Attorneys
I am an Attorney
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Prairie State Legal Services! Each year PSLS is forced to turn down requests for legal assistance from some of the most vulnerable members of our community because our paid staff does not have the capacity to meet the demand. Without legal help, these people are left to navigate the legal maze by themselves and many simply give up.
Pro bono volunteers have been helping PSLS close the justice gap since the 1980s. When you accept just one pro bono case from PSLS, you ensure equal access to justice for that individual. Examples of types of cases you could assist with include helping a survivor of domestic violence get protection from their abuser; enabling a senior to take control of their financial and healthcare decisions by executing advanced directives; or ensuring a child remains in their school district by helping their family avoid eviction and stay in their home.
How To Help
PSLS offers many different civil pro bono opportunities for attorneys, whether you are looking for something bite-sized or more in depth, client facing opportunities, remote or in person, a single-day clinic or ongoing involvement. Areas in which clients need your help may include: divorce and custody; minor and adult guardianship; simple wills and powers of attorney; criminal records expungement and sealing; eviction negotiation; and bankruptcy and other consumer issues.
The time commitment varies by case, and not all cases require court appearances. Volunteers can also mentor other pro bono attorneys and consult with PSLS staff.
You do not need prior legal aid experience to volunteer. Pro bono work is a rewarding way to gain experience in a new area of law, or to mentor another attorney in your area of expertise. We will work with you to tailor a pro bono opportunity to your interests, skills and availability.
Why Volunteer for PSLS?
Performing your pro bono work through PSLS comes with added benefits:
- Pro bono clients are screened for income and asset eligibility, as well as legal problem (although other legal issues may sometimes arise).
- All PSLS pro bono cases are covered by PSLS malpractice insurance.
- PSLS offers free MCLEs to pro bono attorneys.
- Volunteers have access to our Pro Bono Portal, a dedicated platform designed to provide our volunteers with the resources, training materials and templates needed to accept a variety of pro bono referrals.
- PSLS provides support throughout the length of the case, including training and mentoring from experienced attorneys.
- Most clients receiving representation in court are eligible to have their fees waived. PSLS will provide the fee waiver form to file and can assist with any questions about how to waive different fees associated with a case (including service, publication, parenting classes, etc.).
- Pro bono hours can be reported on your annual ARDC registration.
- Retired, inactive, and out of state attorneys can volunteer under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756(k). Please contact us if you would like to volunteer under Rule 756(k).
- Pro bono attorneys handling cases for PSLS are eligible for scholarships to participate in PLI programs. These scholarships include full coverage, registration fee waivers, and discounts. To apply, please use the form here: PLI Scholarships.
- Your work can make a difference in changing the trajectory of a person’s life.
How To Get Involved
PSLS is always looking for attorneys to represent clients in a variety of civil legal matters, particularly in family, eviction, consumer, criminal records relief and advanced directives. Many of our opportunities are listed above, however we are always open to discussing other ways you can get involved, based on your interests and expertise. If you have questions or would like more information about our current pro bono opportunities, please contact probono@pslegal.org or click the button below to complete our Volunteer Interest Form.
Pro Bono Projects
Advanced Directives for Seniors
Type of Opportunity: Remote
Time Commitment: 2-3 hours
The Pro Bono Advanced Directives for Seniors project is designed to provide free legal assistance to older adults in creating personalized advanced directives, including wills, powers of attorney for property, transfer on death instruments, living wills and powers of attorney for healthcare. This initiative empowers seniors to make informed decisions about their property transfers, medical care and end-of-life wishes. Through this service, we aim to alleviate the burden on families, help older adults to ensure that their assets are distributed in accordance with their wishes, improve clarity in healthcare decisions, and protect the rights of seniors in a compassionate and supportive environment.
PSLS schedules clients for two separate meetings with a volunteer attorney. At the first meeting, the volunteer conducts an individualized assessment to determine the client’s goals for advanced directives and property transfers. The volunteer attorney then prepares these documents for the client according to their wishes. At the second meeting, the volunteer reviews the documents with the client, explaining each of them, and answering any questions the client may have. PSLS then handles all aspects of the execution and notarization of the documents. PSLS provides training, templates and subject matter support. No prior estate planning experience is necessary.
