Get ready to rock with the Illinois Bar Foundation at Lawyers Rock 2018, presented by Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C., on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at Lincoln Hall in Chicago. This concert fundraiser features bands comprised of local lawyers, rocking out to benefit the IBF and the Foundation’s M. Denny Hassakis Fund, which supports juvenile justice causes throughout the state. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show begins at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are $50 for general admission (includes food and 2 beverage tickets) and $100 for VIP (includes food and unlimited beverages). Tickets and sponsorships are available online or can also be purchased by calling 312-726-6072. Reduced price tickets for current YLD members ($25 general admission, $50 VIP) are available by calling 312-726-6072 or emailing IBFinfo@isba.org.

The circuit judges of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, DuPage County, Illinois, have appointed Kavita Athanikar to the position of association judge. Ms. Athanikar fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Hon. Jeffrey S. MacKay to circuit judge.

Join us via the Internet on March 5, 2018 for this informative program that provides a roadmap for attorneys working in DUI litigation involving blood draw evidence.

The Illinois Supreme Court handed down two opinions today, Friday, Feb. 16. The court considered whether the Cook County Circuit Court erroneously entered a finding of a good-faith settlement agreement under the Joint Tortfeasor Act in a personal injury action arising out of a car accident in Antonicelli v. Rodriguez. In People ex rel. Hartrich v. 2010 Harley-Davidson, the court addresses the application of the excessive fines clause of the Eighth Amendment to the civil forfeiture of personal property. Leading appellate attorneys Karen DeGrand and Joanne Driscoll summarize the cases below.

The 2018 ISBA High School Mock Trial Invitational, which is co-administered by the ISBA and the Illinois Trial Team of the University of Illinois, will be held March 24-25 at the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign, Illinois.

This program provides an opportunity for students to learn what it is like to prepare and present a legal case before the Illinois Courts. Participating students gain a better understanding of the justice system and improve their knowledge, skills, and ability to articulate in a reasoned, thoughtful manner.

We welcome new volunteers and send a huge thank you to those who have donated their time in the past! The Mock Trial Invitational would not happen without volunteers like you, who have made this program a success for over 30 years.

If you are interested in volunteering, fill out the online volunteer form by March 9. Additional mock trial information and resources are available on the ISBA website. 

Recently, there have been many changes to the rules governing the legal profession and judiciary in Illinois. The 2018 Rules Governing the Legal Profession & Judiciary in Illinois is a great go-to resource to stay up-to-date. It includes the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct, the Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Admission and Discipline of Attorneys, the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, the Rules of the ARDC, and the Rules of the Board of Admission and Committee on Character and Fitness.

Bundled with a complimentary Fastbook PDF download, you can take advantage of our special $20 member price today. 

PILI seeks a program manager who will report to the executive director and be based in central Illinois. The program manager will serve as a member of PILI’s Programs Team, with primary responsibility for overseeing PILI’s statewide efforts to expand and enhance pro bono. The ability to do regular statewide and limited national travel is required.

In much of Illinois outside of Cook County, there is only one legal service agency serving low-income people with civil (non-criminal) legal needs. Due to ethics rules, these organizations sometimes have to turn a potential client away due to a conflict of interest. Hundreds of potential clients are denied services in Illinois every year for this reason.

There are a number of scenarios in which a conflict of interest may arise that would prevent the local legal aid office from providing assistance. One example would be where that office is already providing representation to another party in the same legal matter.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am the firm administrator with a ten attorney firm in Long Beach, California. I really enjoyed reading your blog post Law Firm Compensation – Bonuses for Staff, which discussed how to measure performance for bonuses. I really like the approach of establishing goals at the beginning of each year — two for the firm, and two that are personal — and tying bonuses to measurable outcomes. Have you used other approaches other than percentage of salary? Can you give additional examples of specific goals that would be appropriate for a bookkeeper, office manager, or firm administrator?