Pro Bono Initiative
a project of the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI)
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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. 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 Law Firm Pro Bono Prospectus: 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 has developed the Pro Bono Reference Guide to provide Illinois law firms with direction, best practices and relevant samples to aid members of the firm in developing or enhancing their firm's pro bono program. Contents of the Pro Bono Reference Guide: A Resource for Law Firm Programs OTHER WAYS TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE PBI Pro Bono Technical Consultations Another key service PBI provides is delivering technical consultations to law firms wishing to establish or reinvigorate their pro bono programs. As a service to the firm, PBI gathers a consultation team that includes representatives from other Illinois law firms 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. The Chicago Bar Foundation Law Firm Leadership Circle Statement of Principles The Chicago Bar Foundation, through its Managing Partners Advisory Committee, has established the CBF Law Firm Leadership Circle and an accompanying statement of principles to underscore the critical role that law firms in Chicago play in ensuring equal access to justice in our community.
For more information about the PILI and its Pro Bono Initiative, contact PBI Director Michael Bergmann by e-mail or at 312-832-5129. |
