ISBA Statehouse Review for the week of July 21, 2016

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Chris Bonjean

ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers Common Interest Community Association Act and the Condominium Property Act Public Act 99-569, Common Interest Community Association Act and the Condominium Property Act. Public Act 99-567Illinois Human Rights Act. Public Act 99-548, Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act. Public Act 99-577, Property Tax Code Public Act 99-579 and Alcoholism and other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act Public Act 99-574.

More information on each bill is available below the video.

Best Practice: Changing law firm compensation systems

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Chris Bonjean

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am a partner in a 20-attorney firm in San Francisco. We have five partners. Two of the five partners are founders and the other three were made partners five years ago. From day one our compensation system has been an eat-what-you-kill compensation system based on a formula with two factors - working attorney collections and client origination. While the system worked OK for the founders, it is not working for the present firm. The newer partners are unhappy with the system and believe that it does not consider other factors that a partner contributes to the firm. Some of the partners are hoarding work, refuse to serve on committees, and don't want to do anything but bill. A couple of my partners suggested that we move to a totally subjective system. I would appreciate your thoughts.

DuPage County accepting applications for associate judge vacancy

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Chris Bonjean

Chief Judge Kathryn E. Creswell announced that the Circuit Judges are accepting applications to fill a vacancy for the Office of Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, DuPage County. This vacancy is a result of the appointment of Associate Judge Karen M. Wilson to Circuit Judge.

Any attorney, who is a United States citizen, is licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois, and is a resident of the 18th Judicial Circuit may apply by electronically filing a signed application form with the Director of the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts. The instructions for submitting an application electronically are available on the Supreme Court’s website: www.illinoiscourts.gov.

Summer entertainment offers from TicketsatWork

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Chris Bonjean

SIX FLAGS AMUSEMENT PARKS

Save up to 45% on tickets!

These offers are provided to you by Illinois State Bar Association.

Celebrate summer with amazing offers nationwide! There's so much to enjoy - look for great deals on hotels, shows, events, tours and attractions nationwide! Planning a long weekend getaway with the family or friends? Check out offers from Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando, Six Flags and more.
Don't forget, TicketsatWork members have access to great Local Deals, discounted movie tickets, rental cars and much, much more!

Want to sign up? It's free and easy:
1. Visit www.ticketsatwork.com
2. Use your company code: ISBA
3. Read and follow the easy steps on our site, and once registered you can access all tickets, events, hotels and more online for free.

2 finalists announced for DuPage County associate judge vacancy

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Chris Bonjean

Chief Circuit Judge Kathryn E. Creswell is pleased to announce that following a July 14, 2016 meeting of the Circuit Judges of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court, two finalists for the Office of Associate Judge have been selected and certified to the Illinois Supreme Court. The finalists are seeking to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Associate Judge Jane Hird Mitton. From these names, the Circuit Judges will select one appointee by secret ballot.

ISBA Statehouse Review for the week of July 14, 2016

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Chris Bonjean

ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers Open Meetings Act Public Act 99-515, FOIA House Bill 4715, Counties Code House Bill 4603, Creates the Local Government Travel Expense Control Act House Bill 4379 and Statewide Relocation Towing Licensure Commission Senate Bill 2261.

More information on each bill is available below the video.

Open Meetings Act. Public Act 99-515 (Ives, R-Wheaton; Connelly, R-Naperville) requires public bodies to give access to verbatim recordings and minutes of closed meetings to officials filling vacancies of elected officials in public bodies. Access is to be granted in the public body’s main office or official storage location in the presence of a records secretary, an administrative official of the public body, or any elected official of the public body. These records may not be recorded or removed from official storage unless the pubic body votes otherwise or so ordered by the courts. Effective June 20, 2016.