The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) announces the release of its Report and Recommendations of the Special Committee on the Impact of Current Law School Curriculum on the Future of the Practice of Law in Illinois, which was approved by the ISBA Assembly in December. The goal of the report is to explore ways to ensure that future law school graduates in Illinois are prepared for the realities facing new lawyers in today’s legal marketplace. The report represents the starting point for a dialogue and collaboration between the law schools and the practicing bar.

In the coming months, the ISBA will be reaching out to the deans of Illinois’ law schools and inviting them to work with it to address the important issues the report raises. Through this collaborative effort, the ISBA hopes to refine and expand the report’s recommendations. The ultimate goal is to identify realistic ways for legal educators and the practicing bar to work together to ensure that future generations of Illinois lawyers are fully prepared to represent the interests of clients.

ISBA President Umberto Davi says, “The adoption of this Report is an important step as we strive to begin a discussion with Illinois’ law schools about improving the skills of those entering the practice of law.”

By Mike O'Connor, ISBA Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services

By now, every Illinois attorney whose practice involves even a little bit of family law knows (or should know) that major changes were made to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMMDA), effective January 1, 2016. There have been several excellent articles in ISBA publications summarizing and discussing the revisions, so, without getting into the details, what is important to know is that the changes are significant and involve matters of both procedure and substance. 

Learn how to draft powers of attorney that meet your client’s goals and objectives with this online seminar on February 11, 2016! General practitioners, health care counsel, trust and estate attorneys, senior lawyers, and attorneys working in the mental health field or tax law arena need to know how to incorporate “statutory” and “non-statutory” powers of attorney for both property and health care to assist clients in minimizing the issues and problems of growing older. Attorneys with basic to intermediate practice experience who attend this seminar will learn how to draft samples for the following types of clients: clients with minor children; adult families; dysfunctional families; clients with businesses; clients with tax problems; clients of modest to minimal wealth; and clients with diminishing capacity and driving skills. This seminar also debunks some of the myths surrounding Health Care and Property Powers of Attorney, and offers practical solutions to current problems frequently experienced by clients, attorneys, and service providers. The seminar closes with a 30-minute overview and demonstration of IllinoisBarDocs – ISBA’s new document assembly product. Learn how to use IllinoisBarDocs to quickly and accurately generate statutory powers of attorney for both healthcare and property.

As statutory and case law currently stand, an inadvertent failure to name all of the necessary parties in an administrative review action can be fatal. For a process that is akin to a civil appeal, this seems counterintuitive. But proposed amendments to administrative law championed by the ISBA would allow lawyers to correct their minor procedural missteps and avoid costly damage to their clients.

Carl R. Draper, a partner at Feldman Wasser in Springfield, says that these "hypertechnical processes" are a serious risk for attorneys and their clients. "The process is so convoluted, you can have your case dismissed on a technicality."

Already-passed legislation was supposed to alleviate the problem. It provides that if the agency was properly named, litigants had 35 days to name any other necessary parties, Draper says. However, this has not been enough. The ISBA favors new legislation requiring that all final administrative orders name all of the necessary parties of record, as well as providing the proper name and address of the entity issuing the decision. Find out more in the February IBJ.

Keep informed about what’s available to you as an ISBA member by checking out our new weekly enewsletter – Your Membership: The Featured Five – distributed on Wednesdays.

Each week we’ll highlight 5 quick-takes, helping you make the most of your membership in a way that’s easy to consume. Highlights will include:

• new benefit announcements and current benefit reminders
• practice management and technology resources on our website
• featured seminars in the Free Online CLE catalog
• book releases and flash sales
• leadership and volunteer opportunities
• upcoming events and programs
• practice-related and other vendor discounts
• future program initiatives

Each edition will also feature an ISBA member’s advice, in their own words, on how they put an ISBA resource to work in helping their practice.

Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Send your picture and quote to Alexa Giacomini, Director of Membership and Marketing.

The John Marshall Law School, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Judges Association and, Justinian Society of Lawyers are hosting "The Distinguished Professional Service Joint Dinner" on Thursday, February 25th at the Standard Club in Chicago.

Being honored with the Award of Exemplary Professional Service for their outstanding service to our legal profession and the public in the State of Illinois are Honorable Rita Garman, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice; Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State; and Susan Sher, Senior Advisor to the University of Chicago President and former Assistant to President Obama and Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama.

The evening will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and program at 6:30 p.m.

Buy tickets, become a sponsor or find out more information at www.isba.org/jointdinner

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am the managing member of an 14-attorney firm in Miami. We initiated discussions with a large firm in Boston concerning the possibility of our firm merging with their firm. We met with one of their partners recently at their offices and he presented our interest to his other partners. He has advised us that there is an interest in having us meet the other equity partners and taking discussions to the next level. He would like some initial financial information from us. We feel we must provide them with some financial information at this point, but are unsure what to provide at this stage. I would like to hear your thoughts.

ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers Condominium Property Act (House Bill 4489), Condominium Property Act (House Bill 4490) and Forcible Entry and Detainer (House Bill 4491). More information on each bill is available below the video.

The ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law will host a Celebrating the Power of Laughter in the Law Luncheon on March 8 at Maggiano’s Little Italy, 516 N. Clark. The Luncheon will feature Special Speaker Dr. Gail Stern, co-owner and chief academic officer of Catharsis Productions.

Stern is an educator and curriculum developer with over 20 years of experience in violence prevention education and advocacy. She is the co-author of the non-stranger rape prevention program, SEX SIGNALS, which is presented over a thousand times at universities and military installations each year. She is also the author of the programs, The Canary in the Mine Shaft; Beat the Blame Game; Why They Fight the Facts; and, Moral Development: Sexual Assault Prevention in a Military Context. Dr. Stern earned her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, examining the role of humor in reducing the emotional and cognitive resistance to the subject of rape.

For more information, please visit www.isba.org/lol or contact Melissa Burkholder at MBurkholder@isba.org.

The deadline to register is Tuesday, March 3.