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  • August 11, 2014 | Practice News
    Comments sought on reappointment of U.S Bankruptcy Judge Bruce W. Black

    United States Bankruptcy Judge Bruce W. Black of the Northern District of Illinois has applied to be reappointed by the United States Court of Appeals to a new 14-year term when his current term expires on August 12, 2015. A United States Bankruptcy Judge is a judicial officer of the United States District Court who exercises the authority of the district court with respect to any action, suit, or proceeding under Chapter 6 of Title 28 of the United States Code. 28 U.S.C. § 151. Comments are invited from the public and the bar as to whether Judge Black should be reappointed. Those comments should be in writing and sent by September 30, 2014 to:

    • COLLINS T. FITZPATRICK
    • CIRCUIT EXECUTIVE
    • 219 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET, ROOM 2780
    • CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604
  • August 8, 2014 | Practice News
    Comment sought on DuPage County associate judge applicants

    Chief Judge John T. Elsner has announced that applications for the Office of Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, DuPage County have been received from those on the list below.

    The vacancy is the result of the retirement of Associate Judge Thomas C. Dudgeon.

    As part of the review process conducted by the Circuit Judges, Chief Judge Elsner invites public comment by letter before Aug. 21, 2014 to:

    • Chief Judge John T. Elsner
    • 18th Judicial Circuit Court
    • 505 N. County Farm Road, Room 2015
    • Wheaton, IL 60187

    The applicants are:

  • August 8, 2014 | Practice News
    Ethics Question of the Week: What are the rules for communicating with an unrepresented person?

    Q.  What are the rules regarding communicating with an unrepresented individual?

    A.  IRPC 4.3 allows an attorney to communicate and negotiate with an unrepresented individual as long as certain requirements are met. The attorney “shall not state or imply that the lawyer is disinterested” and “the lawyer shall not give any legal advice to the unrepresented person, other than the advice to secure counsel.” For more information, see ISBA Professional Conduct Advisory Opinion 14-02. 

    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.

    1 comment (Most recent August 8, 2014)
  • August 6, 2014 | Practice News
    ISBA Statehouse Review for the week of August 6, 2014

    ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers Independent examination in mental health proceedings (Public Act 98-853), Transfer on death instrument (Public Act 98-821), Common Interest Community Association Act (Public Act 98-842) and Mechanics Lien Act (Public Act 98-764). More information on the bill is available below the video.

  • August 6, 2014 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Client satisfaction interviews for insurance defense firms

    Asked and Answered

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

    Q. I am the chair of our firm's marketing committee. We are a 24 attorney insurance defense firm in Houston. While we solicit feedback from some of our larger insurance company clients at lunch and face to face meetings - the sessions are not structured, data is not really tabulated, and only a handful of clients are usually involved. We have been thinking of embarking on a more structured process. I would appreciate your thoughts.

    A. Our firm recently completed client satisfaction interviews for several of our insurance defense law firm clients. Here are a few quotes and a summary of what these insurance company law firm clients told us:

  • July 30, 2014 | Practice News
    Raines appointed Circuit Judge of Cook County, at Large

    William B. Raines has been appointed as a circuit judge of Cook County, at Large. This position was formerly held by the Hon. Gregory Emmett Ahern, Jr. It is effective Aug. 15, 2014, and terminates on Dec. 1, 2014.

  • July 30, 2014 | Practice News
    Ethics Question of the Week: Can I be sued for making a UPL complaint?

    Q.  Am I exposed to any civil liability for making a Himmel report or making a complaint to the ARDC about someone engaging in UPL?

    A.  Illinois Supreme Court Rule 775 provides that “any person … who communicates a complaint concerning an attorney or allegations regarding the unauthorized practice of law to the ARDC… shall be immune from all civil liability which, except for this rule, might result from such communications or complaint.” 

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

    1 comment (Most recent July 31, 2014)
  • July 30, 2014 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Getting the most out of law firm planning retreats

    Asked and Answered

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

    Q. I am a member of the firm planning committee. We are an 18 attorney firm based in downtown Chicago. We have had planning retreats in the past with mixed results. Some believe that they have been a waste of time. We are planning a retreat for this fall and I would appreciate any ideas that would help us accomplish more from these retreats.

  • July 24, 2014 | Practice News
    Ethics Question of the Week: What are the rules regarding engaging in a sexual relationship with a client?

    Q.  What are the rules regarding engaging in a sexual relationship with a client?

    A.  IRPC 1.8(j) states that a lawyer “shall not have sexual relations with a client unless a consensual sexual relationship existed between them when the client-lawyer relationship commenced.”  For further explanation, see comments [17], [18] and [19] to rule 1.8(j). 

    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.

  • July 24, 2014 | Practice News
    ISBA Statehouse Review for the week of July 24, 2014

    ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers County code of conduct (Public Act 98-779), Dissolution of business entities (Public Act 98-776), The Residential Real Property Disclosure Act (Public Act 98-754) and The Mechanics Lien Act. (Public Act 98-764). More information on the bill is available below the video.

    County code of conduct. Public Act 98-779 (Morrison, D-Deerfield; Yingling D-Hainesville) allows a county board for counties more than 300,000 but less than two million population to adopt a code of conduct regarding the fiscal responsibility and procurement authority, as required by State law, local ordinance, or county board policy It may also include additional provisions for the accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct of county appointees. Allows appointees appointed by a county board chairman or county executive to be removed from office for violating the code of conduct by the county board chairman or county executive with concurrence by a 2/3 majority vote of the county board. It requires that reasonable notice of the violation and a hearing before the county board or its designee be provided to the appointee before the vote. Makes similar provisions for appointees appointed by the county. The Act exempts the removal of county superintendent of highways and county engineer from these provisions. Effective January 1, 2015.