Hello!

We hope this email finds you and yours safe and well!

Our world has really changed in the last few weeks and, like you, we at PILI have had to adjust accordingly. We've launched the COVID-19 Illinois Free legal Answers Task Force to help people in need around the state. Our Legal Service Agency Roundtable and Intern & Fellow Orientation are now being offered virtually. Keep an eye on our website to see other event updates and changes as well. We are also seeking Advisors for our Interns & Fellows this summer.

As we published in our recent Op-Ed, we believe that legal aid has an important role to play during the pandemic and we are trying to be creative about how we can best help. That is why we want to hear from you in a brief survey about what you'd like to see from PILI in furtherance of our mission during this time.

We are so incredibly grateful for the generous and compassionate Illinois legal community that is committed to helping those in need. So many of you have answered the call by answering online questions, speaking with legal aid clients directly, supporting nonprofit work and even just by staying home. Thank you!

As always, we hope you will stay in touch through  Facebook ,  Twitter ,  LinkedIn , YouTube  and Instagram . Stay healthy and well!

Sincerely, 
Unemployment, food stamps, domestic violence and unpaid rent are not new issues, but they are becoming more common as the pandemic continues. Legal aid lawyers are ready to help.

Illinois Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal clinic where low-income Illinois residents can submit a question online to ask a lawyer for help with a legal issue. It's the perfect pro bono anytime, even while practicing social distancing.   Learn more.
IL-AFLAN provides civil legal services across Illinois to veterans, active duty military and their spouses and dependents and PILI refers pro bono matters in the 101 counties outside of Cook County. Help us serve those who have served us!   Learn more.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many court help desks, legal clinics and legal aid offices are currently closed around the state. Over 60 lawyers have joined the Task Force and over 50 additional attorneys have signed up as new volunteers with Illinois Free Legal Answers. And, our volunteers have answered 248 questions since the stay at home order was issued.  Read more.

Preparing for our Summer Law Student Interns and Graduate Fellows
Summer is a busy time for PILI, and this year is no different. We expect to have 48 Law Student Interns and over 60 Graduate Fellows at our Participating Agencies this summer. But, it will be a summer like no other! We along with our Participating Agencies are bringing extra creativity, flexibility and patience to the summer as are our incoming Interns and Fellows. Starting with our Intern & Fellow Orientation, we will be offering our summer Educational Seminar Series virtually. Additional programming information will be available in next month’s newsletter.

Given the ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we are evaluating our options with regard to our Annual pro Bono Reception scheduled for Wednesday, June 17 th . If it is not possible to gather in person, we will have a virtual celebration to acknowledge the great pro bono being done by the Illinois legal community, including the unveiling of our Annual Pro Bono Recognition Roster. In the meantime, check out our generous event sponsors to date whose support is critical to our work. Read more.

PILI Executive Director Michael G. Bergmann has been appointed to the American Bar Association’s Coronavirus Task Force. In response to the growing legal needs of Americans arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19), the American Bar Association has created this nationwide task force of volunteer lawyers and judges from across the legal profession. Read more.

Thank you to Foundations for Renewed Funding!
We are so grateful to the Alphawood Foundation for renewing their support for our general operations and to the Helen Brach Foundation for continuing their support of our Law Student Internship Program.
PILI and the legal community talks a lot about increasing access to justice, but what do we mean by justice? Help us to define justice and raise $80,000 in new funding for PILI’s programs over the coming year. Learn more here.