There are several fellowship and/or rotation models in place already in Illinois and around the country. These programs typically have focused on newly admitted attorneys and were intended to maximize the firm’s pro bono commitment while serving as a recruiting and skills-building vehicle for new associates. Now the current economic downturn has motivated firms to expand –or in some instances introduce– these programs as a means to place underutilized attorneys and thereby reduce firm costs. In addition to those firms who are trying to find public interest law placements for the laid-off employees, a variety of Extended Placement Programs have recently been adopted by firms. These include deferral rotations for incoming classes of associates and extensions of existing fellowship models. Several firms are now in various stages of discussing and/or developing such programs.

With firms now introducing or expanding the fellowship model, PILI will serve in a “brokering function” through its Extended Placement Program between public interest law organizations and law firms regarding these various extended placement pro bono commitments; there are many similarities to the existing summer PILI Fellowship Program and these new extended placement models. 

Trainings are being organized by PILI and others at a local and national level for attorneys serving in extended public interest law placements.  Click here for more details.

For more information about the Extended Placement Program, or for assistance with developing such a program or placements at public interest law organizations, please contact Michael Bergmann at 312-832-5129 or Susan Curry at 312-832-5128.