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  • October 6, 2010 | Practice News
    Delehanty appointed Circuit Judge of Cook County, Third Subcircuit
    The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Maureen Leahy Delehanty to Circuit Judge of Cook County, Third Subcircuit. This vacancy was created by the retirement of the Honorable Patrick E. McGann. This appointment is effective Oct. 6, 2010, and terminates on Dec. 3, 2012.
  • October 6, 2010 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Characteristics of successful law firms: Basic building block No. 7 - Marketing
    By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC For the past six weeks I have been discussing the characteristics of successful law firms and introduced the following basic building blocks that successful firms typically have in place:
    • Partner Relations
    • Leadership
    • Firm Management
    • Partner Compensation
    • Planning
    • Client Service
    • Marketing
    Partner relations, leadership, management, partner compensation, planning, and client service blocks have been discussed. The seventh and final basic building block is marketing. Successful firms have an effective marketing infrastructure and program in place. Gone are the days when attorneys simply practiced law. Today, they face increased competition, shrinking demand for services and increasing supply of professional talent, availability of service substitutes, and marketing of professional services. Marketing can no longer be ignored if small law practices are to survive in the future. Based upon our observations working with client law firms over the past twenty six years we have concluded that marketing is poorly understood and ineffectively implemented in many small law firms. In addition, the following obstacles are at play:
  • October 5, 2010 | Practice News
    Unbundling explained
    Limited scope or "discrete task" legal representation -- aka "unbundling" -- is a client- and lawyer-friendly idea whose time has come, proponents say. So what is it, and how can it help your practice? Read Helen Gunnarsson's article in the October Illinois Bar Journal.
  • October 5, 2010 | Practice News
    Applications being accepted for 2 associate judge openings in DuPage
    Chief Judge Stephen J. Culliton is accepting applications for two anticipated vacancies resulting from the upcoming Nov. 2 election. The vacancies are anticipated to occur upon the elections of Associate Judges Dortohy F. French and Ronald D. Sutter, who are running unopposed in the general election for Circuit Judge. These vacancies are contingent upon certification by the Illinois Board of Elections of general election results declaring French and Sutter the winners. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2010. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, licensed to practice law in this state and a resident of DuPage County. Two original applications, submitted on prescribed application form, must be filed with:
    • Cynthia Y. Cobbs, Director
    • Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
    • 3101 Old Jacksonville Road
    • Springfield, IL, 62704-6488
    Applications can be obtained from the Chief Judge's Office, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts or from the Supreme Court's website: www.state.il.us/court.
  • October 4, 2010 | Practice News
    A time to be born, a time to die
    And boy did billionaire George Steinbrenner pick the right time. To die, that is. "If he had died last year, the executors of George’s estate could have faced federal estate taxes of almost $500 million, depending on how the estate was structured," writes Robert J. Kolasa in the latest issue of ISBA's Trusts and Estates newsletter. But he died this year, which means his estate owed nada. Bupkes. How did this happen, you ask? Robert explains.
  • October 4, 2010 | Practice News
    Circuit Judge Maureen Connors appointed to Appellate Court
    The Illinois Supreme Court announced today the assignment of Cook County Circuit Court Judge Maureen E. Connors to the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Connors, who has been a judge in Cook County for 22 years, will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Appellate Justice Mary Jane Theis to the Illinois Supreme Court. Justice Theis will be replacing Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald, who announced his retirement, effective October 25. The assignment of Judge Connors will become effective October 26 and expire December 3, 2012. Judge Connors was an associate Judge in Cook County from 1988 to 1994, when she was elected Circuit Court Judge. When she won retention as a Circuit Court judge in 2006, reviewing bar groups and associations all gave her favorable ratings.
  • September 30, 2010 | Practice News
    The growing importance of fiduciary duty
    Fiduciary duty cases are on the rise, John B. Kincaid writes in the latest ISBA Trial Briefs, with the overall result that courts have "leveled the playing field" on behalf of weaker parties. He reviews the trend, giving special attention to the second district's recent Prignano v. Prignano decision, which, he writes, cites "a treasure trove of rulings valuable to the civil practitioner."
  • September 30, 2010 | Practice News
    How a new ruling helps contractors — and how not to need it
    Last week in K. Miller Construction Company v. McGinnis, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the appellate court and held that the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act doesn't stop contractors from suing on oral contracts for home-repair work. That's the good news -- for contractors, anyway. But contactors should be using written contracts and otherwise complying with the Act to begin with, writes Michael P. Tomlinson in the latest ISBA GP&Solo newsletter.
  • September 30, 2010 | Practice News
    Lawrence appointed circuit judge in 11th Judicial Circuit
    The Illinois Supreme Court announced Wednesday that Associate Judge Paul G. Lawrence has been appointed a circuit judge at-large in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Judge Lawrence was appointed to fill the Circuit Court vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Judge G. Michael Prall on November 2, 2010. The appointment is effective November 3, 2010 and will expire December 3, 2012. Justice Rita B. Garman recommended the appointment of Judge Lawrence after a review process by a special citizen screening committee. The committee unanimously recommended Judge Lawrence’s appointment to Justice Garman to fill the vacancy. Judge Lawrence graduated from University of Illinois in 1982 with a B.S. degree in Accounting. He received his juris doctor degree from University of Missouri in 1985. Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Lawrence practiced at the law firm of Lawrence, Moore and Ogar. He was appointed as an associate judge in the Eleventh Circuit in 2002, serving as a trial judge for over eight years until Wednesday’s appointment by the Supreme Court as a Circuit Judge. A resident of Bloomington, Judge Lawrence is married with five children. The Eleventh Judicial Circuit is comprised of five counties: Ford, Livingston, Logan, McLean and Woodford.
  • September 30, 2010 | Practice News
    Legal tech: Google Tags
    by Peter LaSorsa Google has launched a new program called Google Tags. The program works by giving your law office an eye-catching yellow tag on Google Search and Google Maps. Both Google Search and Maps are utilized by a majority of people on the Internet and represent a great market of potential clients. Google is currently offering a free 30-day trial after which you will be charged $25 per month.  One of the nice features of Google Tags is that it allows you to highlight coupons, photos, and other helpful information that can help customers choose you. Coupons are a great way to track your advertising and increase your customer base.  In our current economic situation, many people are looking for value and shopping around for service based on price.  I know many lawyers’ turns their nose at coupons or other creative ideas for attracting customers, but I believe those lawyers are missing the boat and not taking advantage of technology to the fullest. Even if you get a few new customers a year with Google Tags, your total investment will only be $275 (11 months at $25 per month and one month free).  I believe when you balance the cost of traditional advertising or other forms of online advertising, Google Tags offers a cost-effective way to reach potential clients. Peter LaSorsa can be reached at lasorsalaw.com. He also publishes a blog at www.illinoissexualharassmentattorneyblog.com