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| PILI/CBF Pro Bono Initiative
Monthly E-newsletter |
November 2007 |
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Greetings!
Are you astonished by the fact that it is already November? I've been going about my business and somehow, another year has gone by. Before the holidays put our lives on a hectic fast track, I offer a few seasonal thoughts on Thanksgiving.
A time for thanks. For my part, I thank those that provide financial assistance to PILI and the CBF to support the work of PBI. I am also extremely grateful for the time and contributions of the members of the PBI Project Teams and the speakers at the Pro Bono Forums and the Agency Series. You have been a crucial element in our success over the past year. Most importantly, we should all thank the many pro bono attorneys, without whose service, equal justice would not possible for so many.
A time for giving. It's not too late to pick up a new pro bono case or to make a qualified financial contribution to any of the eligible legal aid organizations. Legal worries don't take a break for the holidays, so the assistance of a pro bono attorney can help to make the season a bit more pleasant. Many organizations also engage in year-end fundraising drives, the success of which determines how many clients they can serve over the next year.
Whatever role you have played this past year in relation to PBI and/or pro bono, thank you for giving your time, your expertise and your support. You are the best aspect of our legal community. Until next month, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Michael G. Bergmann
Pro Bono Initiative Director |
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PBI & Pro Bono News
New Pro Bono Opportunities Booklet Published
The Pro Bono Initiative surveys, collects and assembles information about pro bono opportunities in Chicago and The Chicago Bar Foundation publishes this information in a booklet entitled, "Pro Bono Volunteer Opportunities for Attorneys in the Chicago Area." Last month, the CBF released an updated version of this popular booklet. This comprehensive publication is a guide for attorneys who wish to volunteer their time to organizations dedicated to equal access to justice, and helps lawyers find pro bono opportunities that suit their interests and schedules. In addition to wide-ranging listings of pro bono opportunities, the booklet includes valuable general information about doing pro bono work and the Illinois Supreme Court Pro Bono Reporting Rule. The booklet is available on-line, or contact Michael Bergmann at 312-832-5129 or mbergmann@pili-law.org to order a paper copy. Bulk copies are available for law firms or corporate legal departments who wish to distribute copies to all of their attorneys from the CBF by contacting Dina Merrell at 312-554-1206 or dmerrell@chicagobar.org. Nominate an Advocate and/or Pro Bono Attorney of the Month
Please don't forget to nominate your friends and colleagues to be Advocate of the Month or Pro Bono Attorney of the Month. You can nominate advocates who are staff at legal aid organizations (attorneys or non-attorneys), on www.IllinoisLegalAdvocate.org. Simply go to the homepage and click on "Nominate an Advocate" within the current Advocate of the Month video. You may also nominate a Pro Bono Attorney of the Month by going to www.IllinoisProBono.org and clicking on "Nominate an Attorney" within the current Pro Bono Attorney of the Month video. It is simple to do and just takes a couple of minutes. We know there are lots of people out there doing good work - we want to share their stories!
Wondering How the Pro Bono Initiative Can Help You?
PBI has developed a variety of publications, programs and events intended to aid your pro bono efforts. Learn more about the resources that might be of assistance to you on our website by following these links:
Resources for Illinois Legal Aid and Public Interest Law Organizations
Resources for Individuals Seeking Pro Bono Opportunities in Illinois
PILI's Graduate Fellowship Season Opens
Many of Chicago's premiere law firms have begun notifying their 2008 incoming associates about the PILI post-graduate fellowship option. Law firms with strong pro bono reputations offer this summer furlough program to those soon-to-be law graduates who will be joining the firms the following fall. During their "bar exam summers," incoming law firm associates choose to work for one of 50 PILI-affiliated public interest law agencies for a reduced 300-hour summer schedule, to allow time for formal bar exam study. Typically, Fellows work 5 half-time weeks before the bar exam, and 5 full-time weeks after the exam. The Fellowship Program's purpose is to give young lawyers experience and training in public interest law, to encourage young lawyers to develop long term interests in pro bono practice, and to provide public interest law agencies with much-needed assistance.
