Hoping to expand your practice to representing home sellers and buyers? Former ISBA YLD Chair Heather Fritsch recommends taking 10 steps before you meet your first client. They are 1) create office procedures, 2) read and understand the Multi-Board Residential Real Estate Contract 6.0, 3) start a relationship with a title company, 4) become familiar with professional inspections, 5) understand the lending process, 6) know how to read a survey and 7) title commitment, 8) know how to prepare a deed, 9) know what to expect at closing, and 10) make friends with an experienced real estate attorney.For more tips, read her article in the February Illinois Bar Journal and her book, Basic Residential Real Estate: From Contract to Closing.

Networking and Social Event sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association's Young Lawyers DivisionJoin your peers for an evening of socializing and wine tasting! When: Friday, February 27, 2015 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.Where: ISBA Chicago Office - 20 S. Clark Street, Suite 900Cost: $30 in advance through Monday, February 23, 2015 $40 at the door the night of the eventRegister at www.isba.org/sections/yld/winetasting

Learn about the new Supreme Court policy regarding the certification of interpreters with this informative two hour seminar! Interpreters play an important role in the judicial process by helping non-native English speakers overcome any language barriers that may exist. Any attorney or judge who uses interpreters should attend this seminar to better understand: the difference between an interpreter and a translator; how the Illinois Supreme Court’s Language Access Policy establishes statewide standards for language access in the courts and how it will affect court procedure and your trial practice; how the new policy creates a framework for the certification of foreign language interpreters and establishes a registry for both sign language and foreign language interpreters; how the recently adopted Illinois Code of Interpreter Ethics defines the proper role of an interpreter and their scope of practice; the difference between consecutive and simultaneous interpretation and why this matters in court; how to use an interpreter more effectively during trials and depositions; how to find a good interpreter; how to prepare your client for using an interpreter; and much more!The program takes place in Chicago on February 19, 2015; however, for those unable to attend the onsite, this program will also broadcast via live webcast.

The Illinois State Bar Association Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services is seeking nominations for the ISBA Joseph R. Bartylak Memorial Legal Services Award which honors the extraordinary commitment and dedication of a civil legal services attorney who has provided the highest caliber of compassionate legal representation and outstanding service to Illinois’ vulnerable and low-income population.Nominations must be received by Friday, March 6, 2015. For more information on this award and how to nominate an individual, please visit the Joseph R. Bartylak homepage.The Illinois State Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services is also seeking nominations for the ISBA John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award.The ISBA has established the John C. McAndrews Award to honor the extraordinary commitment of individuals, bar associations, or law firm/corporate legal departments to providing free legal services to the income eligible in Illinois or expanding the availability of legal services to the income eligible in Illinois.