ISBA Board of Governors passes resolution supporting government lawyer participation

At its October, 2001, meeting, the Illinois State Bar Association's Board of Governors adopted a resolution to encourage all levels of government entities to permit government lawyers' active involvement in professional associations. The resolution further encourages those government entities to allow the utilizations of their library resources, utilizations of reasonable amounts official time for participation in bar activities and to provide funding for payment of attorney licensing fees. The overall goal is to facilitate government lawyers' active involvement in professional organizations in order to further advance the standards and qualities of the profession. The resolution provided:

Be it further resolved that the (ISBA) encourages governmental entities to adopt standards that would authorize government lawyers to:

1. Make reasonable use of government law office and library resources and facilities for professional development, continuing education, and justice system improvement activities, including pro bono representation sponsored or conducted by bar associations and similar legal organizations.

2. Utilize reasonable amounts official time for participation in such activities.

3. Encourage governmental entities to provide funding for the payment of lawyer licensing fees.