Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI)

🎉 Please join us in welcoming Alondra Duenas Avila to the PILI team!

Alondra joins PILI as our Intake & Program Support Associate, where she supports PILI's Pro Bono Program through client intake and referral services, program administration, and volunteer support.

Prior to joining PILI, Alondra served as a Legal Assistant with Alianza Hispanoamericana NFP and worked with Northern Illinois University's Undocumented Student Resource Center, supporting immigrant and underserved communities through outreach, advocacy, and educational programming.

Alondra brings a strong commitment to service and expanding access to legal resources. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and holds a BA in Communication from Northern Illinois University.

We're excited to have Alondra on board and look forward to the impact she will make across Illinois.

Welcome to the team, Alondra! 👏

Read more: https://buff.ly/lY82B7x

Please join us in welcoming Saffron Mears to PILI as our summer Law Student Intern!

Saffron is a J.D. Candidate at the University of Wisconsin Law School and will be supporting PILI’s Pro Bono Program this summer. Through her work with PILI, she will help advance PILI’s work to expand access to justice and strengthen pro bono service throughout Illinois.

Saffron is passionate about public interest law and serving the community through accessible legal services, and we are excited to have her join our team this summer.

Welcome to PILI, Saffron—we're glad you're here! 🎉

How do we measure the impact of law student pro bono programs in an ever-changing landscape?

Join PILI's Law School Pro Bono Roundtable this July as law school pro bono leaders come together to share best practices, discuss successful strategies, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

This year's conversation will focus on measuring impact for both students and the communities they serve, identifying tools and metrics that support long-term program sustainability, and strengthening alumni engagement in pro bono service.

We look forward to bringing together pro bono leaders committed to expanding access to justice and preparing the next generation of public interest advocates.

Learn more and register today: https://buff.ly/ytKRaBQ

Join us one month from today for PILI's Annual Pro Bono Reception!

On June 24, legal professionals, law students, judges, and access-to-justice advocates from across Illinois will come together to celebrate the inspiring and life-changing pro bono work being done throughout our state.

During the evening, we will recognize those named to the 2026 Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll and Pro Bono Recognition Roster while enjoying networking, drinks, and appetizers with members of Illinois' legal community.

Whether you're a longtime supporter of PILI or looking to connect with others committed to expanding access to justice, we hope you'll join us at the Ivy Room in Chicago on June 24 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

🎟️ Purchase tickets today: https://buff.ly/i8uTtB0

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor the brave service members who gave their lives in service to our nation.

PILI is proud to announce that we have received more than $106,000 in grant support from foundations and legal community partners committed to strengthening public interest law, supporting pro bono service, and expanding access to legal assistance throughout Illinois.

This funding will support PILI’s statewide programs, including our Law Student Internship Program and Pro Bono Program, helping us continue to build pathways into public interest law while connecting communities with critical legal resources and support.

We are deeply grateful for the continued partnership and support of:

• The Chicago Bar Foundation
• DuPage County Bar Foundation
• Helen Brach Foundation
• Illinois Bar Foundation
• Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division
• Jerome Mirza Foundation

Together, these investments help strengthen Illinois’ public interest law community, support the next generation of public interest attorneys, and expand pro bono engagement across the state.

Thank you to these organizations—and to all of our supporters—for investing in PILI’s mission.

Read more:

pili.org

PILI's Executive Director Michael Bergmann was at the Illinois State Bar Association Member Appreciation & Recognition Reception on Thursday night. Michael is a member of the ISBA Board of Governors and PILI had the opportunity to nominate or support the nomination of several of the evening’s award recipients.

📸 (L to R) ISBA President Bridget Duignan, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Rochford who accepted the John C. McAndrews Award on behalf of the Illinois Judges Association & PILI ED Michael Bergmann. Michael has served as a Special Advisor to the IJA Pro Bono Committee since its inception and PILI nominated the IJA Pro Bono Committee for the award.

📸 (L to R) Karen Kapela who accepted the John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award on behalf of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance with PILI ED Michael Bergmann. Karen is an active Illinois Free Legal Answers volunteer and was named to PILI’s 2025 Pro Bono Volunteer Honor Roll, and PILI nominated State Farm for the award.

📸 (L to R) Jennifer Luczkowiak of Prairie State Legal Services, Stacey McCullough of PILI’s Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee who received the John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award, PILI ED Michael Bergmann & Kim Thielbar of Prairie State Legal Services Prairie State Legal Services. PILI was pleased to support Prairie State’s nomination of Stacey for all of her pro bono work and leadership in DuPage County.

📸 (L to R) ISBA President Bridget Duignan presents an ISBA Presidential Commendation to PILI ED Michael Bergmann in recognition of his significant contributions and support of access to justice and bar leadership at the state and national level.

Good neighbors show up for one another 🤝

On Good Neighbor Day, we’re reminded that strong communities are built through care, connection, and support — especially when people are facing difficult moments in their lives.

At PILI, we see that spirit every day through pro bono volunteers, legal aid organizations, law students, and community partners working together to help expand access to justice across Illinois ⚖️

Because being a good neighbor can mean helping someone navigate a legal challenge, connecting them to resources, or simply making sure they don’t face a difficult situation alone.

How have you seen neighbors helping neighbors in your community? 💙