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  • February 10, 2016 | ISBA News
    Edelson PC Makes $345,000 Donation to Illinois Bar Foundation

    National consumer rights firm Edelson PC, headquartered in Chicago, announced it has made a $345,000 donation to the Illinois Bar Foundation. 

    Jay Edelson, the founder of the firm, said the donation is part of his firm's broader efforts to support local and national organizations that promote open access to the courts.  “It has become more difficult for ordinary people to have full and fair access to the courts; this imbalance especially impacts disadvantaged communities. Legal aid organizations, like the IBF, are of critical importance in keeping the playing field as level as possible,” Edelson explained.

  • February 9, 2016 | ISBA News
    Nominations for ISBA awards due March 4

    Nominations are being accepted for ISBA awards. Please submit all nominations before March 4. Additional information is available at www.isba.org/awards or by clicking the link to the individual award.

    • Austin Fleming Newsletter Editors Award
      This award honors outstanding editors or past editors of Association newsletters. It is based on the concept of meritorious service to the Association and is not necessarily to be given every year.
    • Community Leadership Award
      Given by the ISBA's Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), the honor recognizes individuals for efforts to foster understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their issues of concern.
    • Diversity Leadership Award
      The Diversity Leadership Award recognizes long standing, continuing and exceptional commitment by an individual or an organization to the critical importance of diversity within the Illinois legal community, its judiciary and within the Illinois State Bar Association.
  • February 3, 2016 | ISBA News | Member Services
    Illinois Lawyer Finder makes nearly 900 referrals in January

    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 January 2016, there were 872 referrals. ISBA helped people in need of legal services find lawyers in the following areas:

  • February 3, 2016 | Events | ISBA News
    ISBA to host Distinguished Professional Service Joint Dinner on Feb. 25

    The John Marshall Law School, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Judges Association and, Justinian Society of Lawyers are hosting "The Distinguished Professional Service Joint Dinner" on Thursday, February 25th at the Standard Club in Chicago.

    Being honored with the Award of Exemplary Professional Service for their outstanding service to our legal profession and the public in the State of Illinois are Honorable Rita Garman, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice; Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State; and Susan Sher, Senior Advisor to the University of Chicago President and former Assistant to President Obama and Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama.

    The evening will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and program at 6:30 p.m.

    Buy tickets, become a sponsor or find out more information at www.isba.org/jointdinner

  • January 28, 2016 | ISBA News
    Last day to file nominating petitions is Feb. 1

    The ISBA Election in the Spring will elect 10 seats on the Board of Governors, 44 Cook County Assembly seats and 88 Outside Cook Assembly seats. Nominating petitions must be filed by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 1, 2016 at either the Illinois Bar Center, 424 South 2nd Street, in Springfield or the ISBA Office at 20 S. Clark Street, 9th Floor, Chicago. Petitions must be physically submitted with original signatures. Petitions submitted via email or fax will not be accepted.

    Candidates should submit their biography and photo at www.isba.org/election/bioform

    Find out more at www.isba.org/elections

  • January 27, 2016 | ISBA News | Events
    ISBA to host Distinguished Professional Service Joint Dinner on Feb. 25

    The John Marshall Law School, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Judges Association and, Justinian Society of Lawyers are hosting "The Distinguished Professional Service Joint Dinner" on Thursday, February 25th at the Standard Club in Chicago.

    Being honored with the Award of Exemplary Professional Service for their outstanding service to our legal profession and the public in the State of Illinois are Honorable Rita Garman, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice; Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State; and Susan Sher, Senior Advisor to the University of Chicago President and former Assistant to President Obama and Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama.

    The evening will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and program at 6:30 p.m.

    Buy tickets, become a sponsor or find out more information at www.isba.org/jointdinner

  • January 26, 2016 | ISBA News | Events
    Laughter in the Law Luncheon to be held March 8

    The ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law will host a Celebrating the Power of Laughter in the Law Luncheon on March 8 at Maggiano’s Little Italy, 516 N. Clark. The Luncheon will feature Special Speaker Dr. Gail Stern, co-owner and chief academic officer of Catharsis Productions.

    Stern is an educator and curriculum developer with over 20 years of experience in violence prevention education and advocacy. She is the co-author of the non-stranger rape prevention program, SEX SIGNALS, which is presented over a thousand times at universities and military installations each year. She is also the author of the programs, The Canary in the Mine Shaft; Beat the Blame Game; Why They Fight the Facts; and, Moral Development: Sexual Assault Prevention in a Military Context. Dr. Stern earned her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, examining the role of humor in reducing the emotional and cognitive resistance to the subject of rape.

    For more information, please visit www.isba.org/lol or contact Melissa Burkholder at MBurkholder@isba.org.

    The deadline to register is Tuesday, March 3.

  • January 22, 2016 | ISBA News
    IllinoisBarDocs set to launch Jan. 27

    The ISBA is proud to announce IllinoisBarDocs, a new member benefit that provides affordable automated forms.

  • January 6, 2016 | ISBA News | Member Services
    Illinois Lawyer Finder makes nearly 750 referrals in December

    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 December 2015, there were 741 referrals. ISBA helped people in need of legal services find lawyers in the following areas:

    Here are the results for December 2015:

    • 741 phone referrals made by Lawyer Finder staff
    • Most requested areas of law: Family (118), Personal Injury (116), Employment Law (72), Criminal Law (63), Civil Disputes (61), Real Estate (55) and Civil Rights (37).
    • 18,158 visits to IllinoisLawyerFinder.com (15,925 unique visitors)
  • January 4, 2016 | ISBA News
    Nominating petitions now being accepted for upcoming ISBA election

    The ISBA Election in the Spring of 2016 will elect 10 seats on the Board of Governors, 44 Cook County Assembly seats and 88 Outside Cook Assembly seats. Nominating petitions are now being accepted and must be filed by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 1, 2016 at either the Illinois Bar Center, 424 South 2nd Street, in Springfield or the ISBA Office at 20 S. Clark Street, 9th Floor, Chicago. Petitions must be physically submitted with original signatures. Petitions submitted via email or fax will not be accepted.

    Candidates should submit their biography and photo at www.isba.org/election/bioform

    Find out more at www.isba.org/elections