Firms interested in sponsoring PILI Fellows enjoy the program's flexibility. Participating firms may set their own level of participation (some firms sponsor only one Fellow per summer, while others sponsor as many as three dozen Fellows); pay structure for their Fellows (most participating law firms offer a simple stipend ranging from $7,000 to $12,000); and payment schedule (some firms pay their Fellows a lump sum stipend at either the start or end of the summer, while others choose to pay their Fellows through regular firm payroll).
Agencies that host PILI fellows find the extra summer legal help indispensable. And, agency supervisors and directors find that summer fellows often become lifelong pro bono supporters of their agencies. For more information on sponsoring or hosting PILI Fellows, contact PILI's Executive Director, Susan Curry at scurry@pili-law.org or 312-832-5128.
McDermott, Will & Emery Honors Pro Bono Attorneys
At its annual Pro Bono Reception held on October 24th, McDermott, Will & Emery honored 5 individuals from the firm for their outstanding pro bono contributions and recognized the retiring chair of the firm's Pro Bono Committee. Joanne Maffenbeier is a member of the firm's facilities department honored for her dedication to the firm's Partners in Reading Elementary School Tutoring Program at Brown School. Robin Bienneman is the firm's Library Technology Coordinator. She has made a particularly significant contribution to two of the firm's pro bono programs: the Cristo Rey High School Corporate intern program wherein high school students earn tuition by working in a business setting and the firm's Partners in Reading Program. Jocelyn Francoeur is an associate in the Trial Department who uses her litigation expertise to participate in a number of McDermott's pro bono programs. Jocelyn has spent over 150 hours on pro bono this year, including an appeal for Felix Vasquez-Ruiz, whose criminal conviction was recently reversed by the Seventh Circuit based on evidence that the jury had been tampered with in his original conviction. Brett Johnson is an associate in the firm's Employee Benefits Department who has dedicated nearly 350 hours to the firm's pro bono program this year. Brett served as one of the Summer Associate Program Coordinators for pro bono projects in the Chicago office, and in that role he helped the firm to reach its goal of having 100% pro bono participation by summer associates. Neal White is a partner in the Corporate Department who dedicates most of his pro bono time to the Community Economic Development Law Project. Through his work with CEDLP, Neal has represented businesses such as the New City Daycare located in the Englewood neighborhood, which was seeking to resolve partnership issues, and Smiling Toad Productions, a documentary film company that needed incorporation representation as well as intellectual property protection. Pro Bono Committee Chair Don Hilliker was also honored for his service in leading the firm's pro bono efforts. Don, also a member of PILI's Board of Directors, will be retiring from the firm at the year's end, but promises he will remain active in the pro bono community for years to come. |
| Upcoming Events & Trainings
Fall PBI Semi-Annual Pro Bono Forum to be Held on November 5th
On Monday, November 5, 2007 from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m., PBI will hold its second semi-annual PBI Pro Bono Forum at The Chicago Bar Association's Headquarters. The Forum is intended for pro bono leaders from law firms, corporations, legal aid and public interest law organizations and law schools. The topic for the November 5th Forum will be "Bridging the Experience Gap: Moving Your Volunteers Beyond Their Zones of Comfort and Experience." Today is the last day to register as space is limited. View the agenda and find out more on the PBI website.
