Spotlight on pro bono

The Internet has permeated our lives in so many ways and has become an indispensable tool, both at work and at home. Lawyers now use the Web for legal research, CLE classes, court docket access, and e-file pleadings.

In our private lives we shop online, get directions, pay bills and book vacations. The Internet allows us to accomplish tasks more efficiently and quickly at work and at home.

Why should our pro bono work be any different? The Internet can assist Illinois attorneys, paralegals and law students in the performance of volunteer legal work.

The Web site, www.IllinoisProBono.org, provides volunteers and potential volunteers with user-friendly online tools that make finding and doing pro bono work easy. Those seeking to volunteer need to look no further.

One click on the “Volunteer” tab at the top of the home page takes visitors to a volunteer opportunity search tool that helps them find pro bono work tailored to their specific interests and location.

Users select the types of pro bono work (litigation, transactional, mediation, etc.), the practice area (civil rights, economic development, etc.), and location. Search results are filtered to display only those opportunities that meet specific requirements.

After users of IllinoisProBono.org have found pro bono work, they can obtain the training they need to successfully handle cases. Relevant online training seminars are regularly webcast live and then archived for later viewing on the website.

Volunteers save time and money, as they can attend trainings from the comfort of their office or home instead of traveling.

Upcoming live webcasts are posted on the IllinoisProBono.org Events Calendar. Five webcasts scheduled in December on a variety of topics, including representing children in custody cases and homeowners' rights. Remote attendees can ask questions in real time by typing queries into a box.

Archived versions of live webcasts are available for viewing 24/7 by clicking the “Video” tab on the home page. The library contains more than 200 training presentations in 20 areas of law.

Attorneys who practice in federal court and find themselves appointed counsel in prisoners' cases will find a wealth of information on prisoners' rights. Jim Chapman of the Illinois Institute for Community Law has webcast two dozen informative short video presentations on various aspects of cases.

IllinoisProBono.org also provides practice support resources for pro bono attorneys, including practice manuals, instructions, FAQs, sample pleading, and forms. There are thousands of pieces of relevant legal content in 22 areas of law, most of which were contributed by Illinois attorneys.

Other features of IllinoisProBono.org include pro bono community news and a directory of legal aid and pro bono programs. Web site users can subscribe to e-newsletters that notify them when new information in their areas of interest is posted on the website.

Soon registered users will be able to use automated forms to prepare documents online, thanks to a generous donation of software from Lexis Nexis.

IllinoisProBono.org was developed and is managed by Illinois Legal Aid Online, a not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to increase access to justice for lower-income and vulnerable Illinois residents through the innovative use of technology, to assist and educate the public, and to train and support legal aid providers and pro bono attorneys.

The Web site will be redesigned next year. Please participate in a survey that will help determine what features should be included, at www.IllinoisProBono.org/survey.cfm.

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