PILI is an invaluable resource in the promotion of public interest law in Illinois. From the law firm perspective, there are several benefits that come from our association with PILI. The PILI Graduate Fellowship Program provides a terrific "portal of entry" for our new lawyers into the public interest community. The Pro Bono Initiative's seminars are a great opportunity for law firm and public interest organizations to exchange ideas on how they can work together better. And PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative has been a great ally for me in working with our client corporate law departments in building their pro bono programs in partnership with us.

Jonathan Baum, Director of Pro Bono Services
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Exelon Corporation is a proud supporter of PILI and the Pro Bono Initiative. Several of our lawyers are PILI alumni so we know first-hand about the amazing work PILI does in not only introducing young lawyers to the public interest world but also nurturing a desire and commitment to continue the good work as we progress in our legal careers. PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative is a wonderful project that has kept us connected to the pro bono community and to each other as corporate counsel. We are grateful for all the valuable lessons shared and learned as a result of our participation in PILI events.

LaShonda A. Hunt, Assistant General Counsel & Pro Bono Coordinator
Exelon Corporation

PILI has been a very valuable resource for Barack Ferrazzano with respect to the expansion of our pro bono program, and has provided us with resources to help move our pro bono efforts to a whole new level. PILI provides us with significant and important networking opportunities, both with other law firms and with agencies within our community that provide pro bono legal services. PILI events provide a significant means to obtain information that helps further the growth of our pro bono program. We greatly appreciate our relationship with PILI.

Randall L. Oyler, Partner
Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP

PILI, through its Pro Bono Initiative, has been invaluable in helping to establish and grow United’s pro bono program.  PILI provided United with a variety of helpful resources, including the Corporate Pro Bono  Prospectus and Reference Guide, and with assistance in identifying pro bono opportunities. These resources have helped United develop its pro bono program and have helped many United attorneys identify pro bono opportunities that are meaningful to them. PILI also organizes and hosts several roundtable discussions each year that provide the opportunity to meet and connect with other in-house colleagues and benefit from their tremendous experience in running corporate pro bono programs. Other PILI sponsored events that bring us together to celebrate pro bono services and recognize outstanding contributions have greatly motivated
our pro bono program.

Todd Patterson, Corporate Counsel
United Airlines, Inc.

PILI was instrumental in getting McDonald’s award winning pro bono program off the ground and has continued to provide McDonald’s with invaluable support to continue to improve upon our program. We are indebted to PILI for its commitment to pro bono and for its assistance.

Pauline Levy, Senior Counsel
McDonald’s Corporation

PILI has been a fabulous resource for Dykema during its period of expansion into the Chicago market. Specifically, PILI suggested creative ways to introduce Dykema’s attorneys to unique pro bono opportunities that matched our lawyers’ interests, made important introductions that created lasting relationships and helped us create a successful summer program that provided each of our summer associates with courtroom experience. The pro bono program has received strong praise from the summer associates and we plan to continue the core aspects of the program into its third year.

Heidi Naasko, Attorney Pro Bono Coordinator
Dykema

PILI's Pro Bono Initiative has been invaluable in helping Allstate build and launch its pro bono program. By providing a wealth of information and resources, PILI has allowed us to focus less on structural issues and instead channel our efforts at recruiting volunteers and performing pro bono work. Furthermore, by building a network of corporate pro bono programs, PILI is nurturing a growing sustainable commitment to pro bono work in Illinois’ corporate community. PILI's dedication to facilitating the expansion of legal services available to low-income and underrepresented individuals in Illinois should be applauded.

Chuck Smith, Associate Counsel
Allstate Insurance Company

The tremendous growth over the last decade of the pro bono program in Jones Day's Chicago office is due significantly to the support of PILI's Pro Bono Initiative. PILI has raised our awareness of the unmet need for pro bono legal services in the Chicago community and assisted in partnering us with pro bono agencies with which we can work to meet those needs. Also, as the Chicago office pro bono partner, I have benefited greatly from PILI’s pro bono programming, which has provided me ideas for further developing our pro bono efforts. In fact, without PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative, we wouldn't have launched our own Jones Day Chicago fellowship and we owe PILI for facilitating the placement of our first fellow with a Chicago public law agency.

Lee Ann Russo, Partner
Jones Day