Don’t miss ISBA’s 4th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar as we take an in-depth look at how to overcome prejudice and racial discrimination in the legal profession. The program takes place at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, which was where Lincoln’s father and stepmother eventually moved after their one year near Decatur, Illinois, and where they remained until their death. Just eight miles east lies Charleston, Illinois, which is where Lincoln made several statements about slavery and racial equality during one of his debates with Senator Stephen Douglas. The city also served as the backdrop for at least 24 cases Lincoln had as an attorney, one of which he famously represented a slave owner attempting to have his slaves returned to him.

The Illinois Bar Journal’s August cover story examines gender biases and stereotypes in the law and features interviews with presenters of a July 2022 ISBA CLE program titled, “Techniques to Improve Gender Communication.” Moving beyond whether gender biases exist or not, the article provides pointers and examples for checking your blind spots when working with clients, colleagues, and contexts when biases are still in play. 

Read the August Illinois Bar Journal article, "The ‘Just-Right’ Conundrum." 

Chief Bankruptcy Judge Thomas L. Perkins of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of Illinois will retire on March 31, 2023. The Judicial Council of the Seventh Circuit seeks applications from all qualified applicants to succeed Judge Perkins as bankruptcy judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of Illinois with a duty station in Peoria, IL. Applicants must be willing to travel to other locations in the Seventh Circuit to handle cases as need arises. The term of office is 14 years, and the current salary is $205,528.00.

The current term of office of United States Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long in Urbana, llinois expires on May 3, 2023. The United States District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of the magistrate judge to a new eight-year term.

Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) is a performance incentive funding program at the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority that empowers local jurisdictions to divert people from prison into programs that target high-risk, high-need individuals. ARI’s goal is simple: to support local stakeholders in their goal of reducing crime by using best practices.

A pro bono opportunity sponsored by the International and Immigration Law Section Council:

Many of us looked on with horror as Russia invaded Ukraine in February. As international law and immigration lawyers, we received many calls from other lawyers, friends, and family members of Ukrainians asking what could be done to help the Ukrainians driven from their homes. In April, the U.S. government announced the Uniting For Ukraine (U4U) program, which allows U.S. sponsors to submit affidavits of support for Ukrainians, who can then apply for Humanitarian Parole to enter the United States temporarily. 

Mediation is designed to resolve differences both in and out of the courts. It requires a very different mindset than courtroom litigation. This Master Series program trains practitioners to resolve conflicts in a non-adversarial, non-confrontational manner, allowing peaceful resolutions between parties.

In May 2020, the Illinois Supreme Court endorsed videoconferencing technology in civil trials. In his July Illinois Bar Journal article, “The Wi-Fi Witness,” Michael Adler recalls how he implemented this new technology in a 2021 medical malpractice case. Adler found that it is more cost effective, makes witness scheduling and trial preparation easier, and is more effective than prerecorded evidence depositions. Whether COVID-19 is still around or long gone, Adler writes, live remote witnesses via videoconferencing is a great tool for any Illinois trial attorney.

Get the information you need on Illinois estate tax law so you can better assist your next trusts and estates client with this online program.