Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am a relatively new attorney. I graduated three years ago from John Marshall Law School in Chicago. After law school I started with a small firm in the northern suburbs. Now with three years under my belt I am considering starting my own firm. I would appreciate your suggestions on how to get started.
The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier will be its next Chief Justice. Justice Karmeier was unanimously elected to the office by his fellow justices and will serve a three-year term commencing October 26, 2016. He succeeds Rita B. Garman, whose tenure as Chief Justice ends October 25, 2016. An installation ceremony honoring Justice Karmeier’s election as Chief Justice will be held at
the Supreme Court Building in Springfield on Monday, October 31. Justice Garman will
administer the oath of office.
Justice Karmeier will be this State’s 120th Chief Justice and the second person from Washington County to hold that office. Justice Byron O. House, for whom Justice Karmeier served as a law clerk, was the first.
“I appreciate the confidence shown by the other members of the court in electing me to this position,” said Justice Karmeier. “Since joining the court in 2004, I have had the privilege of serving under five different chief justices, all of whom have done an outstanding job. I will do my very best to live up to the high standard they have set.”
The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) is requesting proposals to provide general legal services to IMRF from law firms that qualify under Illinois law as businesses owned by minorities, females, or persons with a disability.
The RFP is available on the IMRF website at https://www.imrf.org/rfps
Proposals must be received no later than end of business day on October 7, 2016.
Illinois Attorney Robert Markoff discusses how to avoid a sheriff's levy sale and enhance property values at forced sales.
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. Our firm is a 25-lawyer firm with 10 partners. Six of these partners are in their 60s. What should we be doing concerning planning the succession of these partners?
By Marisa Wiesman, Director of Volunteer Services, Prairie State Legal Services
Are you looking for something to do on October 13? I thought so. The ISBA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services is pleased to invite you to its annual CLE in honor of Celebrate Pro Bono Week. This year’s CLE, Limited Scope Representation: When Less is More, will be held on October 13, 2016 from 12:50 pm - 4:45 pm. Participants may attend in person at the ISBA regional office in Chicago or via live webinar from the comfort of your desk. Registration is free to attorneys who agree to accept one pro bono matter in the next year.
The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Stephanie Saltouros to the 10th Subcircuit vacancy created by the recent elevation of Judge Eileen O'Neill Burke to the Illinois Appellate Court.
The appointment is effective September 29 and terminates on December 3, 2018.
ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers the Illinois Wage Assignment Act, Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act, E-business fee and Snow and ice removal.
More information on each bill is available below the video.
Illinois trial lawyer Al Durkin discusses considerations for making objections during trial, how and when to object, common legal basis's to object, and exceptions where normally inadmissible evidence may be admitted.
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am the owner of an eight attorney estate planning firm in Jacksonville, Florida. Our firm handles estate planning and estate administration. For this entire year our financial numbers are way down and I am getting concerned. For example, compared to last year: