Guidelines for Future Live Onsite CLE 

As a result of the success of ISBA’s all-virtual CLE programming during the pandemic and the stated preference of over 85% of ISBA members for online CLE in the form of live webcasts and on-demand programs (determined by surveys and CLE analytics), the emphasis of ISBA CLE will be on live webcasts as the preferred presentation format to capture content for the ISBA on-demand CLE catalog. 

However, if a section or committee desires to present a program in the live onsite format, they may submit a proposal that will be evaluated on whether the program provides attendees a unique experience, unlike the typical webcast CLE experience.  Live onsite programs will be held at the ISBA’s Chicago office, which can host up to 68 attendees. Other venues will be considered only if there is no venue cost to ISBA.

ISBA live onsite CLE will be allowed only in accordance with applicable public health guidelines and at such times as the ISBA believes it is safe for members and staff to congregate. ISBA retains the sole discretion to cancel a live onsite program or change the format to a webcast or recording. The health and safety of ISBA members and staff are of paramount concern and priority.

Justification

Proposals for live onsite CLE should present justification for the live onsite format.  Factors that will be considered include, but are not limited to any of the following:

  1. Networking is offered.
  2. Interactivity is included (e.g., table clinics, polling, breakout sessions, etc.).
  3. New attorneys in their first 5 years of practice (i.e., who can attend for free) will be matched with a mentor for the day.
  4. At least one new attorney speaker and/or one diverse speaker is included in the faculty.
  5. A luncheon or reception is provided by a sponsor to be identified by the group submitting the proposal.
  6. Rather than offering a live webcast of the program, selected speakers will be available after the event to record their topics for the on-demand catalog.

Eligibility

If the justification above is provided and deemed to have been met as determined by the Director of CLE in consultation with the ISBA CLE Committee, the following programs are eligible for live onsite CLE, if health and safety concerns are not an issue.   

  1. Joint ISBA Section/Committee CLE Programs:
    1. Co-sponsored live onsite CLE programs.
    2. Concurrent CLE events by multiple sections/committees.
  2. One program annually by each of the six ISBA Sections with the largest section-dues-paying membership because of the greater pool of potential live onsite attendees.  Attendance of 50 or more will qualify these programs to repeat in subsequent years. The qualifying sections are:
    1. Trusts and Estates
    2. Real Estate
    3. Family Law
    4. Civil Practice
    5. Tort Law
    6. Criminal Justice
  3. Historically successful live onsite CLE programs.  Attendance of 50 or more will qualify a live onsite program to be repeated in subsequent years.  Qualifying programs currently include:
    1. Agricultural Law
    2. Environmental Law
    3. Animal Law
    4. Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legacy CLE
    5. Traffic Law Updates
    6. Bench and Bar Civility CLE
    7. Workers’ Compensation
    8. Guardian Ad Litem programs
    9. Minority Bar Joint CLE
  4. CLE programs at ISBA Annual and Midyear Meetings.
  5. Skills programs: Trial Techniques and 40 Hour Mediation.
  6. Select Master Series programs.
  7. Destination CLE programs, with a maximum of one per bar year for ISBA, if proposed and approved one year in advance, in accordance with ISBA’s policy.
  8. Other programs may be eligible, if rationale is presented and approved by the Director of CLE in consultation with the CLE Committee.