Supreme Court Rules Committee to Hold Public Hearing on March 29

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

The Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee will hear comments on three proposals on March 29, 2023, at a public hearing beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Room C-500 at the Michael A. Bilandic Building at 160 N. LaSalle Street in Chicago. All proposals must be approved by the Illinois Supreme Court before they can take effect.  

Illinois 2023: New Year, New Laws

Presented by the ISBA Bench & Bar Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit

Original Program Date: January 19, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­February 1, 2024 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Back by popular demand! Join us as Judge Jennifer Johnson presents a review of the new laws that will take effect throughout the new year. This engaging seminar examines the new statutory laws for 2023, while discussing how the law has changed. A look at how the law may be impacted in the future is also included.

Program Coordinator:
Hon. Michael J. Chmiel, Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Woodstock

Program Moderator:
Michael G. Bergmann, Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), Chicago

Program Speaker:
Hon. Jennifer L. Johnson, Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Woodstook



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 $30 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $50
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

International Adoption Tips and Pitfalls

Presented by the ISBA International & Immigration Law Section
Co-sponsored by the ISBA Family Law Section and ISBA Child Law Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: January 26, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­February 1, 2025 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)
Gain a better understanding of the current state of international adoptions and confirmations of international adoptions with this informative seminar. Immigration lawyers, family law practitioners, child law attorneys, and general practitioners with intermediate practice experience who attend this online program will learn:
  • How to do a thorough intake so there are no surprises throughout the process;
  • The difference between adoptions from Hague and Non-Hague countries; and
  • Other options, including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS).

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Angela E. Peters, Buffalo Grove Law Offices, Arlington Heights

Program Speakers:
Genie Miller Gillespie, Gillespie Law Group, LLC, Chicago
Kathleen M. Vannucci, The Law Offices of Robert D. Ahlgren and Associates P.C., 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 $30 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $50
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

Illinois' Employment Law Update

Presented by the ISBA Corporate Law Department
Co-sponsored by the ISBA Labor & Employment Law Section


2.0 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: January 11, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 10, 2025 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Stay up to date on current employment law issues with this online seminar. Corporate law attorneys, labor and employment lawyers, general practitioners, and those advising employee benefits departments who attend this program will better understand:
  • Why annual sexual harassment training is recommended;
  • How (and why) the Personnel Record Review Act was amended;
  • What the Crown Act is and why it was created;
  • The Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA);
  • The Illinois Freedom to Work Act;
  • How the Family Bereavement Act amends and expands the original Child Bereavement Act;
  • The minimum wage increases coming in 2023; and
  • Much more.
Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Kevin J. Stein, First Co. Bancorp, Inc., Collinsville

Program Speakers:
Jeremy Brenner, Armstrong Teasdale LLP, St. Louis
Ida Shafaie, Armstrong Teasdale LLP, St. Louis


Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $60 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $100
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

PDF Power Hour - Spring 2023

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: January 10, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: March 1, 2025 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


This power hour covers everything the legal professional needs to know to about PDFs. We start with the basics – how to create a PDF – and go up from there. Stay out of the news by learning how to properly redact your PDFs! With this feature-filled power hour, we have you covered.


Program Speaker:
Jeffrey R. 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.
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $30 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

Rethinking How We Deliver Justice

Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association


2.25 hours MCLE credit, including 2.25 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, and Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: December 9, 2022
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­April 24, 2025 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Join us for this comprehensive look at how justice is delivered and what we can do to improve the process. Learn why choosing alternative dispute resolution options over traditional adversarial formats can be the better choice – and how it can benefit all parties involved. Attorneys who attend this seminar will better understand:
  • How we can deliver justice in a more meaningful way;
  • The types of cases that are best-suited for the ADR format;
  • What to consider when choosing between in-person and remote meetings;
  • The coming changes to Illinois’ bail reform; and
  • Much more.

