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  • September 19, 2018 | Practice News
    Best Practice Tips: Law Firm Shareholder Admission Criteria
    Asked and Answered  By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. Our firm is a small firm of two shareholders and two associates based in Bakersfield, Calif. The firm was formed 15 years ago by the two existing shareholders. We have never added additional shareholders, but we believe that we owe it to our associates to have some guidelines as to what we are looking for in future shareholders. We’re considering a partner track program/document. Do you have any suggestions? A. I believe you should have at least a general set of guidelines laid out in writing. For example: Associates who have been in practice for seven years and employed by your firm for two or more years and who have consistently performed as outlined below should be eligible for equity shareholder-level review based on equity shareholder-level openings, competencies attained, performance, and behavior.
  • September 18, 2018 | CLE
    CLE: Workers’ Compensation Update – Fall 2018
    Update your knowledge on a number of important workers’ compensation issues with this full-day seminar in Chicago or O’Fallon on Monday, Oct. 8. Labor and employment attorneys and workers’ compensation practitioners attending this seminar will better understand: How joint injuries are diagnosed and treated in workers’ compensation claims; how uninsured employers are handled; how to avoid ethical dilemmas in your practice; how Temporary Total Disability (TTD) payments compare to Maintenance payments; the current case law updates and changes that may affect your client; and how vocational rehabilitation can help you next workers' compensation client.
  • September 17, 2018 | Practice News
    Circuit Court Sanctions Nonlawyer for UPL - ARDC v. Arreola
    In an Agreed Final Order, nonlawyer Gilbert Arreola was found guilty of minor indirect criminal contempt for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law in three separate immigration matters.  Mr. Arreola was ordered to pay approximately $24,000 in restitution, $500 in court costs, and sentenced to one year of probation. ARDC v. Gilbert Arreola, Cook County No. 18 MC1-600061 (September 17, 2018).
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    September 17, 2018
    ISBA President James McCluskey Sworn in as Associate Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
    ISBA President James McCluskey was sworn in as an associate judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit on September 13, 2018.
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    September 17, 2018
    ISBA Fall Happy Hour
    The ISBA hosted a fall happy hour on September 14, 2018, at Fremont in Chicago. The networking event was co-sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division, Family Law Section Council, and Real Estate Law Section Council.
  • September 17, 2018 | Events
    Traveling Bicentennial of Illinois Law Exhibit to Debut at College of DuPage
    The traveling Bicentennial of Illinois Law Exhibit will be on display beginning Friday, September 21, 2018, at the Student Service Center at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., in Glen Ellyn.    The interesting and educational exhibit features prominent lawyers and cases in Illinois history, information about how the court system operates, and a general history of the judiciary’s first 200 years of existence. Cases featured include Block v. City of Chicago, which concerned the first movie censorship laws, and lawyers featured include Ferdinand Barnett, one of the first African-American attorneys licensed in Illinois. The exhibit also highlights the important role that the judicial branch has in upholding the rule of law, providing a forum for dispute resolution, and interpreting the law. 
  • September 17, 2018 | Practice News
    Recovering Medical Expenses from a Child’s Lawsuit
    A boy was injured in November 2008 after joy riding on top of an apartment elevator in Chicago. His mother sued for negligence on his behalf and also sought to recover medical expenses resulting from the injury. In September’s Illinois Bar Journal, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Janet Adams Brosnahan examines the case, which made it all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court, and explores the recovery of a minor’s injuries and the Illinois Health Care Services Lien Act. For example, does a health care services lien attach to a minor’s recovery in a personal injury action? Before the Illinois Supreme Court issued its opinion in the elevator case, the direction from the lower courts was anything but straightforward. 
    1 comment (Most recent September 21, 2018)
  • September 14, 2018 | Events
    Bicentennial of the Judiciary Gala
    The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission will be hosting a gala on October 9 to commemorate the bicentennial of the judicial branch at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield.  The event starts at 6:30 p.m. The gala will feature keynote speaker Scott Turow, an attorney with Dentons who is also a renowned author. Turow has published 10 bestselling works of fiction, including "Presumed Innocent" and "The Burden of Proof." He is also the author of two nonfiction books, including "One L," which is about his experience as a law student. Turow's books have been translated into more than 40 languages and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.
  • September 13, 2018 | Member Services
    Exclusive Keurig Discounts for ISBA Members
    As an ISBA member, you now have access to exclusive members-only discounts at Office Depot and OfficeMax. Your discount can be used for personal or business purchases of thousands of eligible program items such as ink and toner, paper, cleaning and breakroom supplies, and even furniture.
  • September 12, 2018 | Practice News
    Best Practice Tips: Lawyer Retention Incentives
    Asked and Answered  By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. I am the administrator of a 16-lawyer firm in south Florida. There are six equity partners, two non-equity partners, and eight associates. The firm was formed nine years ago, and we have not lost any attorneys during this period of time. We believe that we have a positive culture and great lawyer retention. However, we would like to do more to ensure that lawyers stay with the firm and implement more incentives for them to do so. I would appreciate your thoughts.