The Illinois State Bar Association's 8th Annual Solo & Small Firm Conference returns to Chicagoland Sept. 13-15 at the Westin Northwest Chicago in Itasca. Online registration closes today (Sept. 7) - ISBA members register today to save $75 off the onsite fee. Earn up to 15 hours of MCLE credit, including all 6 hours of PMCLE credit.Top 10 Reasons To Attend This Year’s ConferenceNetworking with like-minded peers from across the state!Crowd favorite program Gizmos & Gadgets returnsBasic and advanced Fastcase legal research trainingNew location in Itasca, just northwest of ChicagoIndividual counseling on how to market your firmMobile Device App to put Conference info you need at your fingertipsComedians-at-Law at Friday night social eventPlenary speaker Todd Winegar's Trials of the Century Overview programNew 4th track of programming – Practice Fundamentals15 HRS MCLE/ 6 HRS PMCLE credit availableLearn more and register today at www.isba.org/soloconference
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September 7, 2012 |
ISBA News | Events
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September 7, 2012
The Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Judges Association and Women’s Bar Association of Illinois are teaming up for three times the fun at Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) 19th annual Race Judicata Sprint for Justice 5K Run/Walk. This fundraising event takes place on Sept. 13 at in Chicago’s Grant Park. Due to the damage caused to Upper Hutchinson Field by Lallapalooza the Chicago Park District has moved the event to Arvey Field. Arvey Field is located south of Lower Hutchinson Field. Click here for a map that shows the new location.T-shirts will be provided for team members. All proceeds from Race Judicata go to the general operating costs of CVLS, which works to provide legal services to the poor and working poor of Chicago. The three associations will host a tent that will serve as the main gathering point for ISBA, IJA and WBAI members. Food and water will be available at the tent. The entry fee is $33 through Sept. 7. Register under the team name IJA.WBAI.ISBA at www.cvls.org/judicata
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September 7, 2012 |
Events | CLE
The Just The Beginning Foundation, ISBA's Law and Leadership partner, is offering free CLE credits at its 20th Anniversary Conference "Reaching Back, Lifting Up." Each panel (list below) awards between .50 and .75 Illinois Professional Responsibility credits. The conference will be held Sept. 21-22 at the Chicago Marriott, 540 N. Michigan Ave. Click here to register.
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September 7, 2012 |
ISBA News
Illinois Judges Association (IJA) President Rita M. Novak has announced that 90 judges have been appointed to committees of the Illinois State Bar Association by its new President John E. Thies.Judge Novak, an Associate Judge from Cook County, pointed to Illinois judges continuing commitment to the betterment of the legal profession. She said: “It is difficult for both lawyers and for judges to find the extra time, in addition to their already demanding jobs, to be part of the larger profession. But that is our responsibility. I am proud of the commitment of Illinois’ judges to our state bar association.”Among those serving on ISBA committees are Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier, of Nashville, who is a member of the Bench and Bar Section Council.Many judges have committed to leadership positions in the ISBA. Hon. Stephen Pacey, of Paxton, is Treasurer of the 33,000-member organization. Judge Pacey, along with the Hon. Russell Hartigan of Cook County, also serves on the ISBA Board of Governors. Both men also perform other committee work for the ISBA. The 27-member Board of Governors oversees the operations and management of the ISBA, subject to policies set by the ISBA Assembly.Numerous judges also serve on the ISBA Assembly, which is the supreme policy making body of the Association, with 201 lawyer or judge members elected on a pro rata basis from the judicial circuits.
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September 6, 2012
In the latest issue of ISBA's The Corporate Lawyer, Aurora lawyer Christine M. Kieta expresses a sentiment that would surely warm the heart of Jim Covington, ISBA's clear-writing authority: "[M]y favorite part of being an attorney is writing agreements that clients can understand."Kieta describes three strategies for making agreements more clear to lay readers. Among other things, she understands the importance of good document design, telling lawyers to "break up documents so that the reader can digest them in small portions. Expertly crafted point headings serve as lamps along a hallway giving light to each section in the contract." Read and heed her good advice.
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September 5, 2012 |
Practice News
Asked and AnsweredBy John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMCQ. I am a sole practitioner in Bloomington, Illinois. My practice is a general practice and most of my clients are either individuals or small businesses. I have one legal assistant and one paralegal that work for me. I am 62 and am starting to think about what to do with my practice and what I need to be thinking about concerning selling my practice. I would be interested in your suggestions.A. I would start by asking yourself when you actually want to retire or quit. Do you really want to stop practicing law or do you want to work forever? Over two-thirds of the solo and small firm lawyers that I speak with advise me that they want to practice forever - maybe not full throttle - but on a continued but scaled back schedule. Review Rule 1.17 - Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct to insure that you understand the method and the restrictions involved in sale of a law practice. If you want to continuing practicing determine whether selling your law practice is your best option given Rule 1.17. Some of our clients are exploring other options including bringing in other attorneys and forming partnerships or merging with other firms.If you determine that selling the practice is the route you want to go here are a few ideas to begin readying it for sale:
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September 5, 2012 |
Practice News
Many lawyers, particularly young parents, have fantasized about being able to sit at a computer at home and answer clients' legal questions over the internet. It is therefore, no surprise to learn that those internet-based law practices already exist. Stephanie Kimbro, for example, maintains a web page which identifies her as a member of Burton Law Firm, LLC, "A virtual law firm offering online unbundling and traditional full service representation in North Carolina and Ohio." She has even named her blog, Virtual Lawyering. Similarly, Richard Granat, who publishes the e-Lawyering blog, operates MDFAMILYLAWYER.com, a Maryland virtual law firm, from his home in Florida. One big challenge for these and other lawyers who use the internet, with its global reach, as their primary method of practicing law, is satisfying the ethical requirements of local authorities. Both of these lawyers clearly identify themselves as the provider of legal services and the nature and limits of the legal services that they offer. At least one well known legal media consultant, Robert Ambrogi, considers them to be ethical users of the internet.
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September 4, 2012 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday that the Fifth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Mark E. Bovard as an associate judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit.Mr. Bovard received his undergraduate degree in 1994 from Eastern Illinois University inCharleston and his Juris Doctor in 1997 from Indiana University. Mr. Bovard is currently affiliated with Heller, Holmes & Assoc., P.C. in Mattoon.
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September 4, 2012 |
Practice News | ISBA News
ISBA President John E. Thies revisits the ISBA's efforts to keep multidisciplinary practice out of the legal profession.1 comment (Most recent September 7, 2012)
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August 31, 2012 |
CLE
Perplexed by the Juvenile Court setting? Get the information you need to oversee a juvenile delinquency case with this full-day seminar!The procedures surrounding the offenses committed by a juvenile living in Illinois differ from that of a traditional adult criminal case – making it imperative that attorneys working with children understand the inner functions of the juvenile court setting. Join us in East Peoria on September 28th for this full-day seminar for an in-depth look at the juvenile delinquency process. Family law attorneys, child law lawyers, and general practitioners who occasionally represent minors will benefit from the information presented by gaining a better understanding of: the issues that affect delinquency; what will likely happen to a minor charged with an offense; detention hearings and alternative sentencing options; the adjudication hearing process; the services available through DCFS and DJJ; juvenile probation; the policies and procedures for expungement; and much more!The program is presented by the ISBA Child Law Section and qualifies for 7.25 hours MCLE credit.Click here for more information and to register.