Sonni Choi Williams has been elected Third Vice-President of the Illinois State Bar Association. Ava M. George Stewart won the Cook County seat on the Board of Governors and Amanda G. Highlander won the Area 8 seat on the Board of Governors.

Don’t miss this in-depth look at the types of scams and fraud targeting our service members and veterans with this online program from noon until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19. Attorneys with basic to intermediate practice experience who are interested in learning how to help clients who might be facing this dilemma will better understand: the warning signs of suspected scams; the do’s and don’ts to prevent fraud; and the resources that are available for advocates, service members, and veterans.

The names of the 14 Fellows selected to participate in the 2021 Rural Practice Fellowship Program, which is designed to meet the critical need of providing access to justice for those living in rural areas with a declining lawyer population, have been announced.

This May’s Illinois Bar Journal cover story examines the state’s sweeping criminal justice reforms signed into law earlier this year by Gov. Pritzker. The IBJ interviewed defense attorneys, prosecutors, and others who reflected on the legislation. “Some people view it as, ‘They threw every reform into this sausage maker, and this is what came out,’” Stephen Baker, a retired Cook County public defender and member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section Council, told the IBJ. “Some people take the position that, if you wanted a massive change, the time to do it is now. People are just fed up with the conduct of the police. And the train is leaving the station; if you don’t want to get on, get out of the way.” Others spoke optimistically about the reforms: “The breadth of the bill is one of its strong points,” says Jerrod Williams, a judicial clerk and member of the ISBA Steering Committee on Racial Inequality. “Solving the problems of crime and law enforcement requires a multi-front approach. I don’t believe law enforcement alone—that is, prosecuting offenders—is in and of itself a solution to crime. It’s a piece of the solution.”

The polls for the ISBA election closed on April 30 at 4:30 p.m. The results of the 2021 ISBA election will be available on or before May 7, 2021.

Only attorney members who paid their dues by March 1, 2021 were eligible to vote.

For additional information, view past posts on The Bar News covering this year's election.

Join ISBA President Dennis Orsey and his wife, Cathy, on a seven-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Marina.

This incredible trip will travel from Venice to Rome. For those who want to spend more time in Venice, an optional Venice pre-cruise program is available. 

The cruise is scheduled to take place April 14-21, 2022. A registration form is available online.

Due to the large number of applications from students and lawyers for the 2021 Rural Practice Fellowship Program, the Rural Practice Initiative Standing Committee was not able to award a fellowship to every applicant.

Many applicants for summer clerkship and permanent associate positions were also screened and deemed qualified to participate in the program but did not match with a rural law firm.

To celebrate Well-Being Week in Law, the ISBA is offering a complimentary live yoga program to the first 500 registrants, plus access to four additional on-demand de-stress at your desk classes.

Register for the Virtual Wellbeing Box: Destress At Your Desk. You'll receive a daily email starting Monday, May 3 to help you feel better at work.