The 2014 Illinois Law and Leadership Institute (ILLI) ran from June 22-28 at SIU School of Law and offered a combination of classroom lectures, logic and critical thinking exercises, writing and oral advocacy instruction and field trips to two St. Louis law firms and the U.S. District Court in Benton. ILLI is a joint venture between the ISBA and the SIU School of Law that helps introduce 9th and 10th grade students from diverse backgrounds to the legal profession.
ISBA members, sign up to receive The Bar News' biweekly e-newsletter by emailing emailpreferences@isba.org
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June 30, 2014 |
CLE
Improve your trial skills in this "learn-by-doing" program that covers all phases of trial work from both a plaintiff and defendant's viewpoint. The program consists of two semesters and runs approximately four months per semester. (You may start with the semester of your choice.) The program qualifies for a total of 54 hours MCLE credit, including 54* hours PMCLE credit (27 hours MCLE/27 hours PMCLE credit per semester). Class takes place each Tuesday evening from 5:15 – 6:45 p.m. at the Illinois State Bar Association – Chicago Regional Office, 20 South Clark Street, Suite 900.Fall Semester begins September 9, 2014!Through this course, you will learn and practice new trial techniques that are most effective and consistent with the Federal Rules of Evidence and the new Illinois Rules of Evidence. Each session is audio-video taped so you can see and hear the improvements in your voice, manner and trial technique. The program has been proven to be of value whether your practice includes trying jury and non-jury cases, administrative hearings, arbitrations, or mediations. The course is taught and coordinated by Fred Lane and Scott Lane.Click here for more information and to register.4 comments (Most recent March 17, 2015)
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June 26, 2014 |
ISBA News | Events
Please join the ISBA Board of Governors and the IBF Board of Directors at a reception honoring ISBA Immediate Past President Paula H. Holderman. The reception will be held on Thursday, July 17, from 5-7 p.m. at the ISBA Chicago Office. Tickets are $50.Register online or by calling the IBF at 312.726.6072.Sponsorship opportunities are also available.The Illinois Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association and is dedicated to improving access to justice to those most vulnerable, helping attorneys and their families in need, and to providing year-long legal Fellowships to new attorneys working in legal aid clinics.
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June 26, 2014 |
Practice News
When the Illinois Supreme Court in March struck down the state's eavesdropping law as overly broad and thus unconstitutional, lawmakers were under pressure to quickly draft a new law to protect the privacy interests of citizens whose conversations may now be recorded without their consent.Just before the General Assembly recessed in May, the Senate passed a new eavesdropping law (HB 4283), but the House adjourned before taking action on a Senate amendment.The definition of private conversation under the Senate's amendment of HB 4283 is any communication between two or more persons intended to be of a private nature under circumstances "reasonably justifying that expectation."The Senate amendment, however, contains exemptions that allow police officers, with permission from prosecutors, to record conversations as part of felony criminal investigations without a judicial warrant. Baker and representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union object to those exemptions, and they are likely to be the subject of continued debate when the General Assembly reconvenes. Find out more on the July Illinois Bar Journal. The implications of not having an eavesdropping law in place are nicely summarized by John Roska of the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation in the Champaign News-Gazette.2 comments (Most recent June 30, 2014)
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June 26, 2014 |
Member Services
Law Technology News has launched a new Vendor Satisfaction Survey broken down by industry. In the legal research survey, respondents ranked Fastcase No. 1 in customer satisfaction in 7 out of 10 categories, and a very close second in two out of the remaining three. Fastcase was the clear winner in “Price for Value,” with 87.5% rating Fastcase as Excellent (LexisNexis was a distant second at 14.3% and Westlaw at 12.7%). Remember, ISBA members receive Fastcase for free as part of their member benefits package.“In the Likelihood to Recommend” category, 50% of respondents gave Fastcase the highest rating of “Very” (compared to 26.5% for LexisNexis and 20.4% for Westlaw). Fastcase also had the highest “Excellent” ratings for Products/services information in vendor literature, Ease of Installation, Customer service responsiveness, Ease of Integration into firm workflow, and Features and functions.Westlaw ranked highest in one category, with 37.6% rating its availability of training as “Excellent” (narrowly edging Fastcase at 37.5%). LexisNexis finished first in one category, Ease of integration with other technology, with 25.9% of respondents rating its products as “Excellent” (and narrowly edging Fastcase at 25.0%).
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June 26, 2014 |
Practice News
Q. Do I need to get my client’s informed consent to have another lawyer (not in my firm) attend a routine status conference because I’ve got a scheduling conflict?A. RPC 1.2(e) provides that a lawyer can’t delegate to another lawyer not in that lawyer’s firm the responsibility for performing work for the client without the client’s informed consent. Comment [14] to that Rule clarifies that it is designed to prevent a lawyer from transferring “complete or substantial responsibility” of a matter to another lawyer. The Comment goes on to say it is not intended to “prevent lawyers from engaging lawyers outside of their firm to stand in for discrete events in situations such as personal emergencies, illness, or schedule conflicts.” For further insight on the increasing use of “coverage attorneys” see this month’s Illinois Bar Journal.
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June 26, 2014 |
Practice News
ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers Township government (Public Act 98-653), Workers’ Compensation Act (Public Act 98-633), UM/UIM insurance (House Bill 5575), Independent examination in mental health proceedings (Senate Bill 3532), Local Records Act (House Bill 5623) and Condominiums and common-interest communities (House Bill 5322). More information on each bill is available below the video.
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June 25, 2014 |
Practice News
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071 proposes revisions of Circuit Rules 3, 10, 11, 22, 26.1, 28, 34, 45 and 46. Written comments on the proposed rule changes should be sent by August 1, 2014, to:Advisory Committeec/o Clerk of CourtUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit219 South Dearborn StreetChicago, Il 60604Comments can also be made via e-mail at: USCA7_Clerk@ca7.uscourts.gov
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June 25, 2014 |
ISBA News | People
Sergeant Joel Marquez, of the Downers Grove Police Department, received a 2014 Law Enforcement Award from the ISBA on Wednesday, June 18 during a ceremony at the DuPage County Administration Building Auditorium in Wheaton.Sergeant Marquez was nominated by Robert J. Anderson, a circuit judge in the 18th Judicial Circuit Court. ISBA Second Vice President Vincent Cornelius presented the award.The ISBA’s Law Enforcement Award was created to recognize sworn law enforcement officers for conduct that promotes justice and to distinguish those individuals whose service to the public brings honor and respect to the entire criminal justice system. It is given to recognize those who truly excel in the field of law enforcement. In addition to Sergeant Marquez, four other law enforcement officers from judicial districts throughout Illinois are being honored.Sergeant Marquez was recognized for his exceptional work to educate his fellow law enforcement officers on the long-term impact that the crime of domestic violence has on families in DuPage County.
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June 25, 2014 |
Practice News
Asked and AnsweredBy John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMCQ. Another attorney and I are planning on starting a law practice together. He has a larger book of business and 10 years more experience. Initially he will have a 60 percent ownership interest and I will have 40 percent. Compensation will be determined based upon these ownership percentages. How do you suggest we structure our decision-making and governance?