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| PILI/CBF Pro Bono Initiative
Monthly E-newsletter |
December 2007 |
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Greetings!
2007 is quickly winding down and the holidays are now upon us. Looking back over the past year, there have been some significant accomplishments. PBI released two new publications. The PBI Pro Bono Prospectus, intended to aid law firm and corporate attorneys who are working to develop a formal pro bono program and to encourage fellow attorneys to participate in their organization's pro bono activities; and t he PBI Pro Bono Reference Guide, intended to provide Illinois law firms and corporations with direction, best practices and relevant samples to assist them in their efforts to develop or enhance their pro bono programs. PBI worked with the CBF to release a new and enhanced version of the Pro Bono Opportunities Booklet. PBI also launched the Semi-Annual Pro Bono Forum to bring together pro bono leaders from law firms, corporations and legal aid agencies to discuss timely pro bono issues and share pro bono best practices. We also established the PBI Agency Series, to convene CBF-funded and PILI-affiliated legal aid agencies to discuss pro bono program management best practices.
Looking forward to 2008, PBI will be launching a Corporate Roundtable Series for corporate pro bono leaders as a complement to the continuing Pro Bono Forum. We will also host another Agency Series. We believe these programs provide a much needed opportunity for networking within the pro bono community, the sharing of best practices and the overall promotion and enhancement of pro bono. Our annual reception, " Celebrating Pro Bono" will also be held in June.
I hope to see you later this week at the PILI Annual Awards Luncheon as well as the PBI programs and events next year. Best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to working with you again in 2008.
Michael G. Bergmann
Pro Bono Initiative Director |
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PBI & Pro Bono News
PBI to Launch Corporate Roundtable Series
As a complement to the Semi-Annual PBI Pro Bono Forum, we will be launching a semi-annual Corporate Roundtable Series to bring together corporate pro bono leaders from around Illinois. The Corporate Roundtable Series will provide corporate pro bono leaders with an opportunity to network, discuss the unique pro bono challenges facing corporate attorneys and to share best practices and strategies for successful pro bono programs. The first Corporate Roundtable Series will be held on Wednesday, February 13th from noon until 1:30 p.m. and will be hosted by Aon Corporation. Corporate pro bono leaders from around the state are invited to attend in-person or by phone. More details about this program will be available in the January edition of the Pro Bono Advocate or on our website.
PILI Launches Alumni Program for Former Fellows and Interns
In November, the Public Interest Law Initiative launched its PILI Alumni Program with a kick-off reception and meeting hosted at Sidley & Austin. The PILI staff was joined by 15 former PILI Interns and Fellows who have agreed to lead the PILI Alumni Program. These alumni leaders are working on a variety of new initiatives for PILI Alumni, including a quarterly newsletter, programs focusing on PILI Alumni and a PILI Ambassador Program. Visit the PILI website to learn more about the Alumni Program or contact PILI Executive Director, Susan J. Curry, at scurry@pili-law.org or 312-832-5128.
CBF Fall Benefit An Intergalactic Hit
Always a great night of fun and excitement for young and old alike, this year was no exception at The Chicago Bar Foundation's 11th Annual Fall Benefit on Saturday November 10th, which was held at the Museum of Science & Industry. More than 1,600 people attended this year's Fall Benefit, including members of Chicago's legal community and their families and other friends of  the CBF. On top of the Museum's featured Star Wars exhibit, the evening included a huge silent auction, several activities for the kids (including the ever popular sand art), live music, and even a professional table tennis exhibition with world champion players from Killerspin. And thanks to 65 generous law firm and corporate sponsors, dozens of dedicated auction bidders and the many others who came out and contributed to the night's success, this year's Benefit set a new record for net proceeds, which will go a long way towards helping the CBF build on its comprehensive efforts to ensure equal access to justice for all Chicagoans. For more information about the CBF's work in our community please visit the CBF website at: www.chicagobarfoundation.org.
Photo: CBA President Victor Henderson and his family at the CBF Fall Benefit. Photo courtesy of Bill Richert.
