It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the injustices that exist in our society, especially knowing that so many people cannot afford access to legal services. But there’s a great quote from Fred Rogers that gives good advice: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
And here is where I’d like to draw your attention to Pro Bono Network (PBN) — a nonprofit, based in Oak Park, which has quietly and efficiently been making it possible for more “helpers” to take action to make justice more accessible in our community.
Pro Bono Network (PBN) was founded in 2011 by a small group of local attorneys to create opportunities for lawyers to provide pro bono services to clients who need it most. When Donna Peel, Oak Park resident and one of PBN’s founders, initially sought volunteer legal opportunities, she was baffled by how frequently the opportunities did not work because of her stay-at-home-mom schedule.
She connected with other attorneys who were similarly on career breaks to take care of family, and collectively they formed a network. As a larger entity, this group partnered with local legal aid agencies, organized training sessions and identified projects that fit their schedules.
As time went on, our organization grew. Attorneys found great satisfaction giving back to their communities through PBN and more volunteers joined, from more walks of life. Retired attorneys, looking for flexibility while giving back, got involved. Solo practitioners, in-house counsel, and attorneys from small- and mid-size law firms signed up as PBN volunteers. By creating pathways for “the helpers,” PBN has engaged over 500 highly-skilled attorneys to provide over 32,000 hours of free legal services.
Current projects exist across four program areas: family law, immigration, racial equity, and senior work.
If you would like to learn more or get involved, stop by PBN’s Open House on Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oak Park Main Library.
Molly MacCready
Executive director
molly.maccready@pro-bono-network.org