This May, we're celebrating you during Member Appreciation Month. Today through Friday, May 11, members can save 25 percent on ISBA books, Fastbooks, and merchandise* from our store. To take advantage of this promotion, visit the ISBA store and use the coupon code MMAM18 at checkout. 

ISBA books are a great resource to help save you time and money. Covering a wide range of subjects, all books are written by recognized authorities and are focused on Illinois law. Each title is available in a convenient paperback format, and most are also available as a downloadable Fastbook PDF. Because Fastbooks are downloadable and searchable, they make it easy to always have the law at your fingertips.

Most books are also bundled with a complimentary Fastbook PDF that you can download after placing your order.

This May, we're celebrating you during Member Appreciation Month. We have a full calendar of prizes, discounts and giveaways, so stay tuned to ISBA communications for detailed announcements with instructions for how you can get in on the fun. You can look forward to a bookstore sale, a free live CLE webcast, free one-on-on legal tech consultations, member renewal incentives, a social media contest, and more. View our Member Appreciation Month page for additional details. 

As more and more litigants choose to represent themselves, Illinois courts continue their effort to adapt to this "new normal" (see the October 2017 IBJ cover story.) One such adaptation is a program launched by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice late last year that gives grants to 13 judicial circuits to help them better serve pro se litigants and manage their impact on the justice system.

Anna E. Morrison, attorney at AMR Law Group, discusses what solo practitioners need to know about companion animal cases.

This lively program in Chicago on May 24, 2018 is comprised of scenarios, skits, and group discussions, allowing participants to gather information on how to recognize and resolve violations of the Open Meetings Act. The program demonstrates and discusses the requirements of the Open Meetings Act, as well as how to apply the Act to real world situations. Government attorneys, public officials, and private counsel who attend this seminar will better understand: how to prepare for a meeting; the importance of meeting locations; how to handle the virtual attendance of board members; the issues with meeting minutes and board member voting; public access issues, including virtual access; board member communication concerns, including texting between members; how to handle closed meetings; the limitations on public comments; and much more!

Voting is now underway in the 2018 ISBA election. Voting closes at 4:30 p.m. this upcoming Monday, April 30.

ISBA's election provider Election America e-mailed ballots to members with valid e-mail addresses and mailed paper ballots to members without valid e-mail addresses on Monday, March 26. The deadline to request paper ballots was last Friday, April 13.

Asked and Answered 

By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

Q. I am a partner in a 14-attorney firm in San Antonio, Texas. We have eight partners and six associates working in the firm. The firm was founded 20 years ago, so we are a first-generation firm. Two of the partners were the founders of the firm and the other six were made partners in later years. Currently our method of governing the firm is handled by the full partnership. While each partner has one vote, we try to manage by consensus. We do not have a managing partner or any committees. We have an office manager who primarily handles the accounting and  staff oversight. The partners meet weekly to discuss issues and make decisions. We are beginning to have issues with our management structure. Partners are not showing up for the weekly meetings and complaining about the amount of time it is taking away from servicing their clients. Should we consider a different approach? We would appreciate your thoughts.

This week, an Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) member has been subjected to harassment and threatening messages as a direct result of his representing the views of the Association during a hearing of an Illinois House of Representatives legislative committee. The member testified to explain the Association’s opposition to House Bill 4113. In the days following his testimony, the member has been subjected to profane and threatening messages on his firm’s website and social media profiles. Additionally, based on profane and threatening phone calls received by his law firm, the police hav

Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides free legal services to eligible individuals in central and southern Illinois, is looking to hire a staff attorney at its Northern Regional Office in Springfield.

Responsibilities for this position include representation of low-income persons in routine and complex civil litigation, including, but not limited to, family, landlord-tenant, and consumer cases. Participation in community legal education and outreach.  

To qualify, applicants must be admitted to the Illinois Bar and demonstrated commitment to the representation of low-income individuals. Prior legal services or clinical work experience strongly preferred.

This program offers both the Canadian and American perspectives regarding some of the most pervasive issues that arise during legal disputes that cross the borders between the U.S. and Canada. Every U.S. attorney who deals with cross-border issues with Canada who attend this seminar in Chicago or via live webcast on May 23, 2018 will better understand: the practical issues such as where to commence litigation and why; how to oust Canadian jurisdiction where appropriate; how to obtain evidence in Canada for use in U.S. proceedings; the impact of key Supreme Court of Canada decisions over the past 20 years on the enforcement of U.S. judgments in Canada; substantive and procedural advantages and disadvantages of the use of Canadian proceedings; the key issues that arise in U.S./Canada cross-border litigation and arbitration; what is involved in enforcing judgments cross-border and what impact the SCC judgments have had on the trade relationship between U.S. and Canada; and the importance of timely and continuous communication between U.S. and Canadian lawyers wherever disputes cross borders.