Lenovo, the world’s #1 PC provider, produces the desktop ThinkStation and mobile ThinkPad P Series workstation product lines, and from September 18 – 30, ISBA members can save up to 25% off Lenovo’s Thinkstation P series.  Powered by latest Intel processors and NVIDIA Quadro technologies, Lenovo Workstations provide a certified solution for any situation. Lenovo’s ThinkStation and ThinkPad P-series workstations deliver ultimate speed and graphics that suite every profession – including architects, designers, financial traders, medical and research professionals, and engineers. Remember, these special offers are tailored specifically for you! Along with FREE shipping on all web orders, you can enjoy access to energy-efficient green technologies and award-winning service. Visit: http://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/statebar Call: 1-800-426-7235, ext. 3577 (M-F: 9am-9pm ET, Sat: 9am-6pm ET) Be sure to check the website often – special offers change frequently. Remember, these special monthly offers are tailored specifically for you and include: FREE shipping on all web orders, access to energy-efficient green technologies and award-winning service.

The ISBA Assembly has revised the policy on the selection of ISBA delegates to the ABA House of Delegates. As a result, two new at-large positions have been created, and the Assembly will elect members to fill these positions at the December 9, 2017 meeting. The nominees for these positions must be members of the ISBA who are in good standing and from the appropriate area. One will be from Cook County and one from the area outside Cook County. Both will serve for one-year terms commencing immediately, and the delegates will be part of the ISBA delegation at the February 2018 ABA Midyear Meeting and the August 2018 ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago. Nominations must be made in writing by at least 20 ISBA members in good standing from the appropriate area. Nominations must be filed with the office of the executive director not later than Friday, November 17, 2017.  Questions about the nominating petition may be directed to the ISBA executive director’s office by contacting Kim Weaver by e-mail or calling 800.252.8908.

In June, three New Jersey Supreme Court committees jointly barred the state's lawyers from using Avvo's client-linking service. State regulators found that the "marketing fee" taken by Avvo from the payment consumers make to lawyers for flat-fee services via its referral system is improper fee-splitting with nonlawyers and an unethical lawyer-referral payment (Avvo argues that it does not violate ethical rules (http://bit.ly/2i2xgsK)). New Jersey regulators also found that LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer operate legal service plans that were not registered with the State of New Jersey. (Both entities have since registered.) What does this opinion mean for Illinois attorneys? As a preliminary matter, not very much. New Jersey regulates its attorneys, just like Illinois regulates its own, says Tim Moran, the chair of the ISBA's Standing Committee on the Future of Legal Services and immediate past chair of the ISBA Unauthorized Practice of Law Task Force. The New Jersey rulings don't have any effect on Illinois attorneys. However, the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct also prohibit fee-sharing with nonlawyers. And ISBA General Counsel Charles Northrup notes that ethics opinions in South Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania have also found the Avvo marketing fee to constitute improper fee-sharing and referral fees. Find out more in the September Illinois Bar Journal.

ISBA hosted a two-day CLE program designed to help attorneys who represent children from September 7-8 at the Chicago Regional Office. Back by popular demand, the Guardian ad Litem, Child Representative, and Attorney for Minor Child Training covered the role, scope and limitations of representation; the conflicts that will limit the role of the appointment; child development issues, including mental health, milestones, attachment, and parental separation; and much more. The program wound down on Friday evening with a networking reception for attendees to network and mingle.