CBF Fall Benefit on November 10th at Museum of Science & Industry
The Chicago Bar Foundation's Annual Fall Benefit is a high-profile fundraiser that caters to adults and children alike, bringing together over 1,500 people from throughout Chicago's legal and corporate communities in a unique and fun-filled setting. The event includes access to the Museum's renowned exhibits, including the special Star Wars Exhibit, free and convenient garage parking, live band entertainment, a light buffet dinner, a full open bar, an outstanding silent auction, and special children's activities. This year's event is co-chaired by Alyx S. Pattison, Katten Muchin Rosenman, LLP and John C. Sciaccotta, Shefsky & Froelich, Ltd. and the Auction Chair is Allen Gilbert, Mayer Brown LLP. The event is Saturday, November 10, 2007 from 6:30 until 10:00 at the Museum of Science & Industry. To purchase tickets or to get more information about this event, please visit www.chicagobarfoundation.org or contact Meredith Lovell, CBF Development Coordinator, at 312.554.1207 or mlovell@chicagobarfoundation.org.
Honorees Named and Justice Anne Burke to Deliver Keynote for the PILI Annual Awards Luncheon
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke will address more than 450 members of the legal community who will gather on Thursday, December 6, 2007, to celebrate the best aspects of the profession at the Public Interest Law Initiative's Annual Awards Luncheon. It is 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 awards and the recipients are as follows:
- The Distinguished Public Service Award, honoring an individual whose commitment to public interest work has shaped a career dedicated to service, will be presented to Ed Grossman of Chicago Legal Clinic;
- The Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize former PILI Intern, Joe Margulies, and former PILI Fellow, LaShonda Hunt, for their outstanding contributions to public interest and pro bono work; and
- The Pro Bono Initiative Award, acknowledging a single individual or organization (law firm or corporation) for unprecedented pro bono work in the community, will be presented to JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s Legal Department.
This year's Luncheon will be held on Thursday, December 6, 2007 in the International Ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel. Visit the PILI website to learn more about the Luncheon and sponsorship opportunities. You may also contact Susan Curry for additional details at scurry@pili-law.org or 312-832-5128.
PBI to Host Agency Series on Pitching and Training for Your Pro Bono Program
The second part of this year's PBI Agency Series will be held on Monday, December 10th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., and will focus on micro level strategies for delivering personal pitches for your program, opportunities and trainings to firms and corporations. Invitations for this program will be sent within the next two weeks. Please call or e-mail PBI Director, Michael Bergmann, at 312-832-5129 or mbergmann@pili-law.org for additional information. The first program in the series was held on October 1st and over 50 representatives from legal aid agencies attended the program. The program was webcast and is archived for viewing along with all of the materials from the program on IllinoisProBono.org.
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
Pictured left to right: CBF President Thomas Hayward, Pro Bono Week Co-Chair Rob Acton, Pro Bono Week Co-Chair Julie Tappendorf, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, Pro Bono Attorney Jeannine Cordero, the pro bono client, and CBA President Victor Henderson. Photo courtesy of Bill Richert.
Inspiring Pro Bono Story Kicks Off 2007 CBA/CBF Pro Bono Week
As part of the 2007 Pro Bono Week Kick-off Reception hosted by Holland & Knight on October 9th, attendees at the reception heard from Jeannine Cordero, a member of the Parent's Council of Equip for Equality and her client. They shared their pro bono experience, which is described below.
AS, a severely autistic, non-verbal, 8 year old boy was not receiving the support he needed in his Chicago Public School (CPS) self-contained autism program. Teachers complained regularly about his behavioral issues and he was often sent home early from school. Although his mother, FS, was a resourceful single parent who had repeatedly asked that her son be placed in an environment offering more support, CPS had denied her repeated requests. Jeannine Cordero, offered to represent AS and FS on a pro bono basis and negotiated through several rounds with CPS representatives. As a result of her efforts, AS was successfully placed in a small, nurturing school that gives him the necessary support to learn in an educational setting. AS is making gains at his new program because of these supports and services, which CPS refused to provide. His mother is now at ease with his educational placement. Moreover, because of this experience, FS is pursuing a Master's Degree and desires to be a parent advocate for other children with Special Education needs.
Learn more about volunteering for Equip for Equality's Special Education Clinic Helpline. | |
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