Each month, this newsletter will feature a selection of pro bono opportunities. To have your opportunity listed, send it electronically to mbergmann@pili-law.org. Please limit descriptions to 150 words. Opportunities must be submitted by the 20th of the month to appear in the next month's e-newsletter.

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) has an immediate need for volunteers to help distribute information and provide assistance to homeless families attempting to register in school.

The definition of "homeless" includes families who are doubled up due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason. These families have a right to immediate enrollment of their children without records, immunizations, birth certificates, etc. They also have the right to return to a previous school even if they are no longer residing in that area. The schools must provide transportation to enable that.

Throughout September, CCH would like to go to schools throughout the city and suburbs to provide flyers and brochures and offer to assist families in understanding their rights. CCH will provide training and brochures to volunteers. Interested volunteers should contact Laurene Heybach at 312/435-4548.

Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) Seeks Volunteer Attorneys to Help Save Homes
If you’ve seen the recent Chicago Tribune series, you know that mortgage and real estate fraud is robbing thousands of Americans of their dream of home ownership. Clients are losing their only asset at unprecedented rates, and of course, the low income communities are being disproportionately impacted.

Through the Access to Justice Program, CVLS is accepting appointments from the Chancery Division Judges to represent low-income defendants in mortgage foreclosures, predatory lending, and fraudulent transfers. The Access to Justice Project is a partnership with CVLS, the Circuit Court of Cook County, the CBF and the CBA.

Please join CVLS in the fight and become an Access volunteer. We will provide training, our staff support, and an experienced mentor to get you started. Interested? Contact Patricia Nelson at 312/332-5539 or pnelson@cvls.org.

Pro Bono Week 2006
To honor lawyers' pro bono efforts and to educate the public and the legal community about how these lawyers are improving the lives of the less fortunate, The Chicago Bar Association (CBA) and the Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF) will co-sponsor Pro Bono Week 2006: Challenging Lawyers to Make a Difference, October 16 - 20. Governor Blagojevich and Mayor Daley each recently issued proclamations respectively declaring this week as Pro Bono Week in Illinois and Chicago. The Week is also designed to inform the legal community about the wide range of pro bono opportunities that are available in the Chicago area. Pro Bono Week will feature several events for attorneys to showcase these opportunities.

The 13th Annual CBA/YLS Pro Bono and Community Service Fair is the centerpiece of Pro Bono Week and provides an opportunity for lawyers at all career levels and law students to make volunteer connections with legal aid organizations and other community service programs. This event is co-sponsored by The Chicago Bar Foundation, the Public Interest Law Initiative, Exelon and Jenner & Block LLP. 

Pro Bono Initiative Launches New Website
PBI has launched a new website. Check it out here.

Directory of Summer Associate Pro Bono Opportunities Now Available
The 2006 Director of Summer Associate Pro Bono Opportunities at Chicago Law Firms is now available for download. View the Directory.

Illinois Adopts Mandatory Pro Bono Reporting Rule
On June 14, 2006, Illinois became one of only five states to institute mandatory reporting of pro bono hours in the annual attorney registration process. The new rule, which is included in Illinois Supreme Court rule 756, is a critical step by the Court in recognition of the need for and importance of pro bono. PBI will play an important role in matching attorneys and legal services agencies to increase pro bono legal assistance to expand access to our justice system for low-income individuals. Read more.

CBF Honors Attorneys Committed to Pro Bono and Public Service
A former PILI intern and a long-time PBI constituent are just a few of those honored at The Chicago Bar Foundation’s 8th Annual Pro Bono and Public Service Awards Luncheon on July 27, 2006. Read more.

Two PILI Board Members Named to the the Law Bulletin's 2006 list of "Forty Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch"
Nominated by PILI Executive Director Susan Curry, two members of the PILI Board of Directors were named to the 2006 list of 40 Under 40: Eric Sacks of Jenner & Block LLP and Vilia Drazdys, (formerly) of Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon LLP, were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the practice of law in Chicago and for their commitments to pro bono and public interest law.

This section will feature stories written by pro bono attorneys about their pro bono experiences and perspectives from firms, corporations and legal aid agencies. Please consider submitting an article for an upcoming e-newsletter. Articles should be no more than 300 words and may be submitted electronically to mbergmann@pili-law.org.