Is There a Better Way to Deliver Justice?
Join us for a discussion of legal resolution beyond the traditional adversarial trial. Open your mind about our system of justice and how we can best use and improve legal tools to create results your clients need. Bring your questions.
Welcome Remarks: Hon. Lisa Holder White, Illinois Supreme Court, Springfield
Moderator: Hon. Jennifer L. Johnson, 22nd Judicial Circuit, Woodstock
Andrew Mamo, Assistant Professor of Law, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb

Optimizing ADR in Civil Dispute Resolution
Learn how to make the most of alternative dispute resolution in your next civil case with this informative segment. Topics include: pre-trial settlements with the judge, court annexed arbitration and mediation, the types of cases that are best-suited for the ADR format, how to prepare your client for mediation, and what to consider when choosing in-person or remote formats. Hypothetical situations will be used throughout the discussion.
Moderator: Hon. James E. Snyder, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
Hon. Clare E. McWilliams, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
Hon. Allen Price Walker, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago

Justice 2023: Emerging Trends in Delivery of Justice
Get an overview of changes coming in 2023, including: bail reform, the Illinois Supreme Court Strategic Initiatives, the Judicial Code of Ethics, and the expanded use of problem-solving courts.
Moderator and Speaker: Hon. Ann Celine Walsh, 18th Judicial Circuit, Wheaton
Hon. David R. Navarro, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
Hon. David K. Overstreet, Illinois Supreme Court, Mt. Vernon
Steve F. Pflaum, Chair, Illinois Judicial Ethics Commission, Chicago

Closing Remarks: Hon. David K. Overstreet, Illinois Supreme Court, Mt. Vernon

Program Coordinators: The Illinois Judges Association Educational Programming Committee. Judges James Snyder and Jennifer Johnson (Committee Co-chairs), Justice Bertina Lampkin (First District Chairperson), Judge Janelle Christensen (Second District Chairperson), Judge Ann Celine Walsh (Third District Chairperson), Judge April Troemper (Fourth District Chairperson), Judge Christy Solverson (Fifth District Chairperson), Elizabeth Rochford (Officer Liaison).

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 $67.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $112.50
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free

The impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to Family Law Practice

Presented by the ISBA Family Law Section
0.75 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: November 17, 2022
Accreditation Expiration Date: February 1, 2025 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Program Coordinator:
Pamela J. Kuzniar, Haid and Teich, LLP, Chicago

Program Moderators:
Hon. Arnold F. Blockman, University of Illinois School of Law, Champaign
Pamela J. Kuzniar, Haid and Teich, LLP, Chicago


With the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, attorneys must now deal with the changes this brings to the family law practice. Don’t miss this discussion on how this may affect your next client, as well as how the revised IRC will impact the practice of family law.
Courtney Viamille, Cohn Reznick, Chicago



*Originally presented as the ISBA’s Live Event “It’s Never Just Family Law.” Find more sessions in this series in the ISBA on-demand catalog.


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 $22.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $37.50
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $22.50
    • Law Students - Free

Family Law Toolkit: Judicial Panel on Evidence


Presented by the ISBA Family Law Section


1.0 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: October 28, 2022
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 27, 2024 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Program Coordinator:
Pamela J. Kuzniar, Haid and Teich LLP, Chicago

Program Moderators:
Hon. Arnold F. Blockman (ret.), University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign
Pamela J. Kuzniar, Haid and Teich LLP, Chicago


Don’t miss this interactive discussion on the most common evidentiary issues faced by family law attorneys, including how evidence should be presented to advance your cause and persuade the court.

Hon. Arnold F. Blockman (ret.), University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign
Hon. Pamela E. Loza, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
Hon. Timothy McJoynt, 18th Judicial Circuit Court, Wheaton
Hon. Maureen D. Schuette, 3rd Judicial Circuit Court, Edwardsville



Originally presented as part of Family Law Toolkit. Find more sessions in this series in the ISBA On-Demand catalog.

Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $30 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
    • Non-Member Price $50
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students - Free