Practice News

ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers Access to Justice Act (Public Act 98-351), Automobile liability insurance (Senate Bill 1898), Privacy and the workplace (Public Act 98-501), Visitation (Public Act 98-462) and Body attachments and child support (Public Act 98-417). More information on each bill is available below the video.

The Circuit Court of Cook County is proud to announce the opening of The Cook County Elder Justice Center (CCEJC), an innovative elder-friendly facility that is designed to help elderly citizens navigate the Cook County Court system.

The CCEJC is part of the Circuit Court’s Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies Division. The CCEJC is conveniently located and easily accessible on the lower level of the Richard J. Daley Center, Room CL-16.

The unique purpose of the CCEJC is to serve as a resource center for citizens of Cook County who are aged 60 and older. The CCEJC will provide information and support needed to help older adults avoid becoming victims of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. The CCEJC will also provide referrals to the appropriate legal and social service agencies.

• Opening Date: September 3, 2013
• Hours: Monday through Friday - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Location: 50 West Washington Street, Room CL-16
• Telephone: (312) 603-9233

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am the managing partner of an eight attorney firm in Central Illinois. We have five partners and three associates. Over the years we have had problems retaining associates. While we believe we provide adequate feedback to our associates regarding our expectations about their performance, several of my partners believe we can do better. I would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

A. One of the most frequent complains I hear during interviews with associates in law firms of all sizes is lack of specific detailed feedback, unclear or non-existent expectations concerning their performance and future career progression, and vague informal performance reviews.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Institute a system where associates, especially when they are new, have a chance to work with all of the partners in the firm.

2. As managing partner solicit feedback from your partners and meet monthly with each associate and discuss their performance during their first two years of employment with the firm.

3. Annually conduct formal performance reviews with each associate. Before the review obtain specific feedback from each of the partners and have each partner complete a written review of each associate using the associate performance rating form. Ask each associate to conduct a self-evaluation using the firm's associate performance rating form and then conduct a detailed review with each associate. The review should be detailed and specific and should be developmental with specific goals and timelines established. Document the review in the associate performance rating form.

Under the leadership of Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, the Illinois Supreme Court established the Access to Justice Commission in June 2012 with the goal of removing barriers and increasing the ease of interacting with courts by persons who can’t afford lawyers to represent their interests and needs.