Pro Bono Legal Services

We believe that every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those in need. In encouraging our attorneys to fulfill this responsibility, Much Shelist supports their efforts to provide legal services without fee, or at a substantially reduced fee, to:

• persons of limited means;
• charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means; and/or
• individuals, groups or organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights, or charitable, religious, civic, governmental and educational organizations in matters in furtherance of their organizational purposes.

For example, Much Shelist regularly staffs a legal clinic operated by Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS). The clinic is one of a number of programs run by CVLS, Chicago's most comprehensive, efficient and cost-effective civil legal aid provider. Much Shelist attorneys from all practice groups counsel clients at the clinic one evening each month and regularly take on pro bono matters ranging from landlord-tenant disputes to personal bankruptcies and social security benefits issues.

Firm Receives Recognition for Commitment to Pro Bono Services

Much Shelist was recently named by the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) to the organization's inaugural Pro Bono Recognition Roster. The list includes 33 law firms and nine corporate legal departments that were honored for their pro bono contributions at PILI's annual Celebrating Pro Bono reception on June 15, 2011. Selection criteria included the percentage of attorney participation in pro bono activities, a significant increase in the number of pro bono hours from the previous year, innovative steps to expand the firm's pro bono program and participation in the Chicago Bar Foundation's Leadership Circle.

Click here to view the complete Pro Bono Recognition Roster.