Deadline to Apply for the Rural Practice Summer Fellows and Rural Practice Associate Fellows Programs Is February 12

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

The ISBA’s newly created Rural Practice Fellowship Program aims to address the ongoing shortage of attorneys practicing in rural Illinois.

The deadline to apply for the Rural Practice Summer Fellows and Rural Practice Associate Fellows programs is February 12.

Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets – Part 1: Covenant Enforceability Issues and Drafting Tips

Presented by the ISBA Labor & Employment Law Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit

Original Program Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 21st, 2025 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


In an effort to safeguard a company’s intellectual property, employees are oftentimes required to sign non-competition and non-solicitation provisions in their employment agreements or in separate agreements limited to certain types of restrictive covenants. Don’t miss Part 1 of this three-part series that examines the legal standards and drafting tips about which you need to advise your clients. A look at how to avoid common drafting pitfalls for restrictive covenants is also included.


Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Alan M. Kaplan, Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd., Schaumburg

Program Speaker:
Daniel R. Saeedi
, Taft Stettinius and Hollister LLP, Chicago

CLE: 2021 Traffic Law and Legislative Update

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

Join us from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26 to get the legislative updates you need to advise your clients on key areas of traffic law. Criminal defense counsel, prosecutors, traffic law attorneys, general practitioners, and young lawyers with all levels of practice experience who attend this online seminar will better understand: how traffic law and criminal law are being impacted by the recreational use of marijuana; the changes due to bail reform, as well as criminal and traffic assessments and costs; the latest DUI and summary suspension case law changes; and how the recent changes might affect your clients and your practice.

File Your Nominating Petitions for ISBA Election by Monday, February 1

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

The deadline to submit nominating petitions for the ISBA election is Monday, February 1.

Members of the ISBA will elect a third vice president (outside Cook County) and one seat each for the following Board of Governors seats: Area 1 (Circuit 18), Area 6 (Circuits 7, 8, and 9), and Area 8 (Circuits 3 and 20). There is also one Board of Governors seat in Cook County. There are 26 open seats for Cook County Assembly.

ISBA Accepting Nominations for Committees and Section Councils

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

The ISBA is accepting nominations for committees and section councils for the 2021-2022 bar year.

The deadline for nominations is January 31.

More than 1,000 ISBA members serve on committees and section councils, which are responsible for producing newsletters and CLE programs, proposing legislation and rules, and helping the Association serve its members.

Illinois Supreme Court Goes Remote for January Oral Arguments, Bar Admission Ceremony

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

The Illinois Supreme Court will hold oral arguments via the Zoom videoconference platform when it hears cases for its first term of 2021. The Court continues to practice social distancing while still conducting court proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cloud Cover

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

When law firms all over the U.S. began teleworking due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many did not have methods in place to share confidential information electronically. Many law firms continue to worry about storing client information in the cloud. We know that lawyers may ethically use the cloud and that technology will continue to advance. Therefore, says Victor M. Zamora in his January Illinois Bar Journal article, “Cloud Cover,” it is time for lawyers to get familiar with and learn how cloud computing works and understand the benefits and risks before choosing a cloud computing service to store data. Zamora relies on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Professional Conduct Advisory Opinion No. 16-06, which states that lawyers may use cloud-based services provided that “the lawyer takes reasonable measures to ensure that the client information remains confidential and is protected from breaches,” and other best practices for guidance on starting out in the cloud.

The Illinois State Bar Association Condemns the Rioting and Violence at the U.S. Capitol

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) vehemently condemns the assault on the Rule of Law that the nation watched unfold at the U.S. Capitol yesterday afternoon. The peaceful transfer of power to incoming presidential administrations and the processes that facilitate that transfer are a fundamental foundation of our democracy and have been faithfully observed and respected since the inception of the nation. The storming of the U.S. Capitol by rioters seeking to use violence to disrupt the certification of the presidential election was not only a repugnant act, but criminal activity that should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The ISBA calls on all elected officials across our great country to swiftly and forcefully join in the condemnation of these actions that threaten American values.

CLE: The Nuts and Bolts of Adoption—What is Adoption?

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Rhys Saunders

Join us from the comfort of your home or office from noon until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20 for an in-depth look at the Illinois adoption process. Child law attorneys, family law counsel, general practitioners, and new lawyers with basic practice experience who attend this online seminar will better understand: the statutes governing adoption law in Illinois; the different types of Illinois adoption options; the adoption law nuances to be aware of; and much more.

January 7, 2021

Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Associate Judge Candidates Rated in Judiciary Advisory Poll

Candidates for an associate judge vacancy in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit have been rated in an advisory poll of lawyers conducted by the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA). Results of this poll are now available.