Access to Justice Commission Accepting Applications for Grant Initiative

Posted on May 15, 2024 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission), and the Access to Justice Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) have launched the application process for a grant initiative and are extending invitations to join their network of court personnel who assist self-represented litigants (SRLs) and advance access to justice.

Federal charges now filed against man accused of abandoning baby to commit bank robbery in McHenry

A man, who was released pre-trial by a McHenry County judge only to be arrested by federal authorities, is now facing federal charges for allegedly abandoning his baby to commit a bank robbery in McHenry.

From: 
Lake & McHenry County Scanner

Claiming self-defense, Chicago police officer plans to take stand on murder charges in girlfriend's shooting

A Chicago police officer is expected to take the stand later this week at his trial on charges that he killed the mother of one of his children during an argument over whether he had secretly married another woman.

From: 
Chicago Sun-Times

DuPage County State’s Attorney preparing lawsuit against county clerk over bills

The ongoing feud between the DuPage County clerk’s office and the county board could soon find its way to a courtroom.

From: 
Daily Herald

Illinois voters' information partially removed by right-wing outlet following judge order

A Lake County judge gave a publisher of right-leaning websites until Monday at 5 p.m. to remove personal voter information from its sites. As of Tuesday afternoon, it had mostly met the standards of the agreed order.

From: 
The State Journal-Register

Illinois Supreme Court considers expectation of privacy in hospitals

While Cortez Turner was in a hospital room being treated for a gunshot wound to his leg in 2016, police took his clothes. Now, the Illinois Supreme Court is weighing whether that action violated Turner’s expectation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment.

From: 
NPR Illinois

ISBA's Solo & Small Firm Conference 2024: Pre-Order Bundle

Empowering Attorneys with Practice and Technology Tools
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association
Sponsored by the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company


Pre-order the SSFC Bundle! Get access to the complete conference via our On-Demand Catalog no more than four weeks after the conference to earn 15.0 hours MCLE credit, including 14.50 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following categories:
  • 12.0 hours Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention
  • 1.50 hour Mental Health and Substance Abuse
  • 1.0 hours Diversity & Inclusion

Original Program Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024 – Friday, September 20, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 20, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Can't attend the live, onsite conference in September? Then don't miss out on this opportunity to get access to the complete conference (and the technology tips you need to build a better practice!) at a substantially reduced rate. Topics include:
  • The importance of creating diversity in the legal profession;
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  • Tips and tricks for incorporating the latest technologies into the everyday practice;
  • How to build and maintain successful client management;
  • The technology tools you need to manage your time;
  • How to build and grow an effective team, whild overcoming HR management issues;
  • How Microsoft 365 can help you be more efficient;
  • Strategies for boosting your law firm income;
  • How to keep your client communications safe and avoid email compromise;
  • The ethical conundrums to avoid; and
  • Much more!
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Diamond Sponsor – ISBA Mutual Insurance Company
Silver Sponsor – ABA Retirement
Beyond Bias: Strategies for Inclusive Legal Leadership*
1.0 hour Diversity & Inclusion credit
Lawyers are leaders in society and the workplace. As such, we must ensure we're creating a workplace environment that is both productive and inclusive. Learn how to identify biases and stereotypes with this in-depth discussion on why it’s important to create diversity in the legal workplace and how to implement the leadership strategies you need for a bias-free future workplace.
Moderator: Diana C. Servos, S.T. Legal Group, Deerfield
Julia Roundtree Livingston, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, Chicago

Marketing Your Practice with the Assistance of Artificial Intelligence
Moderator: Genevieve E. Miller, Singewald Law Firm, Chicago
Andrew G. Vaughn, Deviant Marketing, Chicago

Employment Law Basics for Managing Your Office
Get the employment law basics you need to manage your office with this informative segment. Topics include: the 1099 changes you need to be aware of, the parameters for people working for free, and what you need to know about Form W-2.
Moderator: John Locallo, Amari & Locallo, Chicago
Jerri Adams Belcher, Engelmeier & Umanah, Minnesota

Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Profession
Moderator: Diana C. Servos, S.T. Legal Group, Deerfield
Christina Jack, VLex, Wisconsin

Using Technology as a Client Communication Tool
This session provides practitioners helpful tips and tricks for incorporating the latest legal technology into everyday practice. Learn about virtual and cloud-based practice management options, engaging clients through client portals, creating and using automated templates to streamline communication, and security considerations of communicating with clients using these tools, including how to respond in times of crisis. Communication by texting and voice mail is also addressed, along with tips for setting boundaries.
Moderator: Rachel N. Hernandez, Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, St. Charles
Michael Brennan, The Virtual Attorney, Lake Villa
Michael P. McCready, McCready Law, Chicago

Best Practices for Successful Client Management
This segment offers the best practice tips you need to build and maintain successful client management. Topics include: intake, termination, and communication.
Moderator: Genevieve E. Miller, Singewald Law Firm, Chicago
Melissa Smart, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Chicago

Time Management Technology Tools
Moderator: Genevieve E. Miller, Singewald Law Firm, Chicago
Jeffrey Schoenberger, Affinity Consulting Group, Ohio

