2024 Outstanding Community Pro Bono Honorees

Each year, PSLS recognizes one outstanding individual or firm from each PSLS Office. These honorees truly embody the idea of “Making Justice a Reality in Our Communities” by volunteering their time and talent within their local community.

This year, our Outstanding Community Pro Bono Honorees are:

Bloomington: Michael McElvain

Michael McEvlain (second from left)

Michael McEvlain has volunteered with PSLS’ Bloomington office for more than 10 years. Throughout the years, he has assisted with a variety of civil cases, including volunteering at the yearly Legal Advice Fair and facilitating the McLean County conflict board for many years. Since retiring a few years ago, Mike has agreed to take on a majority of the wills and powers of attorney cases for the office, and has assisted with more than 30 pro bono cases for PSLS.

Galesburg: Sharbel Rantisi

Sharbel Rantisi has been a volunteer attorney for PSLS for many years. This past year, Sharbel represented a couple in an adoption that required a great deal of sensitivity. The biological parent agreed to consent to the adoption, but was uneasy about the court process. Sharbel created a rapport with her to ensure the process went smoothly and she felt comfortable throughout. For example, Sharbel anticipated that being served by the Sheriff's Office would create a great deal of unease and potential difficulties for the parent, so Sharbel personally retained the services of a private server who was able to meet the biological parent at a specified time and place to sign the document and allow the case to proceed without formal sheriff’s service. The family was overjoyed to be together in the courtroom as the judge confirmed the adoption and there were cupcakes for the adoption party at the child’s school the next day.

Joliet: Elizabeth Miller

Elizabeth Miller has been volunteering with PSLS for more than five years and is very deserving of this award. She has expressed continued dedication to volunteering and has received praise from clients on the service she has provided. One client mentioned the patience Elizabeth displayed with her while she was having trouble securing transportation. Further, this volunteer was one of the first volunteers the pro bono coordinator reached out to about accepting a case referral when the coordinator first started. Elizabeth eagerly took the case, and a few more that PSLS sent her way. She always makes time to help in any way possible.

Kankakee: Rita Maldonado

Attorney Rita Maldonado shows true altruism in her volunteer efforts. She has been volunteering for more than 10 years and in that time has accepted almost 60 cases, mostly related to family law. If she does not have the capacity to accept a referral for full representation, she makes it a point to volunteer for an advice clinic. Clients have expressed gratitude for obtaining her advice.

Moline: Daniel Hardin

Daniel Hardin (center)

Daniel has been a volunteer with PSLS since 2014. In addition to accepting cases himself, Daniel has taken on the role of liaison for pro bono referrals from PSLS to his firm, Bozeman, Neighbour, Patton and Noe. He also serves as a mentor to new attorneys in his firm who accept pro bono assignments. This has been very helpful in placement of pro bono cases and has helped increase pro bono engagement.

Ottawa: Heather Johnson

Attorney Heather Johnson has been accepting pro bono cases for our Ottawa Office for more than 10 years. She has served clients with a variety of issues, including adoptions, divorces, and wills and estates. She is often willing to accept multiple family law cases each year and has shown dedication to serving PSLS’ clients.

Peoria: Heyl Royster

Following months of planning throughout 2023, Heyl Royster launched an office-wide pro bono program in January 2024, spearheaded by attorney Ken Davies. Each month, the firm accepts two pro bono case referrals from PSLS and distributes them among the attorneys at the firm, so that each of the attorneys receives a pro bono case throughout the year. This model has improved the efficiency of referrals to Heyl Royster attorneys and increased the number of clients served by the firm. The dedication of Heyl Royster to pro bono services as a law firm is exemplary and deserving of commendation.

Rockford: Roger Kellerman

Roger Kellerman is a retired attorney who originally started volunteering with PSLS in the Order of Protection Court Project. When there were not many referrals in that area, the pro bono coordinator approached him about taking adult guardianship cases. He was more than willing to do so and continues to take as many cases as needed, sometimes representing three clients at the same time. He is calm, kind and very efficient. In a recent case, the attorney originally representing PSLS’ client passed away unexpectedly. Roger took over the case without hesitation and had the guardianship petition filed within a week.

Telephone Counseling: Victor Gryniewicz

Attorney Victor Gryniewicz has truly been an outstanding volunteer in his six years of service in the telephone counseling pro bono program. Since 2018, Victor has advised nearly 500 clients, donating more than 800 hours of pro bono time. Clients have commented that his legal advice was "excellent," "wonderful," "outstanding" and "he explained my rights." Victor enjoys volunteering with PSLS because he finds he is able to "help people find a way out of their distressing situations" such as taking a burden off tenants by explaining that landlords alone don't have the power to evict tenants, but must go through an orderly legal process that protects the rights of tenants or helping clients who are buried in debt, often due to medical and high interest credit card debts.

Waukegan: Peter Wasem

Peter Wasem has been one of PSLS’ top volunteers in Lake County. He is very responsive and accepting when it comes to assisting with any of our estate planning cases. Peter goes above and beyond to assist our clients. In one specific case, Peter agreed to take on a probate case as advice only, but after speaking with the client and reviewing the case, Peter decided to provide the client full representation in court. The work that Peter does truly makes a difference to our clients.

West Suburban: Reno Renzetti

Attorney Reno Renzetti is more than deserving of this award, as he is a consistent and thorough volunteer. Reno has volunteered for PSLS’ Family Law Project each month, sometimes signing up for more than one volunteer shift in a month. Every time he volunteers for the project he goes above and beyond what is asked of him. He has drafted paperwork for some clients during his consultation with them. Further, he offers clients his contact information so that he can provide additional assistance should the client need it. He shows true dedication to ensuring that low income people in the community still have access to high-quality legal services.

Woodstock: Rebecca Lee

Rebecca Lee is one of PSLS’ top volunteer attorneys in McHenry County. She and her office regularly assist with a variety of referrals for extended representation. Additionally, last year PSLS hosted a criminal records relief clinic in McHenry County. Rebecca not only volunteered at the clinic, she also offered to represent clients who came to the clinic without registering and could not be served at the clinic. This allowed PSLS to help more clients and not turn people away simply because they did not pre-register for the clinic.

Thank you, Outstanding Community Pro Bono Honorees, for your commitment to serving PSLS clients!