The Illinois State Bar Association received two of only 20 awards given annually from the International Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA) at the organization’s annual meeting in Boston.

An Award for Outstanding Achievement was granted for the ISBA’s CLE course, Child Custody Litigation: Techniques for Trying a Custody Case From Rehearsal to Closing Including a Child Custody Trial, in the Best Program category. The program was sponsored by the ISBA Family Law Section and coordinated by the 2013-14 section chair and CLE coordinator Pamela J. Kuzniar of Chicago.

An Award for Outstanding Achievement was given for the CLE course, Family and Consumer Law Pro Bono Bootcamp, in the Public Interest category. Sponsored by the ISBA Delivery of Legal Services Committee and coordinated by Wendy H. Vaughn of Rockford, the course grew out of a need to expand the delivery of pro bono legal services and increase access to justice during harsh economic times when many families struggle simply to survive.

ACLEA members are professionals in the fields of continuing legal education and legal publishing.  Its annual ACLEA’s Best Awards are highly competitive and winning projects represent the highest level of achievement for the staff and volunteers involved.

In Shelby County v. Holder, the U.S. Supreme Court found that the pre-clearance requirements and the coverage formula of the Voting Rights Act of 1964 are no longer applicable to the States. As a result, numerous state legislatures and Governors passed (or are seeking to pass) voter restrictions that will effectively prevent persons from minority groups, including the poor, elderly, and disabled, from exercising their constitutional right to vote. In response, the ACLU, the League of Women Voters, and other civil rights organizations have created voting rights projects to monitor government restrictions, educate voters on how to protect their rights, develop strategies to challenge restrictive laws, and lobby Congress to reauthorize the set of pre-clearance requirements and the coverage formula it has approved in previous years. Don't miss this informative seminar on Wednesday, September 24th that offers an in-depth look at how Shelby County v. Holder has impacted citizen’s voting rights.

The program takes place in Chicago; however, it is also available as a live webcast for those unable to attend the onsite program. It qualifies for 1.25 hours MCLE credit and is presented by the ISBA Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law.

Click here for more information and to register.

Join us in Chicago on Friday, September 12th for this in-depth look at the natural outgrowth and unintended consequences of the Affordable Care Act. Topics include: Medicaid expansion and the future of Medicaid HMOs; the employer’s role in covering contraceptives; the movement of employers from defined benefits to defined contributions; the Illinois insurance market and changes in the insurance market across the country; the impact of narrow networks on insureds and providers; and potential problems for physicians who have contracts with payment based on the risk adjustment. Health care lawyers, employee benefits attorneys, health care professionals/administrators, and those interacting with healthcare payors and providers with intermediate practice experience who attend this seminar will gain a better understanding of: changes to the Affordable Care Act; how the Act is being implemented; the prospect for future changes to the Affordable Care Act through the courts; the changing nature of the current and future Illinois insurance market; changes in the employer mandate; and private insurance exchanges as a direct response to the Affordable Care Act.

This program will broadcast via live webcast for those unable to attend the seminar in Chicago.

The program qualifies for 2.0 hours MCLE credit and is presented by the ISBA Health Care Section.

Click here for more information and to register.

Join us via the Internet on Wednesday, September 10th for this live webcast that examines issues and concerns with guns in the workplace and discusses Illinois' Concealed Carry Law requirements.