Building and Growing an Effective Team and HR Management Issues
This presentation offers a look at how to build and grow an effective team while overcoming HR management issues. Topics include: how to address the hiring challenges you may face (such as competing with government and not-for-profits), building relationships, the generational issues to be aware of (and how to address them), and tips on how to make a profit.
Moderator: John Locallo, Amari & Locallo, Chicago
Amy Gardner, Apochromatik, Chicago
Keith Sbiral, Apochromatik, Chicago

Top Tips in 10 Minutes*
0.50 hours MCLE credit
Capture some of the best ideas to incorporate into your practice during this fast-paced session.
1. Avoiding Malpractice Claims
Jeff Strand, ISBA Mutual Insurance Company, Chicago
2. Notaries and Digital Signatures
David Finnigan, Director of the Index Department, Illinois Secretary of State, Springfield
3. Artificial Intelligence, Billing Issues, and Ethics
Mark C. Palmer, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, Champaign

Microsoft 365 Tips and Tricks
Discover the best tips and tricks available in your Microsoft Office suite, including features you never knew existed and the hottest releases for Microsoft 365 subscribers. Topics include: how to ramp up your efficiency by getting your settings right and dictating emails and documents; preventing embarrassing errors in your documents by ensuring that your Word settings are spell-checking everything you type; processing email faster with rules, quick steps, and other Outlook tips and tricks; letting Excel enter and manipulate data for you and get control over printing from Excel; how to animate bullet points in PowerPoint to keep your audience (a jury, a board room, or your client)engaged; presenting professionally with presenter view; using One Drive to securely share files; and how to use the Microsoft app suite to schedule meetings efficiently, stay on top of your tasks, manage your matters, improve internal communication, and ramp up your client in take form.
Moderator: John Locallo, Amari & Locallo, Chicago
Jeffrey Schoeneberger, Affinity Consulting, Ohio

Systems and Processes
Moderator: Rachel N. Hernandez, Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, St. Charles
Speaker: TBD

Tech Essentials and Basics for the Law Office: Finding the Balance for Your Small Firm
Join us for a comprehensive look at some of our hardware and software recommendations to help balance the needs and budget of your solo or small law firm practice. Learn about essential hardware (including computers and other tech accessories), networking options, and software to make your solo or small firm run efficiently without breaking the bank.
Moderator: Bryan M. Sims, Sims Law Firm Ltd., Naperville
Kimberly A. Hilton, Fish Potter Bolanos, P.C., Chicago

Transforming Receivables into Receipts: A Practical Guide for Small Practitioners to Boost Income
This segment offers practical tips and strategies for enhancing your ability to collect legal fees, while simultaneously maintaining a good relationship with your clients.
Moderator: John Locallo, Amari & Locallo, Chicago
John Hoevel, Hoevel Collection Attorneys, Chicago

Avoiding Business Email Compromise & Wire Fraud
Scams and hackers become more sophisticated every year, with business email compromise and wire fraud being among the most common cyber insurance claims today. Every lawyer needs to understand the duties, challenges, and appropriate methods for using technology. Join us for a look at what you can do to prevent business email compromise before it happens, the signs that your firm is under attack (and what you can do immediately to minimize harm), your ethical responsibilities following a business email compromise attack, and the best practices that everyone in your firm needs to follow to protect your clients from wire fraud.
Moderator: Sarah Toney, The Toney Law Firm LLC, Chicago
Mat Kresz, Attorney & Counselor at Law, Chicago

Darwinian Awards for Ethically Challenged Lawyers
You mother always told you: you can learn things the easy way or the hard way! This segment allows you to learn legal ethics the easy way. By reviewing the mistakes other lawyers have made, from advising clients to putting a sign up in their yard announcing illegal activity was going on inside the house, to lawyers getting opposing counsel drunk just to score some points with the jury, this class hands out the Darwinian Awards. Charles Darwin had a theory that only the fittest survive. Well … you can be among the fittest by adjusting your behavior to avoid the behaviors of these lawyers.
Moderator: Diana C. Servos, S.T. Legal Group, Deerfield
Joel Oster, Comedian of Law, Kansas

Achieving Wellness, Work-Life Balance, and Long-Term Success in Your Law Practice*
1.50 hours Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the unrelenting demands of your legal career? If so, then you are not alone. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen as our renowned speaker, Doug Brown, addresses the unique challenges attorneys face in our modern world. Together, we'll explore transformative strategies to reduce stress, find balance, and rekindle your passion for law.
Doug Brown, Summit Success, LLC, Bluffton, SC


*All sessions provide Professionalism, Civility or Legal Ethics PMCLE credit except those designated with an (*) or identified as Mental Health or Diversity Inclusion PMCLE



Pricing Information

Limited Time Offer! Pre-Order the On-Demand SSFC Bundle at a discounted rate through September 20, 2024 for only $199 members/$399 non-members! A few weeks after the conference, the program will be available in the ISBA On-Demand CLE Catalog for purchase at regular pricing rates and will be eligible for members to order using Free CLE credits.

  • Please Note: You must complete the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $199 is displayed below when you login
    • Non-Member Price $399
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $99
    • Law Students - Free

Poor record keeping in Illinois prisons keeping people behind bars

Around 1,000 incarcerated individuals could be eligible for immediate release if their sentences were recalculated properly.

From: 
WBEZ