Every year, tens of thousands of Illinoisans struggle to navigate the legal system due to a lack of financial resources. While there is a constitutional guarantee for legal representation in criminal matters, no such guarantee exists for civil matters. Those facing abuse, discrimination, divorce, eviction and other civil legal problems are left to sort through those issues alone.

PILI's mission is to engage, inspire and empower those advancing equal access to justice. The Arcade for Legal Aid is hosted each year by PILI's Young Professionals Board to raise funds and awareness around this mission and our vision of a legal community with a deeply rooted culture of service, where pro bono and public interest law engagement is optimized to best serve people, families and communities in need.

Each year, PILI's work results in hundreds of law students and lawyers providing free legal services for thousands of clients in need. Participation in the Arcade for Legal Aid is a fun way to help contribute to the work of PILI while also engaging with like-minded people who care about access to justice too. 

Over the last year...

• ​62 Law Student Interns worked 21,600 hours to help 2,086 clients in need.
• 63 Graduate Fellows worked 18,900 hours to help 520 clients in need.
• 85 Pro Bono Volunteers provided free legal help to 196 clients.
• 214 Illinois Free Lega Answers users answered 3,587 civil legal questions.