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| PILI Pro Bono Initiative
Monthly E-newsletter |
August 2008 |
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Greetings!
For over thirty years, PILI has been encouraging a lifelong commitment to public interest law. Originally established as the Public Interest Law Internship, PILI placed law students with public interest law organizations to gain practical legal experience while serving the underrepresented and disenfranchised. Building on the successes of the Internship Program, PILI later launched a Fellowship Program for recent law school graduates. The graduates have been hired by law firms that in turn provide the graduates with the opportunity to work at a public interest law organization during the summer after law school. Since 1977, PILI has placed over 2,600 Interns and Fellows at public interest law organizations in Chicago, around the country and even around the world.
In 1999, PILI established the Pro Bono Initiative in an effort to assist law firms and corporations in developing and enhancing their pro bono programs. Initially a part-time project, PBI was expanded into a full-time project in 2006 when The Chicago Bar Foundation joined PILI as a two-year project partner in the work of PBI. Now, PBI has returned to PILI and will continue as a full-time project within PILI. In addition to our original mission of working with law firms and corporations, we work with legal aid organizations to enhance their pro bono programs. We established a PILI Alumni Program for former Interns and Fellows and we are also increasing our efforts with law schools and law students to ensure a profession-wide, lifelong commitment to public interest law.
We have a wide variety of programs and events, publications and other resources to support and enhance your pro bono efforts. If you would like to learn more about our efforts or would like to assist us in our efforts, please contact me at 312-832-5129 or mbergmann@pili-law.org.
Sincerely,
Michael G. Bergmann
PILI Pro Bono Initiative Director |
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PBI & Pro Bono News
PBI and Illinois Legal Aid Online Launch New Customized Home Pages for Law Students, Paralegals, and Retired and Federal Government Attorneys
PBI has been working with Illinois Legal Aid Online(ILAO) to develop additional resources for specialized pro bono groups, including: paralegals, law students, senior/retired attorneys and federal government attorneys. These resources have been developed to enhance Illinois' premier web-based resource for pro bono volunteers, www.IllinoisProBono.org. Customized home pages for each group feature content and pro bono opportunities specifically focused on that group. Three of the sites also include videos featuring active pro bono volunteers explaining their pro bono work. The PBI Pro Bono Opportunities Advisory Team developed these sites in conjunction with ILAO, which launched the sites as of August 4th. Check out the new sites today by following the links below.
PILI Seeking Nominations for Annual Award Luncheon Recognition
On Thursday, December 4th, more than 450 members of the legal community will gather to celebrate the best aspects of the profession at the Public Interest Law Initiative's Annual Awards Luncheon. This event provides a forum to recognize those performing remarkable public interest and pro bono work. The Luncheon features several awards to acknowledge those whose work epitomizes the ideal of access to justice for all. The 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 a former PILI Intern and Fellow for outstanding contributions of public interest and pro bono work. The Pro Bono Initiative Award acknowledges a single entity for its significant pro bono work in the community. This year's Luncheon will be held in the International Ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel. To nominate someone for one of these awards or to learn more about the Luncheon, contact PILI's Executive Director, Susan Curry, at scurry@pili-law.org or 312-832-5128.
ARDC Establishes Authorization Procedures for Retired and Inactive Attorney and House Counsel Pro Bono and Sponsoring Entities
The Illinois Supreme Court recently amended Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756 to allow attorneys registered with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) as retired, inactive or house counsel, to provide pro bono legal services under certain circumstances in Illinois. The amended Rule was entered on March 26, 2008 and became effective as of July 1, 2008. Procedures have now been established for affected attorneys interested in providing pro bono legal services and for sponsoring agencies. Click here to read more.Pro Bono and Public Service Leaders Honored at the 10th Annual CBA/CBF Pro Bono and Public Service Awards Luncheon
On
Monday, July 14th the 10th Annual CBA/CBF Pro Bono and Pubic Service
Awards Luncheon was held at the Fairmont Hotel. This year's awards
honored the work of seven unsung heroes from a broad cross-section
of the greater Chicago legal community whose dedication to public
interest inspires others to join in their efforts. The
Kimball R. Anderson and Karen Gatsis Anderson Public Interest Law
Fellowship was presented to Dennericka Brooks of the Legal Assistance
Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago. The Exelon Outstanding Corporate
Counsel Award was presented to Minauti "Mina" Mehta of Abbott
Laboratories. The Leonard Jay Schrager Award of Excellence was
presented to Marguerite Angelari of Loyola University Chicago School of
Law. The Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Service Award was presented to
Robert E. Deignan of Baker & McKenzie LLP. The Maurice Weigle
Exceptional Young Lawyer Award was presented to Grace Y. Poe DLA of Piper
US LLP. The Thomas H. Morsch Public Service Award was presented to
Alan Alop of the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
The Richard J. Phelan Public Service Award was presented to Sergio E.
