The Bar News

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  • December 4, 2019 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court Approves Updates to Problem-Solving Courts Standards
    The Supreme Court of Illinois and the Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee of Justice and Mental Health Planning (Advisory Committee) today have announced updates to the Problem-Solving Courts (PSC) Standards and certification and application processes, which were adopted in 2015. Revisions were drafted by the Advisory Committee in conjunction with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) and approved by the Supreme Court during its November term. They will become effective on Jan. 1, 2020, and are intended to further promote consistency and compliance across the entire criminal justice system with up-to-date evidence-based practices.
  • December 4, 2019 | ISBA News
    Entertainment Opportunities in Downtown Rosemont
    The 2019 Joint Midyear Meeting in Rosemont this year will feature a shuttle service to accommodate holiday shoppers who are interested in exploring the area. The service will run from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, and will leave the Westin O’Hare every 30 minutes, allowing for plenty of opportunities to visit the nearby Fashion Outlets of Chicago, the newest must-shop destination when visiting the Chicago area. Other nearby attractions include:
  • December 3, 2019 | Practice News
    Spotlight on Pro Bono: Southern Illinois Celebrates Pro Bono
    By Sarah J. Taylor On November 12, 2019, Southern Illinois University School of Law hosted the area’s first event designed to recognize the pro bono work of local lawyers and mediators. The inaugural Celebrate Pro Bono reception was co-sponsored by SIU School of Law, Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc., Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), the Jackson and Williamson County Bar Associations, and local law firms Reed, Heller, and Reed, Attorneys at Law, of Murphysboro and Barrett, Twomey, Broom, Hughes and Hoke, LLP, of Carbondale.
  • December 2, 2019 | CLE
    CLE: 2020 Traffic Case Law and Legislative Update
    Join us from noon until 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, for an online seminar that examines the legislative changes that may affect your traffic law clients, including the recreational use of marijuana. Traffic law attorneys, criminal defense lawyers, prosecutors, general practitioners, and new attorneys with basic practice experience who attend this seminar will better understand: the recent caselaw and legislative changes to the traffic law arena, bail reform and changes to criminal and traffic assessments and costs, the latest DUI and summary suspension caselaw, and how these changes will affect your client and practice.
  • December 2, 2019 | Events | Member Services | ISBA News
    Save the Date: ISBA Group Admission Ceremony to Practice Before the U.S. Supreme Court
    Mark your calendars! Every few years, the Illinois State Bar Association organizes an admission ceremony at the U.S. Supreme Court. This year's ceremony will take place June 14-15, 2020, in Washington, D.C. Only 50 spots will be available. A special group hotel room rate will be available at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel for admittees, their families, and guests. To be eligible, you must be an active lawyer member of the ISBA, admitted to practice more than 3 years, and not have any adverse disciplinary action pronounced or in effect during that 3-year period.
  • December 2, 2019 | Practice News
    The New Illinois Trust Code: Practical Pointers
    The Illinois Trust Code becomes effective Jan. 1, 2020, representing a multiyear effort to modify and adapt the Uniform Trust Code. In his December Illinois Bar Journal article, “The New Illinois Trust Code: Practical Pointers,” Dan Felix provides a topic-oriented introduction that moves progressively through the Code. He notes several changes from the existing Illinois Trust and Trustees Act and raises questions for further resolution. Felix also includes a practical checklist for attorneys who will be working with the Code.
  • November 26, 2019 | ISBA News
    ISBA Offices Closed for Thanksgiving
    The ISBA Springfield and Chicago offices will be closed for Thanksgiving beginning 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27. The offices will resume normal business hours on Monday, Dec. 2. On behalf of everyone at the ISBA, we wish you a happy, fun, and safe long weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!
  • November 26, 2019 | Practice News
    Spotlight on Pro Bono: Illinois Agricultural Mediation Program—Pro Bono Opportunities
    By Missy Greathouse Illinois Agricultural Mediation Program—Background and Funding The Illinois Agricultural Mediation Program (IAMP) is a state-certified mediation program offering mediation and other services to Illinois farmers. IAMP is one of 41 agricultural mediation programs throughout the country serving as a Certified State Agricultural Mediation Program governed by 7 C.F.R., Part 785, under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 301, 7 U.S.C. 1989 and 7 U.S.C. 5101-5104. This federal program arose out of the 1980s farm crisis and was authorized by the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987.
  • November 25, 2019 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court Allows Electronic Devices During Oral Arguments
    The Illinois Supreme Court today issued an order allowing the use of electronic devices during Supreme Court oral arguments.
  • November 25, 2019 | CLE
    The Four Parasites Eating Away Your Practice Growth: How to Identify and Eradicate Them
    Is your law firm’s growth stagnate? Your practice could have a parasite if any of the following sounds familiar: you don’t know if your cases are profitable or by how much; you keep getting interrupted by phone calls/emails and your staff is delegating to you; you have clients who are past due on payments, or worse, you are past due on invoicing; or your referrals and prospects are less than ideal. If any of that sounds like your life as a practice owner, then you may have one or more of the four distinct parasites weakening your practice. No matter how grand your vision is for your law firm’s future, it won’t matter if you haven’t ensured that four basic business cornerstones are in place and infection-free.