Pro Bono
The Chicago Bar Foundation does not provide legal assistance or connect people with pro bono lawyers. If you need legal help, click here for information.
Pro bono attorneys play a critical role in making the justice system more fair and accessible for everyone. The CBF helps lawyers and legal professionals get involved in pro bono and supports a variety of pro bono initiatives to help legal aid organizations, law firms, and corporations strengthen their pro bono programs and to ensure that pro bono is an effective supplement to the work of dedicated legal aid attorneys.
Learn more about how you can use your legal skills to help people in need, and how your support for the CBF is improving the overall pro bono system and expanding pro bono services in our community.
Finding a Pro Bono Opportunity
There’s a pro bono opportunity that’s right for everyone. Search an online database of pro bono opportunities by subject matter, client type, and time commitment.
Pro bono lawyers with relevant experience can help Illinois nonprofits navigate and respond to a fast-changing federal legal landscape by volunteering through the Nonprofit Legal Support Project (NLSP).
Not sure where to start? CBF staff can help you identify and connect with pro bono opportunities that match your schedule, interests, and goals. Contact Sarah Blair at sblair@chicagobarfoundation.org to learn more.
Developing, Supporting, and Funding Innovative New Projects
The CBF works with the courts, legal aid organizations, law firms, corporations, and others to develop innovative new programs that fill gaps in our legal aid and pro bono system. Examples include the CBF Patton Legal Aid Training Academy; working with the District Court and many other partners on pro bono programs for the federal court; the Nonprofit Legal Support Project; and working with our partners to create several other court-based pro bono programs.
Rapid Response Advisory Committee & Community Legal Response Fund
The Chicago Bar Foundation Rapid Response Advisory Committee (RRAC) is designed to enhance the Chicago legal community’s communication and coordination response to crises and emerging legal issues impacting the Chicago area that require a large pro bono and/or legal aid effort.
Promoting Pro Bono Service and Recognizing Leadership and Participation
The CBF actively promotes and recognizes pro bono service in our community, including through our annual Pro Bono and Public Service Awards Luncheon and CBA/CBF Pro Bono Week. CBF grows support for pro bono through our Leadership Circles and works with all of its partners to actively encourage and support pro bono service and programming at all levels.
In addition, CBF was instrumental in helping to develop and implement rules enabling in-house and retired/inactive attorneys as well as attorneys licensed out of state to participate in pro bono. Find out more here.
Resources for Developing a Pro Bono Program
The CBF works with all pro bono stakeholders to identify systemic gaps and challenges and to help address them. Among other initiatives, CBF convenes quarterly meetings of pro bono staff at our grantee organizations to share tips, identify trends, and ensure a coordinated approach to pro bono; facilitates communication between stakeholders on a wide variety of issues; and provides training, expertise, and other pro bono resources.
Visit our Pro Bono Resources page for guidance on starting and/or strengthening a pro bono program, including our Pro Bono Checklist and Corporate Pro Bono Toolkit