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PBI Resources for Illinois Corporations

 

Amended Supreme Court Rule to Increase Pro Bono Service Among House Counsels, and Attorneys on Retired or Inactive Status
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 will become effective as of July 1, 2008.

PBI Corporate Roundtable Series

The Corporate Roundtable Series provides 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 second installment in the Corporate Roundtable Series will be on Thursday, August 21, 2008, from noon until 2:00 p.m. at GECC in Rosemont, IL. 

PBI Monthly E-Newsletter: Pro Bono Advocate

Each month, the PBI Pro Bono Advocate features the latest project and pro bono news, highlight selected available pro bono opportunities, upcoming project and pro bono news and spotlight pro bono achievements in the community.  Past copies of the newsletter are available on-line by following the link above.

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E-newsletter

PBI Pro Bono Prospectus

The Pro Bono Prospectus is intended to aid law firm and corporate attorneys who are trying to encourage their organization to develop a formal pro bono program and to encourage fellow attorneys to participate in their organization's pro bono activities. 

Contents of the

Corporate Pro Bono Prospectus:

INTRODUCTORY LETTER

WHY DO PRO BONO WORK?

WHAT CONSTITUTES PRO BONO WORK?

ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT PRO BONO REPORTING RULE

SETTING UP YOUR PRO BONO PROGRAM

THE IMPORTANCE OF A PRO BONO POLICY

DISPELLING THE MYTHS OF PRO BONO

PBI Pro Bono Reference Guide

PBI developed the Pro Bono Reference Guide to provide Illinois corporations with direction, best practices and relevant samples to aid members of the corporation in developing or enhancing its pro bono program. 

Contents of the

Pro Bono Reference Guide: A Resource for Corporate Programs

INDEX

INTRODUCTION
PRO BONO BASICS

INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

FINDING PRO BONO MATTERS

ADDITIONAL PRO BONO RESOURCES

OTHER WAYS TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

PBI Pro Bono Technical Consultations

Another key service PBI provides is delivering technical consultations to corporations wishing to establish or reinvigorate their pro bono programs. As a service to the corporation, PBI gathers a consultation team that includes representatives from other Illinois corporations that have been successful in the development and/or management of a pro bono program.

PBI Semi-Annual Pro Bono Forum

PBI organizes and hosts two programs each year 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.  The Fall 2008 Pro Bono Forum will be held from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 27, 2008.  The Fall Forum is being held in conjunction with the CBA/CBF Pro Bono Week 2008 and is being hosted by The Chicago Bar Foundation at CBA Headquarters.

PBI Annual Pro Bono Celebration

On Thursday, June 11, 2009, the annual PBI reception, "Celebrating Pro Bono," will be held at the Harold Washington Library's Winter Garden Room. 

Pro Bono Opportunities for Attorneys in the Chicago Area

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 guide entitled, “Pro Bono Volunteer Opportunities for Attorneys in the Chicago Area.”  This publication is also available in print by e-mailing the PBI Director.

Pro Bono Initiative Honor Roll

PBI annually recognizes the contributions of Illinois' law firms and corporations for their pro bono contributions.  The 2006 PBI Honor Roll was announced at PILI's Annual Awards Luncheon in December 2006.  View the 2006 PBI Honor Roll.

 

For  more information about PILI and its Pro Bono Initiative,

contact PBI Director Michael Bergmann by e-mail or at 312-832-5129.

 

 
 
    © 2008 Public Interest Law Initiative