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  • December 14, 2011 | ISBA News
    New ISBA sign greets visitors at Chicago Regional Office
    An ISBA sign was installed Wednesday morning to greet visitors after they get off the elevator at the Chicago Regional Office (CRO). The sign is a welcome addition for many who have visited the office and thought they got off on the wrong floor - as the entire space was recently renovated.The CRO hosts the majority of the Association's meetings and Continuing Legal Education programs.Click here to view pictures from the recent rehab of the CRO and click here to view upcoming CLE programs.
  • December 14, 2011 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Why lawyers have problems with client development and marketing
    Asked and AnsweredBy John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMCQ. Our firm has in place a strategic plan as well as a firm client development plan and individual lawyer client development plans as well.  While we have great ideas and good intentions - we seem to be falling short of the mark and not accomplishing much. What are you thoughts regarding our dismal success with our client development efforts?A. Obstacles to MarketingBased upon our observations drawn from working with client law firms over the past eighteen 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:TimeThere is no time for marketing or any firm developmental activities. Production is king and non-billable activities such as marketing are discouraged.Uneasiness With MarketingAttorneys are uncomfortable with marketing. This is primarily due to lack of understanding, training, and experience with the process.Lack of Marketing Understanding
  • December 14, 2011 | Practice News
    Illinois Estate Tax
    Senate Bill 397 (Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights; Bradley, D-Marion) changes the State tax credit of the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act to be $2 million for persons dying before Jan. 1, 2012; $3.5 million for persons dying on or after Jan. 1, 2012 but before Jan. 1, 2013; and $4 million for persons dying on or after Jan. 1, 2013. It has passed both chambers as part of the CME/Sears tax package, and Governor Quinn has indicated that he will sign it. A PDF version of the bill may be found here, and these changes are on pages 288-292 of the 292-page bill.
  • December 12, 2011 | ISBA News
    ISBA Assembly gets update from Chief Justice Kilbride, approves legislative package
    The Illinois State Bar Association's Assembly met on Saturday at the conclusion of the Midyear Meeting at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers Chicago.Highlighting the meeting was an e-business update from Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride. Justice Kilbride noted that the court is developing e-filing standards to be in place throughout the state. This would allow different vendors to have a framework to work with from county to county. He expects e-filing to be open across the state voluntarily by April 3, 2012.The Assembly also approved the ISBA legislative package for 2012.
  • December 12, 2011 | Member Services | ISBA News
    Illinois Lawyer Finder makes 654 referrals in November
    The Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyer Finder Service provides referrals to local lawyers Mondays through Fridays. The Service makes referrals in a number of areas of law. For the month of November 2011, ISBA helped people in need of legal services find lawyers in the following areas:
  • December 12, 2011
    Midyear Meeting law school alumni receptions 2011
    Law school alumni receptions were held for the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, John Marshall, the Justinians Society and St. Louis University.
  • December 12, 2011
    Midyear Meeting Supreme Court Reception and Dinner
    The Illinois State Bar Association and Chicago Bar Association co-hosted the annual Supreme Court Reception and Dinner on Friday night at the Sheraton Chicago. Justice Mary Jane Theis was this year's speaker.
  • December 9, 2011 | ISBA News | Events
    Three photo galleries from ISBA/IJA Joint Meeting posted
    The ISBA/IJA Meeting in Chicago is underway and three new photo galleries have been posted. Please check them out below.IBF Fellows BreakfastISBA/IJA Myra Bradwell programIJA Luncheon
  • December 9, 2011
    IJA Annual Luncheon 2011
    The Illinois Judges Association held its Annual Luncheon on Friday, Dec. 9, at the Sheraton Hotel Chicago.
  • December 9, 2011
    ISBA/IJA Myra Bradwell program
    The Illinois State Bar Association and Illinois Judges Association hosted "The Legacy of Myra Bradwell: In Light of the Experience" on Friday at the Joint Meeting. Jenner & Block partner Terri L. Mascherin moderated the program with panelists Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman, Retired Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Ann McMorrow, Hon. Dawn Clark Netsch and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis.