Pro Bono Update The current economic climate has resulted in various law firms seeking to place more of their attorneys in longer-term pro bono commitments at legal aid and other public service organizations in Chicago. The CBF has led efforts in Chicago to maximize the impact of these attorneys in our community. The CBF, together with the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), has worked with various stakeholders to gather information and develop a system to efficiently and effectively incorporate long-term volunteer attorneys into the pro bono and legal aid system. The CBF and PILI also have prepared ‘best practices’ for firms and legal aid organizations considering extended placements in Chicago.

Encouraging and supporting pro bono is a core part of the CBF’s overall mission. Taking a system-wide approach, the CBF continually works to maximize the impact of pro bono in the Chicagoland area.  In partnership with The Chicago Bar Association (CBA), the CBF encourages and supports pro bono in a variety of ways, including:

Building the Capacity of the Pro Bono Infrastructure in the Chicago area

Making grants to legal aid and public interest law organizations for the infrastructure to support pro bono (i.e., pro bono programs with solid screening, referral, training and support functions for volunteers);

Developing and sponsoring other capacity building efforts for lawyers, law firms, corporations and CBF funded pro bono and legal aid organizations, such as workshops and trainings promoting best practices for pro bono work and initiatives to increase professional development opportunities for legal aid lawyers; and

Serving as a founding partner and significant funder of www.IllinoisProBono.org, a statewide website designed to provide information and training materials and other pro bono resources to pro bono attorneys. 

Promoting Pro Bono in the CBA and Larger Legal Community

Providing information and assistance to lawyers who want to learn more about pro bono through the CBF’s Pro Bono Support Program and the  CBF Pro Bono Opportunities Guide;

Promoting the CBA Pro Bono Resolution to the CBA membership and supporting members’ efforts to engage in pro bono services;

Recognizing exemplary pro bono attorneys through the CBA/CBF Annual Pro Bono and Public Service Awards Luncheon and other means; and

Co-sponsoring the annual CBA/CBF Pro Bono Week and the CBA Young Lawyers Section Pro Bono and Community Service Fair.

Expanding Pro Bono Support from Law Firms and Corporations

Using the CBF’s Law Firm Leadership Circle to promote best practices for law firms and corporations on pro bono, giving and related issues involving access to justice;

Working with law firm professional development contacts to provide improved training and professional development opportunities for legal aid lawyers;

Promoting other types of pro bono support for legal aid organizations from law firms and corporations on issues such as advocacy, marketing, finance and administration; and

Working with the Public Interest Law Initiative to host periodic educational forums for law firms, corporations, legal aid organizations and other stakeholders on pro bono issues of universal interest.

Leading Efforts to Make the Legal Profession and Justice System More Conducive to Pro Bono

Leading advocacy efforts for adoption and implementation of the Supreme Court mandatory pro bono reporting rule as well as the rule permitting corporate lawyers with limited admission and attorneys on retired or inactive status to engage in pro bono work; and

Working with the CBA, the Circuit Court and CBF grantee organizations to develop pro bono projects like the Chancery Court Access to Justice Program and the Probate Court Guardian Ad Litem Program.

For more information on the CBF’s pro bono efforts, please contact CBF Pro Bono Director Kelly Tautges at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 312-554-8356.