Acosta of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of
Illinois.
The Law Firm of Foley & Lardner, Vedder Price Attorney Honored and PILI Alumni Member Recognized by ISBA
The Illinois State Bar Association recognized the pro bono contributions of an individual attorney, two law firms and a bar association at its Annual Meeting in June 2008. The awards are chosen by the ISBA's Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services. Michael R. Mulcahy of the Chicago office of Vedder Price, was honored for his participation in the Child Law Pro Bono Project of the Bluhm Legal Clinic's Children and Family Justice Center at the Northwestern University School of Law. During the past year, Mulcahy has devoted more than 300 hours to indigent clients, mostly minors, and has been lead counsel in 12 cases. He chairs the law firm's Pro Bono Committee and encourages commitment by other attorneys. Also honored was the Chicago office of Foley & Lardner, whose lawyers provided pro bono representation to 153 clients, totaling 9,104.5 hours, during the past year - more than double its average for the previous two years. Organizations they have assisted include the National Immigrant Justice Center, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, the Center for Disability and Elder Law, the Constitutional Rights Foundation, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation, Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, the Legal Aid Bureau, and AIDS Legal Council. Myles Berman, a partner at Foley & Lardner and a former president and current member of PILI's Board of Directors, accepted the award on the firm's behalf. The McLean County Bar Association and the East Alton, IL based law firm of SimmonsCooper were also recognized. Former PILI Intern, Jill Roberts, was also recognized by the ISBA with its Law Student Public Service Award. Jill also previously served on PILI's Board of Directors as one of two PILI Intern representatives. Jenner & Block LLP Ranked Number 1 in Pro Bono by AmLawJenner
& Block was recognized as the number one law firm in the country
for pro bono service by The American Lawyer magazine in its annual "Pro
Bono Honor Roll." The magazine's rankings were published in its July
2008 issue. The Firm obtained a number one ranking through a
combination of averaging 174.8 pro bono hours per attorney in
2007 - the highest of any law firm - as well as 92.8% of attorneys with
at least 20 pro bono hours. The American Lawyer combined these two
metrics and assigned Jenner & Block with a "pro bono score" of
133.8, which was 20 points higher than any other law firm in America. Click here to read more. |
Upcoming Events & Trainings
PBI Corporate Roundtable to be Hosted by GECC on August 21stOn Thursday, August 21, 2008, PBI will convene the second Corporate Roundtable Series from noon until 2:00 p.m. The Roundtable will be hosted by GECC at their offices in Rosemont, IL. Corporate pro bono leaders from around the state are invited to attend in person or by phone. Advance registration is required by August 8th. You may register by e-mailing us at rsvp@pili-law.org and indicating whether you will be attending in person or by phone. Click here for for the agenda and additional details.2008 PBI Agency Series: "Engaging Pro Bono Volunteers"This year's Agency Series has focused on the recruitment and retention of pro bono volunteers. The second program in the 2008 Agency Series entitled, "Inspiring Commitment," will be held on Monday, September 22nd from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and is being hosted by The Chicago Bar Foundation at the CBA Headquarters. This program will provide insights and strategies on successfully retaining pro bono volunteers. Click here to learn more.PILI to Host Alumni Program on Serving on a Board of Directors and Alumni Networking ReceptionOn Wednesday, October 1, 2008, PILI will host its third alumni program of 2008. This program will feature a panel presentation on the ins and outs of serving on a nonprofit board of directors. PILI will also distribute a listing of board service opportunities at PILI-affiliated agencies. The program will be held from 6:00-7:00 p.m. and followed by a reception from 7:00-8:00 and will be hosted by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Additional details , including location, will be available in the coming weeks on the PILI website, or you may call us for additional information at 312-832-5127. PBI Semi-Annual Pro Bono Forum Scheduled for Monday, October 27thPBI has organized two programs each year, typically in the Spring and Fall, that convenes 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. We hope you will join us at the Fall Pro Bono Forum on Monday, October 27, 2008. The program will run from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. with a post-reception from 5:00 until 6:00 p.m. The Forum will be hosted by The Chicago Bar Foundation at the CBA Headquarters, in conjunction