According to ISBA ethics advisory opinions approved last month, a lawyer may not serve as both a municipal prosecutor and administrative hearing officer for the same municipality, an out-of-state lawyer may practice immigration law in Illinois, and more. Here are digests with links to the full text of the four new opinions. 

Opinion No 13-07. A lawyer may not serve concurrently as a municipal prosecutor and as an administrative hearing officer for that same municipality.

Opinion No. 13-08. An out-of-state lawyer may practice immigration law in Illinois with the use of a properly supervised nonlawyer in Illinois who collects information to be used by the lawyer in filling out immigration forms.

Opinion No. 13-09. Direct communications with a government representative regarding a tax assessment dispute in which the representative is represented by counsel are improper without counsel’s consent, subject to an exception for direct communications as are authorized by law.

Opinion No. 13-10. Under those circumstances identified in Supreme Court Rule 415(c), a lawyer may not provide a copy of discovery materials to a defendant client but nevertheless has an ethical obligation under RPC 1.4 to discuss the content of those materials with the client.

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of the Chief Counsel in Chicago, Illinois, is responsible for providing legal advice, training and services in cases related to the ICE mission in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Wisconsin.  The office represents the United States in immigration removal proceedings, and provides legal support to ICE components focusing on customs, worksite enforcement, employment law, and administrative law.  Legal externs assist in the representation of the United States government in immigration removal proceedings.

Legal Extern Location: Chicago, Illinois

Application Materials:   Resume, transcript, writing sample, and cover letter indicating dates when available.  Applications should be submitted to occ-chi-applications@ice.dhs.gov.  All electronically submitted documents must be in MSWord or Adobe Acrobat format. 

Qualifications:  First-year (second semester) and second-year law students.  Previous or concurrent course work in immigration law helpful, but not necessary.  Must be a U.S. citizen.  Will be subject to a background investigation due to the sensitive nature of the work performed.

Application Deadline: For Spring of 2014: Applications will be accepted between October 31 and November 14, 2013.

Minimum Weeks  Required: 10 weeks minimum, 15 - 20 hours per week.

Salary: Volunteer (without compensation).            

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday that former Circuit Judge Stephen C. Mathers has been assigned to the bench in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. He is a 32-year veteran of the judiciary.

The assignment, effective November 12, terminates on December 1, 2014, when the position will be filled by the 2014 General Election.

The Illinois State Bar Association will honor the Class of 1963 Distinguished Counsellors on Thursday, Nov. 14. This title is conferred annually upon those ISBA members who are completing their 50^th year of practice.

The Class will be honored during a special luncheon at the Union League Club of Chicago located at 65 West Jackson Street. A reception will begin at 11:15 a.m., and lunch is scheduled for noon.

Honorees receive one complimentary ticket to attend the luncheon. Additional tickets may be purchased in advance at $75 per person. Members of the “Class” and their guest(s) will be seated at special tables, each seating 10 persons. All tickets will be held for pick up at our registration table immediately prior to the luncheon.

Tickets to the luncheon are available and may be purchased online at www.isba.org/distinguishedcounsellorsluncheon. Any questions regarding the luncheon may be directed to Kim Weaver at kweaver@isba.org.

As part of the efforts to recognize 50 years of service, the Illinois Bar Foundation will produce a class yearbook with photographs and information about honorees and their experiences in the law.

Congratulations to the 1963 Class of Distinguished Counsellors

ISBA is excited to announce the UPS® Savings Program for our members! Make the most out of your membership and take advantage of some of the most competitive rates available on shipping services with UPS. Whether you need your documents or packages to arrive the next day or are looking for the most affordable shipping option, UPS understands the importance of reliability, speed and cost. See how UPS discounts can help your bottom line:

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• Up to 16% on UPS Ground shipments
• Savings begin at 70% on UPS Freight®shipments over 150 lbs.

You can receive these discounts even if you already have a UPS account. Plus, the more you ship, the more you can save with UPS. To enroll and start saving, visit savewithups.com/isba.

*Discounts exclude UPS Express Critical® and UPS Next Day Air® Early A.M.®

ISBA President Paula H. Holderman and YLD Chair Jean Kenol discuss some of the challenges facing new lawyers how the Young Lawyers Division is helping them face those challenges. They also discuss the upcoming YLD Professional Development Luncheon Series and other events, like the Young Lawyers Holiday Party on Dec. 6. Kenol also sits on the ISBA Board of Governors and practices at Mahoney, Silverman & Cross in Joliet.

Phi Alpha Delta Chicago Alumni Chapter will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Daniel P. Ward Student Scholarship on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. The event will be held at the Union League Club of Chicago located at 65 West Jackson.

For 20 straight years, the PAD-CAC has hosted this event and awarded area law students with scholarships to continue their law studies. Scholarship recipients apply for scholarships, and those chosen to receive an award are invited to attend the dinner as a guest of the Alumni Chapter for free.
 
Tickets are available at $60 for students and $95 for lawyers/judges, if the payment is received by November 8, 2013. Thereafter, the price increases to $75 for students and $125 for lawyers/judges. In addition, the event is seeking table sponsors for the scholarship dinner. For more information, please contact Julie-April Montgomery at 773-955-4370.

More than 2,100 new attorneys were admitted to practice in Illinois on Thursday, October 31 with Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court presiding and administering the attorney's oath at five separate locations.

Justice Charles E. Freeman presided over and administered the attorney's oath at bar admission ceremonies in the First Judicial District on October 31. Justices Anne M. Burke and Mary Jane Theis also participated in the ceremonies.

The group of 1,659 was admitted in the First Judicial District during two ceremonies at the Arie Crown Theater, 2301 Lake Shore Drive.

In an apparent attempt to stifle a growing national trend of "paper terrorism" conducted by a self-described "sovereign citizen" movement, the Illinois General Assembly has upgraded the crime of unlawful clouding of title from a Class A misdemeanor for all offenses to a Class 4 felony for cases exceeding $10,000 in value and for all subsequent offenses. Find out more in the November IBJ.