ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews bills in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers the Juvenile Court Act (House Bill 3172), FOIA and attorney’s fees (Senate Bill 1514), Juvenile court jurisdiction (House Bill 2404) and the Condominium Property Act (House Bill 2646). More information on the bill is available below the video.
Practice News
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April 11, 2013 |
Practice News
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April 10, 2013 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am the owner of an elder law firm in Boston. I recently closed out the 2012 books for tax preparation, I'm reviewing my annual numbers from what was my 4th year in solo practice and wondering how I'm doing. Is there some kind of benchmark/goal or can you share any advice about an ideal ratio between gross income and overhead costs?
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April 8, 2013 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday the applicable dates for new rules aimed at mitigating abuses and uncertainty in mortgage foreclosures, and helping those who face the loss of their homes by imposing several requirements on mediation programs and lenders seeking to foreclosure.
The rules were announced February 22, and their effective date is May 1.
However, under amendments filed on Monday Supreme Court Rule 114, which requires a lender to attest that the lender has complied with the requirements of any applicable loss mitigation program, will apply to all judgments on or after the May 1 effective date of the rule no matter the foreclosure filing date.
"Because the affidavit (required under Rule 114) must be filed prior to the entry of a foreclosure judgement, the effective date requires application to any case where a judgment of foreclosure has not yet been entered," state amended comments to Rule 114. "Thus, although a case may already have been filed prior to the effective date (May 1) of Rule 114, the Rule would apply if a judgment of foreclosure has not yet been entered."
Supreme Court Rule 113, which establishes practices and procedures in mortgage foreclosure cases, was amended to make clear that it applies only to those foreclosure actions filed on or after the effective date of May 1, 2013.
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April 4, 2013 |
Practice News | ISBA News
Illinois State Bar Association President John E. Thies discusses e-filing in the courts with Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride.
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April 4, 2013 |
Practice News
Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil case In re Estate of Boyar and the criminal cases People v. Fitzpatrick, People v. Le Mirage, Inc. and People v. Hunter.
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April 4, 2013 |
Practice News
Northern Illinois University College of Law will open a free legal clinic this fall in Aurora, focusing on legal issues that may contribute to health problems in the area’s indigent population. NIU Law will partner with both Hesed House - a comprehensive homeless resource center in Aurora that will house the clinic - and Aunt Martha’s Health Center.
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April 3, 2013 |
ISBA News | Practice News
ISBA President John E. Thies participated in a discussion on law school debt Tuesday on the WILL-AM 580 program Focus. Thies was joined in the discussion by Northwestern Professor Steven Harper, author of the new book "The Lawyer Bubble."
Listen to the discussion at will.illinois.edu/focus/player/the-lawyer-bubble
Read the report and recommendations of the ISBA's Special Committee on the Impact of Law School Debt on the Delivery of Legal Services at www.isba.org/committees/impactoflawschooldebtondeliveryofle -
April 3, 2013 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. Our firm is a 26 attorney firm in Louisville, Kentucky. We are considering merging/acquiring a 12 attorney firm in the local area. This is virgin territory for us as we have not done this before. We would be interested in your thoughts as to where we should start and the process we should use to minimize the risk of making a mistake.
A. While mergers can be a valid option making them work is often another matter. Research indicates that one third to one half of all mergers fail to meet expectations due to cultural misalignment and personnel problems. Don't try to use a merger or acquisition as a life raft, for the wrong reasons and as your sole strategy. Successful mergers are based upon a sound integrated business strategy that creates synergy and a combined firm that produces greater client value than either firm can produced alone.
There can be a whole list of reasons for failure including poor financial performance, attorney defections, loss of key clients, and leadership and management issues. However, it has been our experience that most failures have been the result of poor cultural fit. The merging firms - after they have moved past conflict checks and excitement about new client potential - jump immediately to an examination of practice economics and the financials. They fail to perform proper due diligence on the people. It is critical that firms insure that cultural due diligence is a key component of the merger assessment process. Philosophies, personalities, and life styles should be generally compatible. The partners should like each other and the deal should make sense.
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April 1, 2013 |
Practice News | Events
The first of five Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice Listening Conferences will be held at Bradley University on April 29. The conference will take place from 1:30-4 p.m. at the Westlake Building, Room 116, 814 N Tobias Lane, Peoria.
Space is limited! To secure your seat, RSVP to IlSupCtATJ@isba.org
Here's the full schedule of listening conferences:
- April 29: Bradley University, Peoria, 1:30–4 p.m.
- May 1: NIU, DeKalb, 1:30–4 p.m.
- May 30: U. of I., Urbana, 1:30–4 p.m.
- June 5: SIU, Edwardsville, 1:30–4 p.m.
- June 13th: The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, 1:30–4 p.m.
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March 29, 2013 |
Practice News
Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride announced on Friday that the Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Thomas Keith to fill a judicial vacancy for the Stark County Resident Circuit Court Judge in the 10th Judicial Circuit.