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| PILI/CBF Pro Bono Initiative
Monthly E-newsletter |
March 2008 |
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Greetings!
This month, I wanted to provide a sampling of some of the services PBI can provide to assist you in your pro bono efforts. I'll hope you'll take some time to check them out today.
PBI Publications: In addition to our monthly e-newsletter, the Pro Bono Advocate, PBI has developed several publications to help you in your pro bono efforts. The Pro Bono Prospectus is intended to aid law firm and corporate attorneys who are trying to encourage their organizations to develop formal pro bono programs and to encourage fellow attorneys to participate in their organization's pro bono activities. PBI also developed the Pro Bono Reference Guide to provide Illinois law firms and corporations with direction, best practices and relevant samples to assist their firms or corporations in developing or enhancing their pro bono program. Click here to learn more about the publications available from PBI.
PBI Programs and Events: There are a variety of programs and events that PBI organizes each year. The Semi-Annual Pro Bono Forum is open to all PBI Participants and the next Forum is set for April 24th. PBI also hosts a two-part Agency Series focusing on improving the pro bono management of legal aid organizations and a two-part Corporate Roundtable Series to convene pro bono leaders from around Illinois to discuss issues relating to corporate pro bono. Each year we host the annual "Celebrating Pro Bono" reception, to be held on June 10th this year. Click here to learn more about PBI's programs and events.
Get Involved in PBI: None of our efforts would be possible with the support and assistance of a variety of project teams that carry out the mission of PBI. Each team includes a cross-section of PBI Participants from law firms, corporations, law schools and legal aid organizations. Won't you consider becoming more involved in the work of PBI today? Click here to learn more about how to become involved in PBI.
You can find out more about us by following any of the links contained within the Pro Bono Advocate or by visiting our website at www.probonoinitiative.org. If you have any questions or if we can be of any assistance to you, please contact me at 312-832-5129 or mbergmann@pili-law.org.
Sincerely,
Michael G. Bergmann
Pro Bono Initiative Director |
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PBI & Pro Bono News
PILI Alumni Program Off to a Successful Start
The recently launched Alumni Program for former PILI Interns and Fellows is off to a successful start. On February 27th, PILI organized the first of three annual programs targeting former Interns and Fellows hosted by Kirkland & Ellis. Susan Sneider, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Freeborn & Peters, presented a special program entitled "Networking for Lawyers," which was followed by a reception. Over 30 former PILI Interns and Fellows attended the program. In January, PILI also launched an e-newsletter, the PILI Alumni Connection, for its Alumni. To join the mailing list for the e-newsletter or to learn more about the Alumni Program, click here to visit the PILI website.
2nd Annual CBF Investing in Justice Campaign Is UnderwayThe 2nd Annual Investing in Justice Campaign, chaired by Dan Webb of  Winston & Strawn, is officially underway. Many of you are at firms or corporations that will be running Campaigns in the next two weeks, but all lawyers in the Chicago area are invited to participate in this cause that is so uniquely important to us as a profession. The Campaign is a great opportunity for attorneys to advance the entire pro bono and legal aid system in the Chicago area with one gift, and all contributions count for the Illinois Supreme Court Pro Bono Reporting Rule as well. 100% of the funds raised in this year's Campaign will be used for CBF grants to: (a) strengthen Chicago's pro bono and legal aid organizations; (b) give these organizations the means to continue increasing their attorney salaries to levels that will allow them to stay in this work; and (c) underwrite innovative projects that make the justice system more user-friendly and accessible for those in need. For more information about the Campaign and how you can contribute, please visit www.chicagobarfoundation.org.
Call for Nominations for 10th Annual CBA/CBF Pro Bono and Public Service Awards
The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF) is accepting nominations now through May 1, 2008 for the Chicago legal community's most prestigious pro bono and public service awards. These awards celebrate exemplary members of the legal profession who have used their talents and resources to improve access to justice for the less fortunate in our community. Recognizing the outstanding leadership and commitment of attorneys whose dedication to bridging the justice gap is a hallmark of their careers, the recipients will be honored on July 14, 2008 at the Tenth Annual Pro Bono and Public Service Luncheon hosted by The Chicago Bar Association and The Chicago Bar Foundation. Nomination criteria and application instructions for the awards are available at www.chicagobarfoundation.org or contact Dina Merrell at 312/554-1206 or dmerrell@chicagobar.org. |
| Upcoming Events & Trainings
2008 PBI Agency Series: "Engaging Pro Bono Volunteers"
The 2008 year's Agency Series topic will be on the recruitment and retention of pro bono volunteers. The first program in the 2008 Agency Series entitled, "Capturing Interest," will be held on Monday, March 10th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at The Chicago Bar Association. This program will provide insights and strategies on successfully recruiting pro bono volunteers. Advance registration is required. Please contact Michael Bergmann at mbergmann@pili-law.org or 312-832-5129 to register by March 5th. Click here to visit the PBI website for the program agenda and to learn more.
