Q. What is my responsibility to respond to an ARDC request for information?A. RPC 8.1 provides that a lawyer shall not knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand for information from the ARDC. Comment [2], however, makes it clear that this responsibility is subject to 5th Amendment protections. In addition, ARDC Rule 53 provides that it is the duty of a lawyer to respond to ARDC information requests.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.]
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September 25, 2014 |
Practice News
4 comments (Most recent September 26, 2014)
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September 25, 2014
Lawyers can cite magazine articles and blogs in their pleadings and briefs - why can't they cite Rule 23 orders? Read more in the October IBJ.6 comments (Most recent September 29, 2014)
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September 24, 2014 |
Practice News
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride has announced an application process for appointment to an upcoming resident Circuit Court vacancy in Peoria County in the 10th Judicial Circuit. The vacancy will be created upon Judge Michael E. Brandt's retirement, effective December 12, 2014.
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September 24, 2014 |
Practice News
Asked and AnsweredBy John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMCQ. I am the owner and founder of a 7 attorney personal injury plaintiff firm in the southwest. Over the years we have become the "go to" PI firm in the area. We have an extensive advertising program including TV, radio, and other mediums. I bring in all the business and the other six associate attorneys are primarily worker bees. I have discouraged business development by the associates and now as I approach my retirement years I am realizing that this may have been a mistake and it may take more than a "firm brand" for the firm to transition to the next generation. I would appreciate your thoughts.
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September 24, 2014 |
ISBA News | Events
The Illinois State Bar Association's Task Force on the Impact of Law School Curriculum and Debt on the Future of the Profession will hold seven open hearings throughout the state. The Task Force was established by President Richard D. Felice and is chaired by Hon. Ann Jorgensen, Justice of the Second District Appellate Court. ISBA members are encouraged to attend these hearings to discuss the core skill sets that new lawyers should have and how law schools can graduate more “practice ready” lawyers.Those who provide comments should focus on:
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September 23, 2014 |
Events | CLE
The Solo & Small Firm Practice Institute Series: Tech Tips & Tools to Transition to the Solo & Small Firm Setting will be held from 8:15 a.m.-5:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16. This program will be held at the ISBA Chicago Office, 20 S. Clark and will available via live webcast.Find out more and register at www.isba.org/cle/2014/10/16/techtips
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September 23, 2014 |
Practice News
ISBA Mutual Liability MinuteBy Joseph R. Marconi & Brian C. Langs1, Johnson & Bell, Ltd., Chicago Back in July of 2011, we warned of a then popular e-mail/fraudulent check scheme whereby lawyers would receive e-mails from alleged potential foreign clients looking to collect debts from customers. Those scammers convinced the unsuspecting lawyers to deposit fraudulent “settlement checks” into client accounts and wire the “clients’ share” to foreign accounts after the bogus checks cleared. When the frauds were eventually uncovered by the banks, the lawyers were left with liability to the banks for the fraudulent check and wire transfers.2 Since then, newer, more complex electronic scams have surfaced whereby hackers intercept e-mails between lawyers and clients that contain wire transfer instructions. After intercepting such an e-mail, the hacker changes the instructions in the e-mail to wire money to his own untraceable account. The hacker forwards his bogus wiring instructions to the unsuspecting recipient, all while “masking” his identity as the sender and making it appear to the recipient as if the instruction came from the correct sender, whether lawyer or client.
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ISBA President Richard D. Felice received the Alumnus of the Year Award from Northern Illinois University College of Law on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at a ceremony at the University Club of Chicago.
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September 22, 2014 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee will seek comment at a public hearing in Chicago on a proposed amendment to a Supreme Court rule regarding personal identity information in civil case filings. The Committee will also consider comments on proposed rule changes involving motions in a reviewing court; appeals from final circuit court judgments in civil cases; and general rules governing appeals from the Appellate Court to the Supreme Court.All of the proposals will be aired at a public hearing of the Supreme Court Rules Committee on Friday, October 10 at 10 a.m. in Chicago. Copies of all proposals are available on the Supreme Court website at: www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Public_Hearings/Rules/default.asp.
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September 22, 2014 |
ISBA News
In addition to performing quality legal work, many lawyers are hard at work in the community supporting a good cause, yet their contributions often go unrecognized.IllinoisLawyerFinder.com, the ISBA’s website for the public, hosts a blog called “Lawyers Care.” In it, we share the philanthropic side of lawyers by featuring their community service, such as supporting a food and clothing drive, creating a scholarship program for a local school, or hosting an innovative fundraiser to help those in need.Examples of previous Lawyers Care blogs can be found at www.illinoislawyerfinder.com/lawyers-care. If you want to share your story with the public, please send an email with a summary of your community work to Chris Bonjean at cbonjean@isba.org.