The Supreme Court of Illinois announced Thursday the appointment of Jefferson County State's Attorney Nicole L. Villani as a Circuit Judge in the Second Judicial Circuit.Ms. Villani was appointed to fill the resident Circuit Court seat which will become vacant upon the December 31, 2011 retirement of Circuit Judge Terry H. Gamber.The appointment is effective January 1, 2012 and will expire December 3, 2012, when the position will be filled by the winner of the 2012 General Election.Prior to serving as Jefferson County state's attorney, Ms. Villani, 41, practiced in family law, civil litigation and criminal defense with the Mt. Vernon law firm of Villani and Villani for six years. From 1998-2004, she worked as first assistant state's attorney in Jefferson County. For two years, Ms. Villani served as assistant state's attorney for Franklin County.Ms. Villani received a B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois in 1992. She received her juris doctor degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law in l995.She was admitted to practice law in Illinois in l995, and has also been admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois and is certified as lead counsel by the Illi-nois Supreme Court to handle death penalty cases.Ms. Villani is member of the Illinois State and Jefferson County Bar Associations. A member of several local civic organizations, Ms. Villani was appointed board member of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (C.A.S.A) of Jefferson County from 2006-2009.

The Illinois State Bar Association will be recognizing members who have been admitted to practice for 50 years at a luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 7. We are pleased to invite you to join President John G. Locallo as the Association recognizes the 2011 Class of Distinguished Counsellors.The luncheon to recognized the 2011 Class of Distinguished Counsellors will be held at The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago, 909 N. Michigan. There will be a reception at 11:15 a.m. and lunch at noon. Tickets are available at $65 per person and advanced registration is required. To purchase tickets, please complete and return the attached registration form.doc.If you have any questions, please contact Kim Weaver by e-mail at kweaver@isba.org or by telephone at (800) 252-8908.Here is the Bar Class of 1961 to be honored as Distinguished Counsellors:

You fear Mrs. Jones has diminished capacity. Can you allow her to make a decision you advise against? Must you? In the November IBJ, Kerry Peck explores this and other issues, like conflict of interest and confidentiality, that arise in serving elderly and other estate-planning clients.

Asked and AnsweredBy John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMCQ. I am a solo owner of a small law firm in Southern Illinois and have been solo for ten years. I have two staff members in the firm. Recently I have been contemplating either bringing in a partner or joining another firm? What are the advantages and disadvantages?A. Partnership can offer its lawyers a measure of value independent of the skills, talents, and contributions of its individual partners?ProsThe advantages that the best law firms have over sole practitioners or groups of lawyers who share overhead include:Shared skills and expertiseBackup or additional help when neededA safety net during economic downturnsShared resources, such as technology, library and research access, forms, and work productsCross-selling and/or referral of workAccess to the expertise of lawyers in various disciplinesHighly trained associates, legal assistants, and support staffA firm name or reputation that makes marketing easierMore-sophisticated and highly skilled managementOpportunities for individual lawyers to become highly specializedA system of partner coaching that brings out the best in each partnerEmotional support, encouragement, and personal recognitionFlexibility that allows lawyers to be more involved in probono, community, and bar activitiesContinuation of the firm beyond the tenure of the current ownersCons