Chicago isn't liable for bicyclist injured by pothole on road that wasn't designated bike route, court rules

A bicyclist who wasn’t on a designated bicycle route when he was injured by a pothole can’t recover from the city of Chicago, even though there was a Divvy bicycle rental station nearby, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled last month.

From: 
ABA Journal

The Limitless Uses of Limited Scope

Posted on January 2, 2024 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

 For attorneys looking to expand their client rosters and potential clients who need limited assistance—and have limited resources—limited scope representation (LSR) is a very welcome development. In its January issue, the Illinois Bar Journal (IBJ) provides an overview of a two-part CLE webinar sponsored by the ISBA and prepared for those who haven’t explored LSR and for those who’d like to hone their approaches.

Illinois Paid Leave Essentials: What You Need to Know

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA Labor & Employment Law Section
Co-sponsored by the ISBA Employee Benefits Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 11, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


On January 1, 2024, Illinois’ new Paid Leave for All Workers Act will take effect, ensuring that all full- and part-time employees are provided up to 40 hours of paid leave for every 12-month period of employment. Get the information you need to advise your clients on this important change to labor and employment law with this online seminar. Attorneys with basic practice experience who attend this program will better understand:
  • Who is covered under the Act;
  • How leave is calculated;
  • How the Act changes the landscape for employers and employees; and
  • Much more.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Craig Colbrook , Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Springfield

Program Speakers:
John C. Ireland , Law Offices of John C. Ireland, South Elgin
Cynthia Pietrucha , Pietrucha Law Firm, LLC, Naperville

Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $70
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

Gold Standard Communication with Clients and Colleagues

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
ISBA’s Practice Toolbox Series
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association


1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: January 10, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


To borrow a phrase from the old AT&T commercials, today there are more ways than ever to reach out and touch someone. Never mind phones, cell phones, and voicemail. Today, how might a client or colleague reach you? Email, your website, your client portal, a chat message (…via texting, Slack, or Teams, etc.), a web meeting (…was it on Google Meet, Teams, WebEx, or Zoom), or even via social media (…did it come from LinkedIn, Facebook, WhatsApp, or Twitter, etc.). How you use and manage these “channels” makes them either fortuitous or frustrating, a benefit or a boondoggle. Each channel has benefits and drawbacks. In this seminar, you’ll learn technologies and techniques that will improve communication, lower your stress, generate happier clients, and lower your malpractice risk. We’ll detail: 1) which platforms work best for different needs, 2) organizational strategies to handle the flow of information, and 3) effective tools for communicating with clients and colleagues remotely.


Program Speaker:
Danielle DavisRoe, Affinity Consulting Group
About the Speaker: Danielle’s many responsibilities at Affinity include training, CLE/speaking, writing, and management consulting. Prior to joining the Affinity family, Danielle practiced family law. She discovered, however, that she enjoyed making efficient use of technology more than practicing law, making her a perfect fit for consulting. Danielle describes her superpower as “herding cats,” and her favorite parts of her job are making others’ jobs and lives easier..
Pricing Information
  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

H-2A & H-2B Temporary Work Visa Conundrums

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA International & Immigration Law Section
Co-sponsored by the ISBA Diversity Leadership Council, ISBA Agricultural Law Section, ISBA Labor and Employment Law Section, ISBA Construction Law Section, and ISBA Food Law Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Thursday, December 14, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 11, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Get the information you need regarding temporary work visas, as well as the issues your client’s need to consider, with this online seminar. Immigration lawyers, agricultural law attorneys, labor and employment practitioners, and construction law lawyers with basic to intermediate practice experience who attend this program will better understand:
  • How to obtain an Agricultural Clearance Order;
  • The housing, recruitment, and seasonal considerations of temporary labor certifications;
  • The process for submitting an I-129;
  • Prevailing wage determination and how timing can impact it;
  • How to file a PERM application with the Department of Labor;
  • Form I-140;
  • Why H-2B visas are needed for construction workers from overseas (as well as other temporary workers used in a construction setting); and
  • Much more.

Program Coordinator:
Angela Peters, Buffalo Grove Law Offices, Arlington Heights

Program Moderator:
Carlos Cisneros Vilchis, Assistant General Counsel, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C.

