Justice Talk to open Pro Bono Network's annual boot camp

Far too many vulnerable people in Cook and DuPage counties cannot afford the civil legal support they desperately need. All Illinois lawyers, active or not, can help by providing pro bono services and, if you are a retired attorney, you are specially positioned to help.

The Pro Bono Network recruits, trains, places and supports lawyers who want to be of service but have limited availability or pro bono opportunities.

Since 2011, more than 450 Pro Bono Network volunteers have served more than 5,000 clients giving 29,000 pro bono hours, valued at $9.1 million, in 2023 dollars.

The Pro Bono Network provides services in areas like legal clinics for older adults, orders of protection, guardianship, work with incarcerated women, and civic education in grade school classrooms.

Its model of support makes it easy for lawyers to have a big impact on the lives of those in need. It provides all the training volunteers need to feel confident, they always have another volunteer as their partner, they can dictate their own schedules and can work as much or as sporadically as they want. Together, volunteers bring camaraderie and a desire to dig in, learn, and help.

The next Justice Talk will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, at St. Catherine St. Lucy School, 27 Washington Blvd. in Oak Park.

Justice Talks is the opening reception for this year's PBN Justice Boot Camp in September and an opportunity to hear from a local social justice leader. This year, hear from Marshall Hatch Jr., cofounder and executive director of the The MAAFA Redemption Project, who will share perspectives on Chicago's West Side, on his work and on the need for legal aid there.

RSVP for the Justice Talk and Boot Camp via bit.ly/44boTNj

Every fall, Pro Bono Network hosts Justice Boot Camp, where new and current volunteers can attend trainings in all of the program focus areas and earn continuing legal education credits.

Over the course of a month, trainers from partner agencies conduct sessions that are either in person, fully remote or a hybrid.

Volunteers can generally be assigned a case right after they've participated in a training session. If they miss the live training, they can also access recorded on-demand versions throughout the year.

Learn more about the Justice Boot Camp at pro-bono-network.org/justicebootcamp.