2008 PBI Spring Pro Bono Forum: "What If? Why Not?: Exploring Pro Bono Possibilities in an Imperfect World"
PBI organizes and hosts two programs each year, typically in the Spring and Fall, that 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. Join us for an engaging dialogue on the possibilities of pro bono at the Spring Pro Bono Forum, to be held at The Chicago Bar Association, on Thursday, April 24th. The program will run from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. with a reception for attendees immediately following. Advanced registration for this complimentary program must be made by Friday, April 11th by contacting Michael Bergmann at 312/832-5129 or mbergmann@pili-law.org. Click here to visit the PBI website to learn more.
CBA/CBF Annual Pro Bono and Public Service Luncheon - Save the Date
The 10th Annual CBA/CBF Pro Bono and Public Service Luncheon will be July 14, 2008, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Fairmont Hotel. More information is available on the CBF website, or by contacting Meredith Lovell at 312-554-1207 or mlovell@chicagobar.org.
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride to Deliver Remarks at 2008 PBI "Celebrating Pro Bono" Annual Reception This year's annual PBI reception, "Celebrating Pro Bono," will be held on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at the Harold Washington Library Center's Winter Garden Room. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride, an advocate for pro bono legal services and a former legal aid attorney, will deliver remarks at this year's reception. Click here to visit the PBI website to learn more.
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. |
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Pro Bono Spotlight
Sidley Austin Attorneys Recognized with the 2007 Thomas H. Morsch Award for their Significant Pro Bono Contributions
Eric Ha was nominated by partner Evan Westerfield, for his involvement on the Jena 6 case. Eric had read in the paper about the situation in Jena. He believed that an injustice was occurring, and that it was happening because certain individuals did not have access to adequate legal resources. Unlike many, who might have the same reactions but did nothing, Eric resolved to take action -- he approached a partner and sought advice on the ways the Firm might be able to help. That partner was Evan Westerfield. Their conversations motivated Eric to investigate the different Jena defendants. Working in conjunction with local counsel, Eric prepared a very careful, thoughtful engagement letter and scope of work that was appropriate to his skills and circumstances -- then he got to work. Once Sidley was retained, many other associates sought to help on the matter. Eric organized the associates and assigned projects. Eric wrote strong briefs on key issues that proved to have a major influence on the prosecuting attorney. Eric also participated in calls involving the Jena defense group. Throughout, Eric managed the matter virtually by himself, from the engagement to client interactions to the supervision of others' work. Eric maintained a single-minded focus throughout on what was best for the client. Lead counsel for Jena has commented about how positively Eric had impacted the case. An excerpt of those comments read, "...there is no way to know how the Jena matter in general or the defendant's case in particular will ultimately be resolved. But there is no doubt that Eric's contribution has been enormous for the defendant."
Joyce Chang Anderson, Kevin Fee, Jeffrey Klingman, and Sharlene Hobson were nominated by partner Eric Mattson for their team effort in the Firm's Capital Litigation project in the representation of Charlie Washington, a death penalty inmate in Alabama. All four have worked together to investigate Mr. Washington's case, draft briefs and prepare a two-day evidentiary hearing. The hearing was held in Alabama last December, and all four were integral in making sure it went well for Mr. Washington, with three of the associates putting on all the witnesses. The evidentiary hearing is the foundation for almost all of the work yet to do; it is a critical part of any post-conviction case, and Joyce, Kevin, Jeff and Sharlene remained diligent and continue to handle the matter in an exemplary fashion.
Kristen Seeger and Michael Nadler, are another team nominated by partner David Gordon. Kristen and Michael each played a key role in the Firm's successful representation of John Vosatka, a 70-year-old resident of Chicago. Pursuant to a Trial Bar appointment, the firm represented Mr. Vosatka in his suit against the City of Chicago and several of its police officers for section 1983 claims arising from allegations of a false arrest, the use of excessive force and unlawful searches. The firm also assisted the Cook County Public Defender in its representation of Mr. Vosatka in a related criminal matter. Kristen and Michael's efforts yielded excellent results for the client. Mr. Vosatka was acquitted of all criminal charges pending against him at the time the firm was retained to represent him, based in large part on the legal argument that Kristen and Michael had developed. In his civil case, although the City originally felt the case had no value, through developing strong evidence against the City in discovery, Mr. Vosatka obtained a cash settlement which was substantially above the typical settlement for similar cases and many times more than the amount initially offered in the settlement. Supervising partner, David Gordon worked with Kristen and Michael on all aspects of the case and attended several of the depositions they took and has personally attested to the outstanding job Kristen and Michael performed in all aspects of this litigation.
Pictured above: Front row l-r: Eric Ha (2007 Thomas H. Morsch Award); Linton Childs, Partner/Pro Bono Committee member; Thomas H. Morsch, Retired Partner/Senior Counsel; Richard F. O'Malley, Jr., Partner/Chicago Pro Bono Chair; Sharlene Hobson, (2007 Thomas H. Morsch Award); Kristen Seeger, (2007 Thomas H. Morsch Award).
Back row l-r: Evan Westerfield, Partner; Kevin Fee, (2007 Thomas H. Morsch Award); Jeffrey Klingman, (2007 Thomas H. Morsch Award); Walter Carlson, Partner/Executive Committee; Michael Nadler, (2007 Thomas H. Morsch Award); Eric Mattson, Partner. | |
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