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  • April 16, 2025 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court Eliminates Fees In Minor Guardianship and Small Claims Cases

    The Illinois Supreme Court announced today amendments to M.R. Order 29741 which will eliminate filing and appearance fees in minor guardianship cases and appearance fees in small claim cases. The amended rules are effective October 1, 2025.

    “The Illinois Supreme Court is always looking to remove barriers to access to justice in our state,” Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis said. “Removing and simplifying fees and processes for underrepresented litigants helps ensure they are able to have their voices heard in court.”

  • April 14, 2025 | Practice News
    Cleaning Up Your Digital Footprint

     Left unchecked, an overflowing email inbox leads to an inbox overflowing with spam, an increased risk of phishing attacks, and an overall loss of control over your personal information. Fortunately, you can clean up your digital footprint. Not only is it possible, it might even be easier than you think.

    Read the April Illinois Bar Journal’s Pointers From Practice HQ column, “Cleaning Up Your Digital Footprint,” for tips to spring clean your digital mess.

  • April 9, 2025 | Practice News
    Quick Takes on Illinois Supreme Court Opinion Issued Wednesday, April 9, 2025

    Leading appellate attorney reviews the Illinois Supreme Court opinion handed down Wednesday, April 9. 

    2 comments (Most recent April 10, 2025)
  • April 7, 2025 | Practice News
    Involuntary Commitments in Illinois

    Short of involving the criminal justice system, which most agree is ill-suited to the task, Illinois law possesses very few tools for responding to mental health crises, writes Austin R. Carlson in his April Illinois Bar Journal article, “Involuntary Commitments in Illinois.” One reason is that individuals who otherwise have the power to make healthcare decisions for a prospective patient may not consent to inpatient admission on their behalf.

  • April 3, 2025 | Practice News
    Quick Takes on Illinois Supreme Court Opinion Issued Thursday, April 3, 2025

    Leading appellate attorney reviews the Illinois Supreme Court opinion handed down Thursday, April 3.

  • April 1, 2025 | Practice News
    Supreme Court Approves 3 Proposals Impacting the Practice of Law in Illinois

    The Illinois Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Executive Committee on the Practice of Law (Executive Committee) announced today the adoption of three proposals to amend and create new rules that will impact the practice of law and help to address unmet legal needs in Illinois.

    1 comment (Most recent April 2, 2025)
  • April 1, 2025 | Practice News
    What’s in Your Retainer?

    The contents of an attorney’s retainer agreement depend on more than the matter at hand. Developments in caselaw, Illinois Supreme Court Rules, legislation, and changes in society and technology—such as new payment methods and forms of communication—can affect the language attorneys use in their client agreements. The Illinois Bar Journal’s April cover story, “What’s in Your Retainer?,” explores why attorneys should look at their retainer agreements at least every year or two, with recommendations for what parts of a retainer might be worth reconsidering.

  • March 28, 2025 | Practice News
    Supreme Court Approves Free Remote Public Access To Reviewing Court Documents Effective May 1, 2025

    The Illinois Supreme Court entered an order allowing free remote public access to reviewing court documents effective May 1, 2025. The reviewing courts include the Illinois Supreme Court and the five appellate courts.

  • March 24, 2025 | Practice News
    Challenge & Recovery

    In his most recent Feedback Loops column, “Challenge & Recovery,” in the March Illinois Bar Journal, Patrick Barry discusses the importance of balancing one’s “challenge days,” when you have to perform at a high level and “recovery days,”  when rejuvenation is the goal. If you don’t get your own challenge-recovery balance right, Barry advises, the quality of the feedback you give other people can suffer, as can your ability to productively process the feedback that’s sent your way.

  • March 21, 2025 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court Visits Fifth District Appellate Court in Mt. Vernon

    The Justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois paid a visit to the Fifth District Appellate Court in Mt. Vernon on March 17th as part of the Riding the Circuit initiative culminating in oral arguments at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale the following day. Justice David K. Overstreet, a Mt. Vernon native and the current Supreme Court Justice representing the Fifth District, and Fifth District Appellate Court Clerk Cortney Kuntze led a tour for the Supreme Court.