Sign up today for two pro bono opportunities with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Volunteer Attorney Panel. The court has established a Volunteer Attorney Panel made up of attorneys willing to represent pro se parties (mostly debtors but sometimes creditors) in bankruptcy cases. Representation is limited to adversary proceedings and contested matters – matters requiring litigation skills that pro se parties lack. No panel member is asked to file a bankruptcy case, complete schedules and similar forms, or attend a meeting of creditors.

The program is also entirely voluntary. The judges identify matters suitable for representation, and the clerk of the court recruits volunteers from the panel to take on those matters, but panel members are never compelled to accept representation. They may decline requests because of a conflict of interest or for any other reason.

If you are interested in joining the panel, complete the short questionnaire available here and send the completed form to Kenneth Gardner, Clerk of the Court, 219 S. Dearborn Street, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604.

Bankruptcy Assistance Desk. The Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (LAF) maintains a Bankruptcy Assistance Desk funded through a generous grant from the Chicago Bar Foundation. The Assistance Desk provides limited bankruptcy advice to pro se debtors consistent with new Rule 6.5 of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. The Desk is located on the 6th floor of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse and is open from 9:30 a.m. until about 1 p.m.

If you have experience in consumer bankruptcy cases (at least one year preferred), you can help staff the Bankruptcy Assistance Desk. Volunteers receive a short training session with an experienced LAF attorney and also spend at least an hour shadowing a current Assistance Desk attorney. Shifts can be scheduled according to the volunteer’s preferences and availability, and volunteers can request a full or half shift.

If you are interested in staffing the Assistance Desk, please contact Serena Larkin at slarkin@lafchicago.org or David Yen at dyen@lafchicago.org