The ISBA has approved an ethics opinion that says recent law school graduates who have not yet taken the bar exam can perform many of the services normally performed by licensed first-year associates as long as they are being properly supervised by a licensed lawyer.

The Illinois Supreme Court earlier this month announced that the Illinois bar exam, originally scheduled for July 28-29, has been rescheduled to September 9-10 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. ISBA Advisory Opinion No. 20-01, which was approved on May 5, interprets the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct to allow recent law school graduates to perform services typically performed by licensed first-year associates.

Join us online from 1 until 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 20 for part nine of the Environmental Law for the General Practitioner Series, which is geared toward those practitioners who do not ordinarily advise clients on matters involving environmental issues.

Lawyers representing developers, bankers, and owners of commercial real estate who attend this online seminar will better understand the general principles and permitting obligations for an operating business, as well as the interplay between state and federal agencies and the potential liability of those businesses for failing to comply with the law.

Julian (Jack) C. Carey, 77, of Belleville, IL, born October 6th, 1942, crossed over to the other side on Monday, April 27, 2020, after what can only be referred to as life well-traveled, or as Jack would put it, "it ain't the years, it's the miles."

Jack is survived by his three kids: "the brothers," Brian (Jean) Carey of Inverness, IL, and Christopher (Erica) Carey of Novato, CA; his "Lady Lauren" Lauren (Christopher) Urist of Westport, CT; and, of course, his dog, Jumbie, who's currently the subject of a heated custody dispute.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Susan Kay Carey, nee Hammel; his parents, Byrle and Helen Carey; his in-laws Clifford and Grace Hammel; and his dog, Razzee.

Chief Justice Anne M. Burke of the Illinois Supreme Court will preside over a ceremony to administer the attorney’s oath to 336 new attorneys on Thursday, May 7, at 10:30 a.m. via live video broadcast. This bar admission ceremony is for all certified candidates who have passed the February 2020 bar exam.

Ceremonies would typically be held in each of the five judicial districts in Illinois, but this ceremony is being conducted remotely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony will be recorded and will be posted on the Court’s website no later May 8. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration has an urgent need for attorneys and paralegals to review and close SBA disaster loans. Real Estate experience is a plus. Individuals waiting on bar results may apply. Attorneys must present a current bar card but may be licensed in any state. 

Shawn S. Kasserman has been elected Third Vice-President of the Illinois State Bar Association. Julie A. Johnson and Stephen M. Komie won the Cook County seats on the Board of Governors; and Jennifer A. Haase won the Board of Governors seat for Under Age 37 Cook County.

A decade after limited scope representation (LSR) first became an option in Illinois, Illinois attorneys have used it sparingly. An ISBA member survey undertaken in 2018 showed that less than half (42 percent) of attorneys have engaged in intentional LSR even once, and the vast majority (85 percent) received 10 percent or less of their income from limited scope work. In May’s Illinois Bar Journal feature article, we explore the reluctance to offer LSR and talk with practitioners who are benefiting from providing LSR services to clients. They say LSR is ideal for budget-conscious clients who might otherwise have gone pro se to hold down costs, opens new income streams for attorneys, and eases the burden on court systems flooded with self-represented litigants. The article also points to two LSR webcasts the ISBA is holding: one on May 29; the other on June 10.

The Illinois Supreme Court is proud to celebrate this year’s Law Day theme: “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment at 100.” The women’s suffrage movement forever changed America, expanding representative democracy and inspiring other popular movements for change and reform. 

The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), the administrative agency that regulates licensed Illinois lawyers, has filed its year 2019 Annual Report with the Supreme Court of Illinois. The report was released to the public this morning when a copy was posted on the ARDC website.

A summary of the Annual Report entitled Highlights of the 2019 Annual Report is also available. 

The 2019 Annual Report is dedicated to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd E. Karmeier, who for 15 years has served as the Court’s liaison officer to the ARDC and who has had an outstanding, extensive, and positive impact upon the organization. The report includes a retrospective of Justice Karmeier’s distinguished career.   

The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) is among several organizations that received an American Bar Endowment grant this year.