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  • November 4, 2014 | Practice News
    Over 1,800 new Illinois attorneys to be admitted on Thursday

    New attorneys will be admitted to practice in Illinois on Thursday, November 6, with Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court presiding and administering the attorney's oath at five separate locations to a total of 1,874 candidates.

    Supreme Court Justices Anne M. Burke and Mary Jane Theis will preside over and administer the attorney's oath at bar admission ceremonies in the First Judicial District on November 6.

    A group of 1,489 will be admitted in the First Judicial District during two ceremonies Thursday, both being held at the Arie Crown Theater, 2301 Lake Shore Drive. The first ceremony will begin at 9:45 a.m.; the second ceremony will start at 12:45 p.m.

    The candidates being sworn in have passed the Illinois state bar examination and an ethics examination, and have been certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness.

    Justice Burke will preside and administer the attorney's oath during the morning ceremony. Guests for the 9:45 a.m. ceremony include: James R. Carroll, of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar; Celestia L. Mays, president of the Cook County Bar Association; and Spiridoula Mavrothalastis, president of the Hispanic Lawyers Association. Attorney Bruce M. Kohen of Highland Park will make the motion to admit the class.

  • November 4, 2014 | Practice News
    Results from Tuesday’s Cook County judicial elections

    Results from 1st Circuit judicial elections and retentions for the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. All Cook County Judges were retained. John J. Mahoney won the 4th Subcircuit vacancy and James Paul Pieczonka won the 12th Subcircuit vacancy.

  • November 4, 2014 | Practice News
    Results from Tuesday’s judicial elections for all circuits outside of Cook

    Here are the Supreme, Appellate and Circuit results for Tuesday's judicial elections for all circuits outside of Cook. Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier was retained with a 60.7% yes vote in his retention race, according to results in The Southern Illinoisan.

    View the 1st District results

    1 comment (Most recent November 7, 2014)
  • November 4, 2014 | Practice News
    JusticeCorps recruiting Fellows for new sites in Champaign, Galesburg and Macomb

    The Illinois JusticeCorps is an AmeriCorps program which places volunteers in courthouses to provide legal information and navigation to vulnerable and unrepresented members of our communities.

    The Illinois JusticeCorps, as a result of ongoing statewide expansion, is recruiting Illinois JusticeCorps Fellows for new sites in Champaign, Galesburg, and Macomb. Each JusticeCorps Fellow commits to a year of service, and is responsible for taking a leadership role for the student JusticeCorps volunteers, as well as assist in coordinating the role of the JusticeCorps in their county. JusticeCorps Fellows are the daily face of the JusticeCorps in their courthouse, and provide leadership and guidance to the staff of student volunteers serving with them.

    Fellows have traditionally been recent graduates, of undergrad or law school, looking for a way to spend a transition year doing community service while they work towards their next step in life. This, however, is not the only type of person who could be successful in the role of JusticeCorps Fellow. It could be a great position for a retired attorney looking to provide service but stay out of practice. It could be a person looking to start a second career, or even someone who wants to make the most out of retirement. One of the many exciting aspects of the Illinois JusticeCorps program is that people from all backgrounds and types of experience can bring great things to the program, and do great things for the legal community.

  • October 30, 2014 | Practice News
    Ethics Question of the Week: What issues can arise from a ghost in my law office?

    Q. There is a ghost haunting my law office. What ethical implications might arise from this?

    A. The presence of a ghost may cause many complications. For one, if the ghost can communicate, you need to be mindful of confidentiality issues in Rule 1.6. It might be a good idea to alert clients of your situation and to get informed consent. Also, be careful not to let the ghost regulate or interfere with your professional judgment as that may be a violation of Rule 5.4(c) which states: “A lawyer shall not permit a person who recommends, employs, or pays the lawyer to render legal services for another to direct or regulate the lawyer’s professional judgment in rendering such legal services.”

    ISBA members can browse past ISBA Ethics Opinions, access our Ethics Hotline, and other resources on the ISBA Ethics Page.

    [Disclaimer.  These questions are representative of calls received on the ISBA’s ethics hotline.  The information provided below is meant as an educational tool to highlight potentially applicable Illinois RPC or other ethics resources that might help the lawyer answer the question posed.  The information provided isn’t legal advice.  Because every situation is different, often complex, and the law is constantly evolving, you shouldn’t rely upon this general information without conducting your own research.]

    6 comments (Most recent October 30, 2014)
  • October 29, 2014 | Practice News
    Justice Theis opens application process for 2 Cook County judicial vacancies

    Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis announced on Tuesday an application process for two countywide vacancies in the Cook County Circuit Court.

    It is believed to be the first time an open application process has been used in the Supreme Court appointment for at-large judicial vacancies in Cook County. Justice Theis currently uses an open application process in her recommended appointments to subcircuits in Cook County.

  • October 29, 2014 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Should our law firm advertise?

    Asked and Answered

    By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

    Q. I am the managing partner of a six attorney general practice firm located in Arlington Heights. We have been in practice for 10 years. In the past most of our business has come to us through client and attorney referrals. We have not advertised. However, several of our attorneys are pushing us to embark on an extensive advertising program. I am interested in your thoughts.

  • October 23, 2014 | Practice News
    Ethics Question of the Week: Do I have to follow the Code of Judicial Conduct if I run for judicial office?

    Q. If I run for judicial office, as a lawyer (and not a sitting judge) do I have to comply with the Code of Judicial Conduct?

    A. RPC 8.2(b) provides that a lawyer who is a candidate for judicial office shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct. In addition, Rule 67 of the Code of Judicial Conduct makes it applicable to candidates as well as sitting judges.

    ISBA members can browse past ISBA Ethics Opinions, access our Ethics Hotline, and other resources on the ISBA Ethics Page.

  • October 23, 2014 | Practice News
    King appointed Cook County circuit judge

    The Illinois Supreme Court announced Thursday the appointment of veteran attorney Edward J. King as Cook County Circuit Judge in the Fourth Judicial Subcircuit.

  • October 22, 2014 | Practice News
    Jackson appointed Cook County circuit judge

    The Illinois Supreme Court announced Thursday the appointment of longtime Associate Judge Marianne Jackson to fill a Cook County vacancy in the Seventh Judicial Subcircuit. Prior to her service on the bench, Judge Jackson worked as an attorney in the public sector and as a solo practitioner for 24 years.