Program Speakers:
Ally Bolour, Bolour/Carl Immigration Group, APC, California
Alexander Carl, Bolour/Carl Immigration Group, APC, California


Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $70
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

Navigating Ethics in Trusts & Estate Practices: Part 1 - Foundation

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA Trusts & Estates Section


1.25 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0* hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: January 10, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Join us for a comprehensive look at the foundational ethical principles guiding trusts and estates practices, as well as the importance of attorney competence, staying up-to-date on relevant laws, and providing accurate advice to clients. Attorneys with all levels of practice experience who attend this online seminar will learn:
  • Why maintaining strict confidentiality is so important;
  • How to handle conflicts of interest;
  • The importance of upholding fiduciary duties;
  • The critical role of clear communication (including transparent fee arrangements and the attorney’s handling capacity);
  • The significance of avoiding estate planning mistakes and malpractice; and
  • How (and why) to foster cultural competence and sensitivity in our practice.

Program Coordinator:
Daniel P. Felix, The Professional Trustee, Deerfield

Program Moderator:
Jessica J. Birnbaum, ArentFox Schiff LLP, Chicago

Program Speaker:
Jason D. Foster, ArentFox Schiff LLP, Chicago


Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $43.75 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $87.50
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

Using Digital Signatures

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
ISBA’s Practice Toolbox Series
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association


1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 10, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Law and medicine were always the pair: well-respected professions, pathways to middle class (or better!) comfort, and laggards with technology. Whether you went to a doctor’s office or a lawyer’s office, paper ruled the day. But that’s changing. One of the last bastions of “paper is king” is the executed document – “wet” signatures serving as proof that a certain person signed a document. This is true…to a point. Depending on your state, some “wet” originals govern. But, for many transactions, digital signatures have the same full legal effect as “wet” signatures, and they’re more secure to boot. A digital signature platform produces proof of who signed a document and when and where, as well as a “chain of custody” for the document. This seminar explores all things “digital signature” and starts you down the right path for a digital John Hancock.


Program Speaker:
Jeffrey Schoenberger, Affinity Consulting Group
About the Speaker: Jeff’s unique role at Affinity involves managing our Practice Management Advisory program. Prior to joining the Affinity family, Jeff practiced law with Legal Aid in Cincinnati, Ohio. He learned about Affinity and consulting as a career path through some of partners Paul Unger’s and Barron Henley’s CLE courses. Jeff’s describes his superpower as his ability to “get the podcast done.” His favorite part of his job is discovering new tech and techniques to help attorneys.
Pricing Information
  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

Practical Administration of Pet Trusts

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA Trusts & Estates Section
Co-Sponsored by the ISBA Animal Law Section
Sponsored by Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy


1.50 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 11, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


The majority of households have animals living within the home as members of the family. Upon the death or disability of the owner, the nonhuman family member needs prompt, effective, and efficient caretaking. Join us for this in-depth look at the practical administration of pet trusts, including the necessary estate planning documents, how to administer an animal trust, and the importance of establishing transitional and long-term care for the animal.


Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Daniel P. Felix, The Professional Trustee, Deerfield

Program Speakers:
Jessica Abernathy, Board Director, National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, Chicago
Timothy S. Midura, Huck Bouma, Wheaton
Martha Smith-Blackmore, President, Forensic Veterinary Investigations, LLC, Boston
Kathryn S. Van Eeuwen, Regional Trust Lead, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Chicago



Pricing Information
  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $52.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $105
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

How to Create a Written Cybersecurity Plan for Your Organization

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
ISBA’s Practice Toolbox Series
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association


1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 10, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Start taking steps today to secure your law firm and your client’s confidential data! Written Information Security Programs (WISPs) are becoming essential in many states that have enacted data protection and business shield legislation. Many cybersecurity insurance carriers covering lawyers are starting to require WISPs. Setting aside legislative and insurance requirements, under the Rules of Professional Conduct, lawyers still must implement safe technologies and processes to safeguard client confidential data. Join us for this very practical session to learn the essential elements of a Written Information Security Program. In this session, we will cover ransomware attacks, phishing schemes, cloud computing, mobile device management, full disk encryption, secure document management, shadow-IT, two- factor authentication, password management, VPNs, anti-virus, backup, user education, and more.


Program Speaker:
Jeffrey Schoenberger, Affinity Consulting Group
About the Speaker: Jeff’s unique role at Affinity involves managing our Practice Management Advisory program. Prior to joining the Affinity family, Jeff practiced law with Legal Aid in Cincinnati, Ohio. He learned about Affinity and consulting as a career path through some of partners Paul Unger’s and Barron Henley’s CLE courses. Jeff’s describes his superpower as his ability to “get the podcast done.” His favorite part of his job is discovering new tech and techniques to help attorneys.
Pricing Information
  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free