Do you know an Illinois lawyer who’s making an impact in pro bono or public interest law? If so, the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) is accepting nominations for its Annual Awards Luncheon, to be held Wednesday, December 4, 2019, in Chicago. The awards celebrate the outstanding public service work of lawyers throughout Illinois. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, September 6.
PILI is a pillar in the pro bono and public interest law community. Through its support of law students, legal professionals and pro bono organizations, PILI aims to make “equal access to justice a reality through a legal community with a deeply rooted culture of service, where pro bono and public interest law engagement is optimized to best serve people, families and communities in need.”
According to PILI, its Annual Awards Luncheon is an opportunity to celebrate the best aspects of the legal profession: the generosity, expertise and commitment of the countless lawyers, law students, legal professionals, law firms and corporations who dedicate themselves to providing legal assistance to those in need.
PILI will present the following awards in December:
The Distinguished Public Service Award
The award honors an individual whose commitment to public interest work has shaped a career dedicated to service. Make a nomination here.
The Distinguished Alumni Awards
The awards recognize one former PILI intern and one former PILI Fellow for outstanding contributions of public interest and/or pro bono work. Make a nomination here.
The Pro Bono Initiative Award
The award acknowledges a single entity for its significant pro bono work in the community. Make a nomination here.
The Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee Awards
In addition, four Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committees will be presenting circuit-wide pro bono awards to one or more lawyers who have provided outstanding pro bono services to low-income individuals and charitable organizations in their respective judicial circuits. The recipients will be recognized at local pro bono week ceremonies in October.
- Third Judicial Circuit (Bond and Madison Counties) nominations
- Fifth Judicial Circuit (Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Edgar and Vermillion Counties) nominations
- Sixth Judicial Circuit (Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt Counties) nominations
- Tenth Judicial Circuit (Marshall, Peoria, Putnam and Tazwell Counties) nominations
If you have any questions, please contact PILI Communications & Events Manager Lauren Harper by email or by phone at 312-832-5131.