ABOUT PBN
A Solution to the High Need for Attorneys
​
Like most places in the country, the legal bar in northern Illinois is unable to provide enough 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, who retired, or who maintain law practices outside the Chicago city-limits.
​
Out of the clients' need and the attorneys’ desire, an idea was born—group these experienced attorneys together and remove barriers to volunteering to make it easier for attorneys to help those in need.. We now have attorneys throughout the greater Chicago area from Aurora to Arlington Heights. As a result, wait times for legal assistance are decreasing and more people outside the city-limits are receiving help.
The Impact
Since its inception in early 2011, PBN has grown to more than 250 volunteer attorneys and 20 translators who have clocked thousands of hours helping:
​
-
victimized, undocumented immigrants apply for legal residency;
-
seniors execute powers of attorney for healthcare and property;
-
domestic violence victims obtain orders of protection;
-
tenants resolve disputes with landlords;
-
incarcerated mothers secure guardianships, benefits, and other necessities for their children;
-
individuals appeal the denial of social security disability benefits; and
-
individuals obtain a fresh start by expunging convictions for non-violent offenses.
​
Attorneys have also taught hundreds of Chicago public school children about the United States Constitution, provided legal availability on election day, and, among other projects, helped register high school seniors to vote.
And we have done all this while still chaperoning our children’s field trips, enjoying retirement, or earning a living in our paying gigs.
How We Work
PBN partners with existing legal aid agencies to expand or adapt pro bono programs to provide a variety of volunteer opportunities that mesh with the various work-life balances of our volunteers.
To that end, PBN:
​
-
Teams with legal aid agencies that provide training in the Chicago suburbs or on-line;
-
Adopts projects of varying durations, including projects that can be completed within a few hours on the same day to more traditional projects that may last over an expanded time-frame of weeks or months;
-
Pairs attorneys on projects to ensure back up when the inevitable sick-child or other emergency situation arises; and
-
Works with agencies that provide malpractice coverage for volunteers​.
We work closely with each legal aid agency to keep projects running smoothly for our volunteers. We assist with supervising, mentoring, administrative matters, troubleshooting, and ongoing training.