The Illinois State Bar Association's Special Committee on Law School Debt, formed by President John E. Thies, hosted its first two meeting this week in Wheaton and Peoria (remaining schedule below). ISBA members are encouraged to attend these meetings to discuss how increasing law school debt is impacting the delivery of legal services.

The Honorable Debra B. Walker, a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, will be inducted as president of the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF), the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), at the organization’s 14th Annual Gala on Friday, Oct.19, at the Four Seasons Hotel. Judge Walker will be the second woman president in the organization’s 61 year history.

Judge Walker, who sits in the court’s Domestic Relations Division, received her B.S. in Accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana in 1982, and her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1987. Before being elected to the bench in November 2008, she was a partner at Clausen Miller P.C., concentrating in defending professional liability matters.

Judge Walker serves as vice chair on the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, and as a commissioner on the Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission. She is a past president of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, a past president of the North Michigan Avenue Business & Professional Women’s Network, and an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Economic Club of Chicago.

A native of Carthage, Illinois, she now resides in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood with her husband and two children.

Join ISBA members for a group admission on June 3, 2013

Only 50 spots are available so sign up now for the ISBA's biennial trip to the U.S. Supreme Court! For an application for admission and the event and hotel reservation form, contact Janet Sosin, jsosin@isba.org, or 800-678-4009 or 312-726-8775. Applicants will be placed on the list on a first-come basis. A special group hotel room rate is available at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel for the admittee, family and guests.

Planned Events:

• Reception Sunday, June 2, 2013:  5:30 p.m.–7 p.m. at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel for admittees and guests
• Group Admission to the U. S. Supreme Court: Monday, June 3, 2013
• Continental Breakfast at the U. S. Supreme Court for admittees and guests

To be eligible, you must be an active lawyer member of the ISBA, admitted to practice more than 3 years, and did not have any adverse disciplinary action pronounced or in effect during that 3-year period.

Click here to view photos from the ISBA trip in 2011.

(This event is sponsored by the Standing Committee on Bar Services and Activities)

The Illinois State Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division is hosting a four-part series of Professional Development Lunches (PDLs) aimed at teaching law students and young attorneys practical steps in advancing their career. The next installment will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 9 at noon at the Chicago Regional Office, 20 S. Clark Ste. 900.

This program is titled “Taking Charge of Your Legal Career.” It will feature the following panelists:

• Paula H. Holderman, ISBA President-elect, Chief Attorney Development Officer, Winston & Strawn
• Shaw Kasserman, Partner, Corboy & Demetrio
• Mary Sabatino, Partner, Wiedner & McCauliff

Cost: $10 includes lunch

Registration required at www.isba.org/sections/yld

No MCLE credit is available for this program.

For general inquiries, please contact Matt Coleman at mcoleman@ridgeassoc.com; Jessica Durkin at jessica@mdr-law.com; or Heather Pfeffer, at heather.pfeffer@gmail.com.