The Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to low-income individuals and groups in civil cases, is seeking a staff attorney at the Central Regional Office in East St. Louis. The position includes representing clients in the areas of foreclosure and landlord/tenant law, and giving presentations to members of client population about their rights. To be considered for this position, you must be admitted to practice law in Illinois and demonstrate a commitment to the representation of low-income individuals. Prior legal services experience is preferred.

The preparation for "E-Day" - January 1, 2018, the first day civil circuit court cases across Illinois must be filed electronically - was arguably the most momentous development for the Illinois legal system in 2017, unless something bigger emerges in the final month. But there were plenty of other significant stories, from the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case arising out of Illinois that could have a major impact on labor law, to an Illinois Supreme Court case on the ability to tax charitable hospitals, to county lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies related to opioid abuse. For example, starting in 2018, Illinois attorneys and firms that do not carry malpractice insurance will be required to complete a four-hour, interactive, online assessments of their firms' ethics and business practices under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756(e), as amended in January 2017. Also, the interdisciplinary model of conflict resolution known as collaborative law will be formally codified here through the Illinois Collaborative Process Act, which takes effect January 1.  And the Illinois legislature took a step aimed at ensuring that the formula to determine child support payments is fair and equitable when it passed Public Act 99-764, an amendment to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Find out more about these and other 2017 developments in the December Illinois Bar Journal.

The 18th Judicial Circuit Court is accepting applications to fill a vacancy for the Office of Associate Judge. This vacancy is a result of the appointment of Hon. Jeffrey S. MacKay to Circuit Judge effective Dec. 1. Any attorney who is a U.S. citizen, licensed to practice law in Illinois, and a resident of the 18th Judicial Circuit may apply by electronically filing a signed application with the director of the administrative office of the Illinois Courts on the form prescribed and furnished by the director. The instructions for submitting an application electronically are available on the Illinois Supreme Court website. Applicants who cannot submit an electronic application must submit two (2) signed originals of the prescribed application with the director of the administrative office of the Illinois Courts at the following address: Marcia M. Meis, Director Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts 3101 Old Jacksonville Road Springfield, IL 62704 Applications will not be accepted if submitted by facsimile.  All applications must be received by Dec. 22, 2017.

The ISBA Springfield and Chicago offices will be closed for Thanksgiving beginning 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The offices will resume normal business hours on Monday, Nov. 27. On behalf of everyone at the ISBA, we wish you a happy, fun, and safe long weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!