Pro bono service is a core element of the legal profession, one that attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals revere. To reinforce that tie to service, the profession hosts annual Pro Bono Week programming for lawyers and the public to attend.
For Illinois lawyers, the last week of October will house the 2017 Pro Bono Week celebrations and activities. Volunteer opportunities, CLE programs, and more fill up our calendars. In fact, each year, the number of opportunities to give back is typically jam-packed with programming. So much so, that many lawyers don’t know where to begin. The 2017 Pro Bono Week lineup is no different.
Therefore, the Commission compiled a list of upcoming opportunities and events for Illinois lawyers to explore. So, take a look to see if any of these Pro Bono Week events pique your interest:
2017 Pro Bono Week Opportunities
Saturday, October 21st
- 2nd Annual Expungement and Record Sealing Summit – Champaign County Circuit Clerk
- All Day
- Stone Creek Church | 2502 S Race Street | Urbana, IL
Monday, October 23rd
- Community Development Through Pro Bono CLE – Chicago Bar Association
- 3:00 – 5:00 PM
- Ropes & Gray LLP | 191 N. Wacker Drive | Chicago, IL
- Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Reception – PILI and Prairie State Legal Services
- 5:30 – 7:30 PM
- Caterpillar Visitors Center | 110 SW Washington Street | Peoria, IL
Tuesday, October 24th
- Third Judicial Circuit Celebrate Pro Bono Luncheon – PILI
- 12:00 – 1:00 PM
- Leclaire Room at Lewis and Clark Community College | Edwardsville, IL
- Legal Answers Mini Pro Bono Clinic & Anniversary – American Bar Association
- 12:00 – 2:00 PM
- American Bar Association | 321 N. Clark Street | Chicago, IL
- Justice: An Evening of Stories and Community – Chicago Bar Association
- 6:00 – 8:00 PM
- Revolution Brewing | 2323 N. Milwaukee Avenue | Chicago, IL
Wednesday, October 25th
- CCLA Child Support Clinic – Catholic Charities Legal Assistance Department
- All Day
- Catholic Charities | 721 N. LaSalle Street | Chicago, IL
- How Pro Bono Contributes To a Successful Career CLE – Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, Kirkland & Ellis, and Chicago Bar Foundation
- 12:00 – 1:00 PM
- Chicago Bar Association | 321 S. Plymouth Court | Chicago, IL
- Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Reception – PILI
- 5:00 – 7:00 PM
- Deere & Company World Headquarters | One Deer Place | Moline, IL
Thursday, October 26th
- Sixth Judicial Circuit CLE & Awards Presentation – PILI
- 11:30 – 1:00 PM
- Regent Ballroom | 1406 Regency Drive West | Savoy, Illinois
- Pro Bono & Community Service Fair – Chicago Bar Association and Kirkland & Ellis
- 5:00 – 7:00 PM
- Kirkland & Ellis | 300 N. LaSalle Street | Chicago, IL
Friday, October 27th
- Representation of Individual With Mental Health Conditions CLE – Chicago Bar Association
- 12:00 – 2:00 PM
- Holland & Knight | 131 S. Dearborn Street | Chicago, IL
Thursday, November 2nd
- Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Celebration Dinner – PILI
- 5:30 – 8:30 PM
- Mattoon Country Club | 6700 N. Country Club Road | Mattoon, IL
In addition to these events, attorneys can always volunteer with any of Illinois’s legal aid and service organizations. For example, Prairie State Legal Services, Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Legal Assistance Foundation (LAF), and Illinois Legal Aid Online are always in need of lawyers willing and able to volunteer their time and skill sets.
Serve Others by Serving the Profession
Can’t make any of these upcoming programs? One of the best ways for lawyers to give back is to become a mentor. Participants in the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program provide professional guidance by building confidence in new attorneys entering the profession. Now is a great time to consider participation as the Bar Admission Ceremonies are drawing near.
As Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke told last year’s new admittees:
It is my belief that a legal degree is two things – it is an obligation to help others and a medium by which that assistance can be bestowed.