The Northern District of Illinois has recently established a Settlement Assistance Program for Pro Se Litigants. Under the program, the presiding judge will appoint a volunteer attorney from member law firms of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to represent pro se litigants solely for the purposes of a settlement conference and, if the dispute is resolved, drafting a settlement agreement and a motion to dismiss the case. The Northern District has more information about the program here. You can also see the Limited Appointment form here.
I doubt there will be many pro se patent litigants in the program, but it is still a good way for young litigators to get some court time and do some pro bono work all at the same time.