Jenner & Block Honors Pro Bono Attorneys and Hosts 14th Annual CBA/YLS Pro Bono Fair
Jenner & Block recently honored Associates Ginger D. Anders, Jeremy M. Creelan and Wade A. Thomson with the Firm's Albert E. Jenner Jr. Pro Bono Award, which annually recognizes those attorneys at Jenner & Block who have been nominated by their peers as having demonstrated an exemplary commitment to pro bono or public service work. Ms. Anders was honored for her work in two pro bono matters challenging the constitutionality of the lethal injection procedures practiced in California and Missouri state prison systems; Mr. Creelan was honored for his work in challenging the constitutionality of New York State's judicial election system; and Mr. Thomson was honored for his representation of several detainees held at Guantanamo Bay who are currently challenging the legality of their prolonged detention. Mr. Thomson was also recognized for his commitment to providing counsel to clients seeking asylum in the United States. For more information on the attorneys' outstanding pro bono contributions, please visit the firm's website. Additionally, this October, 400 members of the Illinois legal community attended the 14th annual Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section's annual Pro Bono & Community Service Fair. The Fair, held at Jenner & Block's Chicago office for the fourth year in a row, provided a venue for lawyers and law students to make lasting connections with representatives from 45 pro bono clinics, public service organizations and mentoring programs serving the area. For more information on the CBA Pro Bono Fair, please visit the firm's website. |
| Upcoming Events & Trainings
Justice Anne Burke to Deliver Keynote for the PILI Annual Awards Luncheon This Week
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke will address more than 475 members of the legal community who will gather this week on Thursday, December 6, 2007, to celebrate the best aspects of the profession at the Public Interest Law Initiative's Annual Awards Luncheon. At the luncheon, sponsored by more than 40 law firms and corporations, PILI will honor:
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Ed Grossman, Executive Director and co-founder of the Chicago Legal Clinic, who will receive PILI's 2007 Distinguished Public Service Award, for his commitment and career-long dedication to public interest work;
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LaShonda Hunt, (former PILI Fellow) of Exelon, and Joe Margulies (former PILI Intern), of the MacArthur Justice Center, will both receive PILI's 2007 Distinguished Alumni Awards for their outstanding contributions to public interest and pro bono work; and
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JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s Legal Department will receive PILI's 2007 Pro Bono Initiative Award, acknowledging a single individual or organization (law firm or corporation) for their oustanding commitment to pro bono legal work.
For additional details, visit the PILI website, or contact Susan Curry at scurry@pili-law.org or 312-832-5128.
Second Installment in the 2007 PBI Agency Series to Focus on Developing and Delivering Effective Presentations and Trainings
The second program in the 2007 PBI Agency Series, which will be held on Monday, December 10th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at The Chicago Bar Association's Headquarters (321 South Plymouth Court). This program, entitled "Developing and Delivering Effective Presentations and Trainings for Law Firm and Corporate Pro Bono Attorneys," will focus on micro level strategies for delivering personal pitches of your program and delivering effective and useful trainings to firms and corporations. The program is specially designed for anyone at an agency who makes decisions about presentations, those who assign staff to deliver the presentations, and those who actually deliver the presentations. Agencies are permitted to send multiple representatives, but advanced registration is required as space is limited. Please register with Michael Bergmann at mbergmann@pili-law.org or 312/832-5129 by no later than Monday, December 3rd. View the agenda for this program.
PBI to Host Inaugural Corporate Roundtable Series
On Wednesday, February 13, 2008, PBI will convene the first Corporate Roundtable Series from noon until 1:30 p.m., which will be hosted by Aon Corporation. Corporate pro bono leaders from around the state are invited to attend in-person or by phone. More details about this program will be available in the January edition of the Pro Bono Advocate or on our website.
Save the Date - PBI "Celebrating Pro Bono" Annual Reception Next year's annual PBI reception, "Celebrating Pro Bono," will be held on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at the Harold Washington Library's Winter Garden Room. More details about the event will be available in early 2008.
For a complete calendar of upcoming events and trainings sponsored by public interest law organizations throughout Illinois, visit www.IllinoisProBono.org. |
| Pro Bono Opportunities
Want to see your pro bono opportunity listed here? If you are a legal aid agency staff member and you would like to post a pro bono opportunity, please visit www.IllinoisLegalAdvocate.org. |
Pro Bono Spotlight
Jones Day Establishes Pro Bono Fellowship Program
Emma Salustro, a May 2007 DePaul University College of Law graduate, was fortunate to receive an offer from Jones Day in the same year that the firm was launching a Pro Bono Fellowship Program for newly hired associates. The Jones Day Pro Bono Fellowship Program places a newly hired associate at a legal services agency for one year, allowing the new attorney to gain valuable experience while helping ensure equal access to justice. The Jones Day Pro Bono Fellowship Program is modeled after a similar program instituted by Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in 2004.
Rather than take her new office at the firm, Emma opted to participate in the Jones Day Pro Bono Fellowship Program and spend her first year of practice with the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago. Over the next year, Emma will be working primarily in LAF's Family Law practice and on their Disability Project. As a family law attorney, Emma represents low-income clients in cases involving divorce, custody, orders of protection, and child support. Through her work with the LAF Disability Project, she represents foster children in Cook County who are in need of special education services or are being expelled from public schools.
Emma has found her experience in the Jones Day Pro Bono Fellowship Program to be extremely positive. She notes that "at LAF, I have direct client interaction and intensive courtroom experiences. Even though I was only sworn in a few weeks ago, I already have six family law clients, and sixteen education law clients. I am either lead counsel or co-counsel on all of these cases. It's thrilling to have such responsibility so early in my career. I also love having direct interaction with my clients every day."
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