The Illinois State Bar Association is hosting a Presidents Golf Retreat Oct. 5-7 in Lake Geneva, Wis.
The lodging deadline is Sept. 5. A block of rooms has been held for attendees at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa at a rate of $169 per night. Reservations can be made by calling (855) 833-5345.
The Illinois Supreme Court handed down one opinion on Thursday, August 2. The court reversed a summary judgment in favor of the City of Danville in a case in which a plaintiff sued the municipality after tripping and falling on an uneven seam in a sidewalk.
By Joanne R. Driscoll, Forde Law Offices LLP
On a subject frequently visited by the Illinois Supreme Court, tort immunity, the Court was called upon to refine the contours of sections 2-109 ad 2-201 of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (Act) (745 ILCS 10/2-109, 2-201 (West 2012)) and to determine whether section 3-102(a) of the Act (id. § 3-102(a)) supersedes those provisions. The majority opinion and the concurrence provide an interesting read on statutory interpretation.
The Forms Committee of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice is seeking new committee members.
The Forms Committee itself does not draft forms. It has overall responsibility for deciding what forms should be developed and creating subcommittees to develop them, reviewing forms to ensure that they comply with the mandate of the Supreme Court, and giving final approval for the forms to be published for use.
Marta Delgado, attorney and co-founder of the firm Delgado Rompf Bruen LLC, discusses how a client’s immigration status can impact the legal advice you provide and best practice tips for helping clients remain in the U.S. lawfully.
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am a solo practitioner in upstate New York and I hope to retire in three years and move to Florida. I have been talking with a larger firm with 20 attorneys in Albany that has an interest in me either merging my practice with their firm or joining as Of Counsel. My plan would be to work three more years, gradually phase back, and transition clients and referral sources.
I have had several meetings with the partners in the firm and they are now asking me for detailed due diligence information – tax returns, financial statements, etc. I have no problem providing these documents, but I was wondering if I should be asking them for information. What do you think?
The Illinois Supreme Court has adopted a rule that allows divorcing couples to work with lawyers on a limited-scope basis to try to reach an amicable settlement and avoid litigation.
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 294 was adopted June 8 and went into effect July 1. It was an important companion rule to ISBA-sponsored legislation establishing the practice of the collaborative process in dissolution cases. That legislation became effective on Jan. 1.
The new rule, also proposed by the ISBA, disqualifies attorneys serving in a collaborative process from representing clients if the process fails and the case goes to litigation. The rule also stipulates that when an attorney is discharged from a collaborative process, that lawyer’s entire law firm is also disqualified from representing the client.
The Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to low-income individuals and groups in civil cases, is seeking a staff attorney at the Central Regional Office in East St. Louis.
The position includes representing clients in the areas of foreclosure and landlord/tenant law, and giving presentations to members of client population about their rights.
To be considered for this position, you must be admitted to practice law in Illinois and demonstrate a commitment to the representation of low-income individuals. Prior legal services experience is preferred.
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc. (LOLLAF) seeks to hire a staff attorney at LOLLAF's Central (East St. Louis) and Western (Alton) regional offices. LOLLAF is a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to low-income individuals and groups in civil cases.
The staff attorney positions' responsibilities include representing low income persons in senior citizens in bankruptcy and consumer cases in a multi-county region, and participating in community legal education and outreach.
The U.S. Attorney's Office Central District of Illinois is accepting applications for an assistant United States attorney opening in its Criminal Division.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least one year post-J.D. legal experience. U.S. citizenship is required.
Preferred qualifications include at least three years of legal or other relevant experience, strong advocacy skills, academic credentials, superior legal research and writing skills, quick analytical ability to accurately and precisely articulate critical case-related issues, good interpersonal skills, the ability to work in a supportive and professional team environment with client agencies, support staff, and other attorneys, and sound legal and ethical judgment.
