Chicagoan Jake Crabbs, a law clerk for the Circuit Court of Cook County, is winner of first place and $2,000 in the ISBA’s 2018 Lincoln Award Legal Writing Contest. His article, “Who Can Receive Service for a Corporate Defendant?,” appears in the February issue of the Illinois Bar Journal.   Second place winner is Daniel Ritter of Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP in St. Louis, who wrote “Limiting Personal Jurisdiction: The Impact of Tyrrell, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Aspen American,” which also appears in the February IBJ. Daniel won $1,000.   Third place and $500 goes to John Zimmerman, Springfield, for “People v. Kent: The New Standard for Authenticating Social Media Evidence.   Thirty manuscripts were submitted in the 2018 contest, which was sponsored by the ISBA Young Lawyers Division and open to YLD members. Judges were Justice David K. Overstreet of the Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District; Judge Diane M. Shelley of Circuit Court of Cook County; Isaac Colunga, a partner in Ice Miller LLP’s business litigation group in Chicago; Barbara Bell, who practices employment law and estate planning in Arlington Heights; and Kathy Sons of Kavanagh Grumley & Gorbold in Joliet.

The Soul Papas Get ready to rock with the Illinois Bar Foundation at Lawyers Rock 2018, presented by Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C., on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at Lincoln Hall in Chicago. This concert fundraiser features bands comprised of local lawyers, rocking out to benefit the IBF and the Foundation’s M. Denny Hassakis Fund, which supports juvenile justice causes throughout the state. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show begins at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $50 for general admission (includes food and 2 beverage tickets) and $100 for VIP (includes food and unlimited beverages). Tickets and sponsorships are available online or can also be purchased by calling 312-726-6072. Reduced price tickets for current YLD members ($25 general admission, $50 VIP) are available by calling 312-726-6072 or emailing IBFinfo@isba.org.

Join us via the Internet on March 5, 2018 for this informative program that provides a roadmap for attorneys working in DUI litigation involving blood draw evidence.

The 2018 ISBA High School Mock Trial Invitational, which is co-administered by the ISBA and the Illinois Trial Team of the University of Illinois, will be held March 24-25 at the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign, Illinois. This program provides an opportunity for students to learn what it is like to prepare and present a legal case before the Illinois Courts. Participating students gain a better understanding of the justice system and improve their knowledge, skills, and ability to articulate in a reasoned, thoughtful manner. We welcome new volunteers and send a huge thank you to those who have donated their time in the past! The Mock Trial Invitational would not happen without volunteers like you, who have made this program a success for over 30 years. If you are interested in volunteering, fill out the online volunteer form by March 9. Additional mock trial information and resources are available on the ISBA website.