The Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyer Finder Service provides referrals to local lawyers Mondays through Fridays.  The service makes referrals in a number of areas of law for the month of June 2012. ISBA helped people in need of legal services find lawyers in the following areas:Administrative Law - 4Animal Law - 1Bankruptcy - 11Business Law - 17Civil Disputes - 53Civil Rights - 19Collection - 14Consumer Protection - 13Contracts – 14Criminal Law - 79Education Law - 15Elder law - 7Employment Law - 78Estate/Probate Law - 36Family - 129   Government Benefits -19Health Law - 11Immigration - 1Insurance Disputes - 8Intellectual Property - 2Miscellaneous - 2Municipal Law - 7Personal Injury - 84Real Estate - 57Social Security - 13Tax - 3Workers Compensation - 15These numbers do not include additional referrals made through the online Lawyer Finder service.Want to be part of the ISBA Lawyer Finder Service?  Call (800) 252-8908 and ask for the Legal Department, or visit www.illinoislawyerfinder.comClients should call (800) 922-8757.

Illinois State Bar Association President John E. Thies (front row, center) gave a speech to representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Justice, including Zhao Jianji (front row, second from left), the Director of the Ministry's Department of Legislative Affairs. The delages were on a two week trip to the U.S., coordinated by the University of Illinois. President Thies discussed the various bar associations in the United States (including their respective activities, and how such associations benefit various members of the legal profession and public); lawyer regulation; legal ethics; legal education; and legal aid (among other topics).

The Illinois Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association, has announced a change to its bylaws that will shorten the term length of its officers from two years to one year, as of June 2014. The change was approved at the IBF’s board meeting on June 14.During the transition, Cook County Judge Debra B. Walker, of Chicago, will become president at the IBF’s board meeting in October and will hold the office for 18 months through June 2014. Other officers, who will hold their terms during the same time, are James M. Lestikow, of Hinshaw & Culbertson, Springfield, first vice president; Shawn S. Kasserman, of Corboy & Demetrio, Chicago, second vice president; and Elizabeth Kaveny, of Burke, Wise, Morrissey & Kaveny, Chicago, third vice president. The remaining positions of secretary and treasurer will be appointed prior to the October meeting."By adopting the terms and officer structure of our partner, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Foundation Board now gives more of its members the opportunity to bring their zeal, passion and enthusiasm for the foundation to its leadership,” said IBF Board President George F. Mahoney, III, of Joliet.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 can no longer support themselves due to incapacity. This year, the Foundation will distribute more than $425,000 in grants to legal aid organizations across the state of Illinois, and in Lawyers Care Fund support to attorneys and their families in need.

The ISBA/JTF Law and Leadership Institute's Carbondale program visited St. Louis and the law firm of Husch Blackwell and a corporate office of AT&T on Wednesday, June 27. The Carbondale program is being hosted at the Southern Illinois University School of Law.