Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am a partner in a twelve attorney general practice firm in Upstate New York. There are eight partners and four associates in the firm. Our firm was formed five years ago when we broke off from another firm in the area. That firm was led and managed by a dictatorial founder and other attorneys in the firm including partners had no say in management matters whatsoever. When we formed this firm we decided that all attorneys including associates would be included in the decision-making process. All management decisions must be passed by all attorneys in the firm. When we were smaller this worked okay but now that we are larger we are having problems. I would appreciate your thoughts on the matter.
ISBA members, sign up to receive The Bar News' biweekly e-newsletter by emailing emailpreferences@isba.org
-
October 26, 2016 |
Practice News
-
October 25, 2016 |
Practice News
The elevation of Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier to become Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court will be marked by an installation ceremony Monday, October 31, at the Illinois Supreme Court in Springfield. Justice Karmeier will become the 120th Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. “I appreciate the confidence shown by the other members of the court in electing me to this position,” Chief Justice Karmeier said. “Since joining the court in 2004, I have had the privilege of serving under five different chief justices, all of whom have done an outstanding job. I will do my very best to live up to the high standard they have set.”
-
October 25, 2016 |
Practice News
Chief Circuit Judge Kathryn E. Creswell is pleased to announce that following a tabulation of ballots by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in Springfield, the Circuit Judges of the Eighteenth Judicial Court, DuPage County, Illinois have appointed Brian W. Jacobs to the position of Associate Judge. Mr. Jacobs fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Associate Judge Karen M. Wilson to Circuit Judge.
-
October 24, 2016 |
Practice News
The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court is accepting applications for the position of Winnebago County Public Defender. This position shall become vacant upon the retirement of the current Public Defender on December 31, 2016. SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES: The duties of the Public Defender are established by statute, (55 ILCS 5/3-4006). The Winnebago County Public Defender’s Office is appointed by the Court to represent indigent clients in felony, misdemeanor, traffic, juvenile delinquency and juvenile abuse / neglect cases. The Office is also involved in representation of adults and juveniles in connection with the Winnebago County Problem-Solving Courts.
-
October 24, 2016 |
Member Services
These offers are provided to you by Illinois State Bar Association. There's so much to enjoy – look for great deals on hotels, shows, events, tours and attractions nationwide! Planning a long weekend getaway with the family or friends? Check out offers from Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando, Six Flags and more. Don't forget, TicketsatWork members have access to great local deals, discounted movie tickets, rental cars and much, much more! Want to sign up? It's free and easy: 1. Visit www.ticketsatwork.com 2. Use your company code: ISBA 3. Read and follow the easy steps on our site, and once registered you can access all tickets, events, hotels and more online for free.
-
The Illinois Bar Foundation hosted its 18th Annual Gala on Friday, October 14 at the Four Seasons in Chicago. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan was honored with the Distinguished Award of Excellence. Jay Edelson and Edelson P.C. was awarded the first ever President's Award. Read IBF President Elizabeth Kaveny’s Gala remarks.
-
October 21, 2016 |
Practice News
Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Gerald V. Cleary as a Cook County Circuit Judge in the 10th Subcircuit. Judge Cleary was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Donald J. Suriano, who is retiring on Nov. 2, 2016. The appointment takes effect Nov. 3, 2016 and will terminate on Dec. 3, 2018, when the position will be filled by the 2018 General Election.
-
October 20, 2016 |
Practice News
Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursdays's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the Civil case Carney v. Union Pacific R.R. Co. and the criminal cases People v. Jones and People v. Minnis. CIVIL Carney v. Union Pacific R.R. Co. By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. Reagan In affirming the circuit court’s grant of summary judgment to the defendant Union Pacific, and reversing the appellate court, which had decided this case with a Rule 23 Order, the supreme court significantly examined three sections of the Restatement (Second) of Torts which are frequently invoked in cases involving injuries during construction. Justice Theis wrote for the court. Justice Kilbride dissented.
-
October 20, 2016 |
Practice News
Illinois elder law attorney Kerry Peck discusses what you should know about temporary guardianship.
-
October 20, 2016
At its October 14 meeting, the ISBA Board of Governors adopted an ethics opinion that expressly authorizes storage of confidential client information in the cloud and approved the recommendations of the ISBA Task Force on the Future of Legal Services. Futures report, recommendations. The Board approved the report and recommendations of the legal services task force. They now go to the ISBA Assembly, which will take them up at its December meeting. Recommendations include creating a consumer-oriented lawyer directory, providing technology and practice-management education and resources to members, and establishing a standing committee on the future of legal services. Ethics opinions on the cloud, conflicts, of-counsel fee division. The Board approved three ethics advisory opinions, including one that specifically allows online “cloud” storage of client data. Opinion 16-06 says lawyers may use a cloud-based service to store confidential client information as long as they take reasonable care to assure its security. Opinion 16-05 says it’s not a conflict for a law firm to represent a city while a paralegal from the firm serves on the city council. Opinion 16-04 concludes that the fee-division restrictions imposed by Illinois ethics rule 1.5(e) on lawyers from different firms do not apply to “of counsel” relationships. In other action, the Board