the work and mission of PILI.  For more information about this or about supporting PILI through a testamentary gift, contact Susan Curry at scurry@pili-law.org or 312-832-5128.

PILI Summer Educational Series Planned for Summer Interns and Fellows
As part of the Summer Internship and Fellowship Programs, PILI organizes a variety of professional development and substantive law programs for Interns and Fellows.  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.  Throughout the summer during the lunch hour, PILI will host several seminars on a variety of topics.  Read more...

PILI Announces Honorary and Named Internships for the Summer of 2009
In addition to the dozens of law student interns that PILI is able to fund out of its general fundraising efforts with law firms, foundations, individuals and corporations, PILI also is able to designate a number of Named Interns each year, thanks to special funding commitments made by its public interest law partners.  See the 2009 Honorary and Names Internships...

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.


PILI to Launch Alumni Mentoring Program
PILI is working with our alumni leaders to develop a mentoring program for former PILI Interns and Fellows.  The mentoring program will pair experienced alumni with newer alumni to share experiences and insights for personal and professional success.  We anticipate launching the Alumni Mentoring Program later this year.  If you would like to learn more about this effort, please contact Michael Bergmann at 312-832-5129 or mbergmann@pili-law.org.

Alumni Spotlight:  2004 PILI Fellow, Katie Deibert

Alumni Spotlight: 1998 PILI Intern, Rachel Fleischmann
Rachel was a PILI Intern with the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.  Following her graduation from law school, she worked for four years at Life Span Legal Services, assisting low income domestic violence victims with orders of protection and divorce and custody case. Rachel now practices in federal court as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois. Read more...

Illinois Appellate Justice Sheila M. O'Brien to Speak at 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 mark the 10th Anniversary since PILI established the Pro Bono Initiative. Please join your colleagues from law firms, corporations, legal aid agencies and law schools to celebrate pro bono relationships and successes. Tickets may be purchased from our website for $50 in advance of the event.  Sponsorship opportunities are also still available.  Read more...

PILI's Marks Pro Bono Initiative's 10th Anniversary
It has been 10 years since PILI established its Pro Bono Initiative.  Originally established in 1999 as the Pro Bono Initiative for the New Millennium, the project was staffed part-time for many years.  With full-time staffing since 2006, the project has expanded greatly in recent years.  Through its Pro Bono Initiative, PILI works with law firms, corporations, law schools and public interest law organizations to promote and enhance pro bono throughout Illinois.  Read what some of our law firm and corporate partners are saying about PILI...

Federal Government Pro Bono Program and Deere & Company Pro Bono Program Recognized
PILI's Recognition Team recently nominated the Federal Government Pro Bono Program for the American Bar Association's Pro Bono Publico Awards and the Deere & Company Pro Bono Program for the Illinois State Bar Association's McAndrews Award.  Both nominees will be honored for their efforts.  The ABA Pro Bono Publico Award will be given to the Federal Government Pro Bono Program at the ABA Anual Meeting in Chicago on August 3rd.  The ISBA McAndrews Award will be presented to Deere & Company at the ISBA Annual Meeting in Lake Geneva, WI on June 26th.

PILI to Convene Law School Pro Bono and Public Interest Law Roundtable
PILI will convene its first Law School Pro Bono & Public Interest Law Roundtable on Tuesday, July 14, 2009.  Law school pro bono and public interest faculty and staff from around the state will be invited to join the Roundtable by phone or in-person.  Additional deatils will be available in the coming weeks online or by contacting Michael Bergmann at 312-832-5129 or mbergmann@pili-law.org.

Save the Date: 2009 Pro Bono Forum on September 24th
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.  Additional details will be available online in the coming months, or you may contact Michael Bergmann at 312-832-5129 or mbergmann@pili-law.org.

Pro Bono Spotlight: Seyfarth Shaw LLP
In 2007, Seyfarth Shaw's management made a commitment to reinvigorating the firm's pro bono program. Since then, the results have been dramatic. For example, in 2006, the firm performed 12,357 hours of pro bono work; that number increased 81% to 22,418 in 2007, and another 34% in 2008 to 30,106, for a two year total increase of 144%.  In 2008, Seyfarth Shaw served approximately 580 pro bono clients, which was an increase of 32% over 2007. Read more...