Asked and Answered  By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. I am the owner of an elder law firm in Jackson, Mississippi. There are three associate attorneys who have been with me less than five years. All three were hired directly out of law school. While I try to mentor and train each of the associates as needed in “real time,” I also conduct annual performance reviews with each associate and provide them with a written performance evaluation. I am getting frustrated as it seems that the feedback that I provide does not stick and they continue to make the same errors. I welcome any thoughts that you may have.

The ISBA’s Family Law Update in the French Quarter is back. The conference is open to ISBA members and limited to the first 150 registrants. Join us in New Orleans April 4-5, 2019, for this highly popular biennial event featuring two days of premium family law presentations, a complimentary reception to network with friends and colleagues, 12.25 hours of MCLE credit, and many opportunity to enjoy the area’s food and fun. Family law attorneys, general practitioners, and lawyers working in the child law area who attend this conference will better understand: the rights of unmarried people living together in Illinois; how to secure your fees as a family law practitioner; the caselaw updates and changes you need to be aware of; how to analyze a forensic mental health report; how judgment and bias are used throughout the decision-making process; the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act; how family law issues are impacted when individuals file for bankruptcy; how the newly revised IRC affects the practice of family law; how maintenance is calculated and what impacts the bottom line; the necessary evidence in presenting a child support hearing; and the science behind relocation. The conference closes with an interactive segment that lets you show off how well you know the Illinois Rules of Evidence and the Code of Civil Procedure.

By Wendy Hinton Vaughn November is the time of year when we take time to reflect and give thanks for all the things for which we are grateful.  I am grateful for the innovative programs of the 17th Judicial Circuit’s Domestic Violence Coordinated Courts (DVCC) and wish to shine a light on the great work done by the Domestic Violence Pro Bono Order of Protection Project.

The Illinois State Bar Association honored the Class of 1968 Distinguished Counsellors on Nov. 15 at the Union League Club in Chicago. The title is conferred annually upon ISBA members who are completing their 50th year of practice.