Believed to be 1st time court will hear full term outside SpringfieldThe Supreme Court will convene for its September 2013 Term in the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago. The first oral arguments are scheduled for Tuesday, September 10 in the 18th floor Courtroom.Traditionally, the Supreme Court convenes to hear oral arguments in Springfield. It is believed that this is the first time that a full Term of the Court will be held outside the 105-year-old building since it opened in 1908.Gov. Pat Quinn announced June 6 the release of $12.6 million to rehabilitate the historic Illinois Supreme Court Building in Springfield. During the construction period which began June 17, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Chicago. Rehabilitation is scheduled to be completed at this time next year. The Springfield office of the Supreme Court Clerk and other Springfield Supreme Court staff moved to an interim location at the Herndon Building, 421 East Capitol Avenue in Springfield. Telephone numbers remain the same.This will not be the first time that the Supreme Court has heard oral arguments outside Springfield. Five years ago, the Supreme Court heard two oral arguments at the Mt. Vernon courthouse as part of events marking the 150th anniversary of the court building and the 2009 bicentennial celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birth. That courthouse was used by the Supreme Court from 1857 until 1897, when the Court was consolidated in Springfield. The Court then met in the current state Capitol building until the Supreme Court Building at its present location opened nine years later.

The ISBA Young Lawyers Division will host a Day at the Races Networking and Social Event on Saturday, Sept. 7 from noon-6 p.m. at Arlington Park Racecourse. Tickets will be available for pick up at 11:15 AM on race day at the will call window, Grandstand Entrance (east side off of Wilke Road entrance).

Due to popular demand – and recommended for attorneys who have previously taken a mediation course or have some mediation experience – this course was created to meet your advanced mediation needs!Join us in Chicago on September 25th – September 27th for the opportunity to learn how to design creative resolutions, how to handle difficult attorneys and clients, and know which mechanisms to utilize in order to reach a settlement. Gain a better understanding of the benefits of opening statements, the good qualities and successful techniques of a peacemaker, and when (or if) a lawyer should modify his fees. Discover the problems with mediation, how to handle parties with subrogation interests, and how to grow your mediation practice. Each day closes with hands-on training that requires attendees to participate in various classroom mediation exercises, including a full mediation as a mediator.The program is taught by Richard Calkins and Fred Lane—two nationally recognized mediators, authors and educators. Until 20 years ago, both Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane were well-known and highly regarded litigators. Since then, however, they have successfully mediated over 5,000 cases. Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane are co-authors of the “Mediation Practice Guide” and “Lane & Calkins Mediation Practice Guide.” [The “Lane & Calkins Mediation Practice Guide, 2nd Edition” is included with the purchase of this program.] They are co-founders of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution, which was established in 2001.

ISBA President Paula H. Holderman and 7th Circuit Bar Association President Julie Bauer hosted an event honoring the 30 Female Blackstones on Aug. 22 at Winston & Strawn LLP's headquarters in Chicago. The 30 Female Blackstones were a group of women lawyers who met at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago to fight for women's suffrage and advancement in previously male professions.