ABOUT PBN
The Problem and Our Solution
Like most places in the country, our legal bar is unable to provide sufficient free legal assistance to satisfy the growing demand by those in need.
The irony is that there are many attorneys in Chicago and its suburbs who want to provide pro bono legal services, but who lack a workable model to do so. This is especially true of attorneys who have decided to take time off to raise children.
Out of the clients' need, the attorneys’ desire, and not wanting to leave talent on the table, an idea was born—group these attorneys together with clear volunteering parameters to make it easier for agencies to meet their needs. We now have attorneys throughout the Greater Chicago Area from Aurora to Highland Park. As a result, those in need are not waiting as long for help and more geographic areas are being covered.

Results
Since its inception in early 2011, PBN has grown to more than 200 attorneys and 20 translators who have clocked more than 5000 volunteer hours.
As of December, 2013, we have helped over:
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30 victimized undocumented persons apply for legal residency;
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100 seniors obtain powers of attorney, wills, etc.;
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50 low-income debtors with pre-court counseling;
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10 domestic violence victims attain orders of protection;
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30 tenants in landlord/tenant disputes; and
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200 children, through representing 115 incarcerated mothers in securing guardianships, benefits and other necessities.
Attorneys have also taught hundreds of Chicago public school children about the US Constitution, provided legal availability on election day, and helped register high school seniors to vote.
We have increased access to justice for many of our neighbors by partnering with agencies to expand their geographic coverage and add new programs. This outcome is due to the number of volunteers we have as well as the benefit of having attorneys outside of the downtown area.
And we have done all this without hiring a babysitter and while still being able to make school lunches, go to the park, chaperone class trips, and stay home with sick kids.
How We Work
PBN partners with existing legal aid agencies to expand or adapt pro bono programs that will fit within the time constraints of stay-at-home parents.
To that end, any project the Network adopts must satisfy several essential criteria:
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The agency must provide early morning training in the suburbs;
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hours must be flexible and no required appearances after 2:00pm;
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the time-frames must be discreet or allow the attorney to work for a short-time frame;
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attorneys must be allowed to work in pairs to ensure back up when the inevitable sick-child situation arises; and
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the agency must provide malpractice insurance.​
We work closely with the legal aid agency to keep the project running smoothly for our volunteers. We assist with supervising, mentoring, administrative matters, troubleshooting, and ongoing training.