Don’t miss this opportunity to update your knowledge on a number of key criminal law areas, including pre-trial motions, pleas of guilty, jury selection, and more. Criminal defense attorneys, general practitioners, assistant state’s attorneys, and assistant public defenders with all levels of practice experience who attend this seminar in Collinsville on May 1, 2015 will better understand: how successful attorneys use strong opening/closing arguments and direct/cross examinations to convince the judge and jury of their client’s innocence; the new amendments moving through the Illinois legislature; the pre-trial issues that can arise in your next criminal court case; how to properly present plea agreements and avoid claims of ineffective assistance of counsel; how Sixth Amendment law continues to be impacted as a result of Crawford v. Washington; how to develop good relationships with your clients; the importance of successful jury selection; how to properly preserve your trial and/or hearing for appeal; and much more!The seminar is presented by the ISBA Criminal Law Section and co-sponsored by the Southern Illinois University School of Law. It qualifies for 6.0 hours MCLE credit, including 2.25 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).Click here for more information and to register.

The ISBA Young Lawyers Division co-hosted a "Lawyer Life Lessons" panel event at The John Marshall Law School on Thursday, April 16. The event featured a distinguished array of speakers such as: the Honorable Judge James Flannery Jr., the Honorable Judge Kathleen Kennedy, Professor Hugh Mundy, Attorney James Durrant, and Attorney Leonard Cannata. The speakers shared anecdotal tales of their trials and tribulations on their paths to success.

McLean County attorney Mike McElvain and McLean County Judge Elizabeth Robb (Ret.) will be honored by the Fellows of the Illinois Bar Foundation at a reception Thursday, April 30 from 5 to 6:30 pm at McLean County Museum of History (Old Courthouse), 200 N. Main St., in Bloomington.The Illinois Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association, is honoring attorney McElvain and Judge Robb for their professionalism and commitment to assist the legal profession in serving the public.The mission of the Illinois Bar Foundation is to ensure meaningful access to the justice system, especially for those with limited means, and to assist lawyers who have fallen upon hard times.Individual tickets are $35 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (312) 726-6072 or visit http://goo.gl/hr0lY2. The Illinois Bar Foundation is located at 20 S. Clark St., Suite 910, Chicago, IL  60603. Information also is available at www.illinoisbarfoundation.org.

Tickets and sponsorships now available for the ISBA Young Lawyers Division's Annual Bean Bag Tournament!Championship team wins $300 and 2nd place gets $150! Please join us at the YLD's Annual Bean Bag Tournament on Saturday, April 25 to show off your bean bag tossing skills while supporting the ISBA/YLD Children's Assistance Fund. This fund provides grants to organizations throughout Illinois related to children and law. Over the past sixteen years, the Children's Assistance Fund has distributed nearly $300,000 in grants, due, in large part, to the support and participation in events like the Bean Bag Tournament. We hope you help us continue this tradition of giving by joining us this year at our new location – Bar Louie in Printer's Row!