with the CBA/CBF Pro Bono Week 2008. Additional information will be available in the September edition of the Pro Bono Advocate. Click here to learn more.The Chicago Bar Association and The Chicago Bar Foundation To Co-Sponsor Pro Bono Week 2008To honor lawyers' pro bono efforts and to educate the public and the legal community about how these lawyers are improving the lives of the less fortunate, The Chicago Bar Association and The Chicago Bar Foundation will co-sponsor Pro Bono Week 2008 from October 27-31, 2008. This year's co-chairs are William F. Conlon of Sidley Austin LLP and Marilyn J. Smith of the Center for Conflict Resolution. The 15th Annual CBA/YLS Pro Bono and Community Service Fair once again will be the centerpiece of Pro Bono Week and will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at Jenner and Block LLP. Stay tuned for more details. For a complete calendar of upcoming events and trainings sponsored by public interest law organizations throughout Illinois, visit www.IllinoisProBono.org. |
| Pro Bono Opportunities
Visit www.IllinoisProBono.org today to find information about available pro bono opportunities throughout Illinois as well as calendar of events and trainings, sample pleadings, written training materials and other valuable resources.
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Pro Bono Spotlight
Federal Government Pro Bono Program Launched in ChicagoOn July 22, 2008, a pro bono program was launched for federal government attorneys in Chicago with guidance and assistance from PILI's Pro Bono Initiative. The program is modeled after the highly successful program currently operating in Washington, D.C. Over 50 federal attorneys from more than 10 federal agencies gathered for the launch of the pro bono program. Laura F. Klein, Pro Bono Program Manager with the Department of Justice, was instrumental in developing and establishing the pro bono program in Chicago. Gregory F. Jacob, the Solicitor of Labor with the U.S. Department of Labor,  addressed federal attorneys at the event. Mr. Jacob has had a distinguished career in government, but noted that some of his most fulfilling legal work has been providing pro bono legal services. Ms. Klein also spoke to attendees about the important considerations for government attorneys in providing pro bono legal services. Both Jacob and Klein are based in Washington, D.C. and came to Chicago to attend the program's launch. On February 5, 1996, President Clinton signed Executive Order 12988, which in part states that "All Federal agencies should develop appropriate programs to encourage and facilitate pro bono legal and other volunteer service by government employees...". The Executive Order also tasked the Department of Justice with coordinating these efforts. To that end, DOJ ultimately established a pro bono policy and hired a pro bono manager (the position held by Klein) to facilitate the Department's pro bono efforts as well as to lead an interagency task force for government pro bono in Washington, D.C. While federal government attorneys are encouraged to provide pro bono legal services, they do face unique challenges. Federal attorneys must provide the legal services during their personal time, cannot use government resources in providing services, and must be ever conscious of conflicts between their government and pro bono service. To assist federal attorneys in identifying possible pro bono opportunities in Chicago, the local organizing team identified six legal aid organizations with opportunities that may be appropriate for government attorneys interested in providing pro bono legal services. Representatives from Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic, the Center for Conflict Resolution, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation, the Constitutional Rights Foundation, Lawyers Committee for Better Housing and the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago were on hand at the launch meeting to describe their agencies and potential pro bono opportunities. The local team of federal government attorneys that helped to launch the pro bono program included Jennifer Dixton from the Department of Justice, Lisa Friedheim-Weis of the National Labor Relations Board, and Meagan Johnson and Carla Stern of the Department of Justice. Federal government attorneys interested in pro bono also have a new resource thanks to the collaborative effort of Illinois Legal Aid Online and PILI's Pro Bono Initiative. As reported earlier in the "News" section, PILI and ILAO developed a customized home page was developed for government attorneys to guide them in their pro bono efforts. Specialized content and a directory of possible pro bono opportunities are available on the newly launched web resource at http://governmentattorneys.illinoisprobono.org. Pictured: Gregory F. Jacob, Solicitor of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor
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