Welcome to the newsletter devoted to the unsung heroes who serve government clients. Our numbers are significant and our unmet needs are great. This information-packed issue is one of the methods in which the ISBA is attempting to assist a previously undeserved population of government attorneys.

Two of the primary goals for the Standing Committee on Government Lawyers this year will be to increase networking opportunities and to remove barriers which inhibit government lawyer participation in professional activities. Since we are continuously expected to do more with less, a simple phone call or a personal contact often helps us to get the results we need. The Standing Committee on Government Lawyers will be hosting a reception, enabling us to meet and greet one another in a congenial social setting. Details will follow in various ISBA publications and in separate mailings but you may wish to mark, Thursday, December 13, 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on your calendar now.

Additionally, the Standing Committee on Government Lawyers will be drafting and promoting a resolution supporting government lawyer participation in the Illinois State Bar Association. There are a number of impediments to participation, which have been identified by other associations. They include, but are not limited to: misconceptions regarding government attorneys as second-class lawyers; management opposition; a lack of understanding of the need for continuing education, professional growth and career advancement. The Standing Committee intends for the resolution to be in a simple format that easily can be shared with those who are less than supportive of our professional activities. Watch this newsletter and your mailboxes for further reports on our progress.

Finally, this newsletter is a venue for highlighting our successes and it provides us with a wonderful opportunity to share our wisdom. Whether it be a new case, proposed law, helpful Web site, time-saving technique, practice shortcut, or one of our peers who is deserving recognition, we welcome contributions to this newsletter. I solicit your suggestions on how our committee can serve your needs, in whatever form is most convenient for you: e-mail (rmartinez@ isac.org); e-fax 801-459-9164; phone 312/814-4454 or mail R. Martinez, Illinois Student Assistance Commission, 100 West Randolph, Suite 3-200, Chicago, IL 60601. In the meantime, keep putting up a good fight in the trenches and don't try to make sense out of nonsense.