Criminal Records Relief
Type of Opportunity: Remote or in person
Time Commitment: 1-5 hours (depending on type of clinic)
Pro Bono Criminal Records Clinics provide free legal assistance to individuals seeking to expunge or seal their criminal records, offering a fresh start and removing barriers to employment, housing, and education. Clinics are held either in person or virtually. Volunteer attorneys help to evaluate criminal records and determine eligibility for relief, prepare petitions to expunge and seal, and counsel clients on their eligibility for relief.
PSLS provides training, templates and subject matter support. No prior criminal records relief experience is necessary. Virtual clinics are held once per month. To find upcoming in person clinics, please visit our Events page.
Eviction
Type of Opportunity: Remote
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours
The Pro Bono Eviction Project offers free legal assistance to individuals facing eviction, ensuring that tenants receive fair representation and access to their rights. Volunteer attorneys provide legal consultations, negotiations, and advocacy, aiming to prevent wrongful evictions and secure stable housing for those in need.
PSLS identifies clients facing eviction whose cases have the potential to be resolved through negotiations with the opposing party. Volunteer attorneys are assigned a case based on their availability and contact the client on their own schedule. After an initial consultation with the client, if appropriate, volunteer attorneys contact the landlord or the landlord’s counsel to attempt to negotiate a resolution. Cases often involve non-payment of rent and settlements typically involve either a “pay and stay” agreement where the client and landlord arrange a payment schedule for the client to catch up on past due payments, or a “move out” agreement, where the client agrees to move out at a later date in exchange for dismissal of the eviction case. PSLS provides training, templates and subject matter support. No prior housing law experience is necessary.
Family Law
Type of Opportunity: Remote
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours
The Pro Bono Family Law Advice Clinic provides free legal advice and brief services to individuals at all stages of domestic relations cases, empowering the client to more effectively move their case forward pro se. Issues may be pre- or post-decree and may involve
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Filing for and/or responding to petitions for dissolution of marriage
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Service of process
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Allocation of parental rights and responsibilities
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How to file for temporary relief
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Division of marital property and debts
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Maintenance and child support questions
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Modification and enforcement issues
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Relocating after divorce
PSLS pre-screens the clients and attempts to identify 1-2 discrete issues where the client would most benefit from assistance so the volunteer can focus their consultation on the most important issues. Clients may also need assistance filling out paperwork or reviewing documents the opposing party has filed. The one hour virtual appointments take place twice per month over Zoom. Attorneys must be experienced in family law to participate in this project.
Telephone Advice
Type of Opportunity: Remote - Advice Only
Time Commitment: Flexible
The Pro Bono Telephone Advice Project is a remote volunteer opportunity that offers free legal advice to eligible individuals. Clients are pre-screened and assigned to a volunteer based on their experience and comfort level. Clients seek legal advice about a wide variety of important issues such as private housing, debt collection, consumer issues, employment, basic bankruptcy, family law, wills, and powers of attorney. These are cases where PSLS may be unable to provide full representation due to insufficient resources, but where telephone advice could help clients understand their legal rights and remedies. Assistance beyond advice over the phone is not necessary or expected.
Volunteer attorneys are assigned a case based on their availability and interest and can sign up for a schedule that works for them, such as a particular day, part of a day, or 1-2 times during a week or month. We ask attorneys in this project to commit to volunteering for at least 3 months to gain knowledge and experience providing brief telephone advice. PSLS provides real time support to answer any questions the volunteer has before or during the call. No prior experience necessary.
Testimonials
Pro Bono work means you’re helping someone who needs help and does not have the means to hire a private attorney. But it’s also a chance to make a positive impact in the community where we live.
Dan Hardin
Bozeman Neighbor Patton & Noe, LLP (Moline, IL)
It is very satisfactory to me. It helps me help people because I enjoy helping people. And when I help a person and at the end of a case they give me a hug or they smile and say thank you very much for helping me, hopefully I am able to help them in their life and get them away from a situation.
J. Brick Van Der Snick
Van Der Snick Law Firm, Ltd. (St. Charles, IL)
Whatever you’re willing to do or can do, even if it’s to take a phone call or answer questions. It’s a very rewarding job when you do it and you help these people who need the help.
Jennifer L. Johnson
Zanck, Coen, Wright & Saladin, P.C. (Crystal Lake, IL)
I find the work to be incredibly fulfilling, especially the work I’m doing. There are people who are trying to get a second chance in life and they’re very appreciative in anyone who takes an interest in them and the results have been very satisfying.
David Black
(Rockford, IL)