Demands on Military Attorneys Limit Their Ability to Take Servicemember Cases

The Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps serves as the military's "in-house counsel." The attorneys that serve in the Corps (the Judge Advocates) have a wide range of duties that consist mainly of providing legal advice and representation for their command and for their units. Some of their responsibilities include assisting individual Servicemembers (SM) with civil legal matters, but resources are tight and time constraints are rigid.

There is a great need for private attorneys from the state bar to step forward to fill the void. Major Alma L. Whitelaw, Command Judge Advocate, 287th Sustainment Brigade, Kansas Army National Guard, discusses below the difficult role of Reserve and National Guard Judge Advocates in trying to provide legal assistance to non-active duty SMs and their Families.

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State Bar Associations Step Up to Help Servicemembers and Veterans Servicemember

As thousands of military men and women return from deployment, state bar associations are gearing up to provide greater access to legal assistance for Servicemembers, Veterans and their Families.

Two states, Virginia and Kansas, participated in an Army OneSource (AOS) pilot project, and along with a third state, Arizona, they helped to shape the program so it can be implemented nationwide. Read more...

Virginia Law Schools Help With Coordinated Approach

Due to popular demand – and recommended for attorneys who have previously taken a mediation course or have some mediation experience – this course was created to meet your advanced mediation needs!

Join us in Chicago on September 25^th – September 27^th for the opportunity to learn how to design creative resolutions, how to handle difficult attorneys and clients, and know which mechanisms to utilize in order to reach a settlement. Gain a better understanding of the benefits of opening statements, the good qualities and successful techniques of a peacemaker, and when (or if) a lawyer should modify his fees. Discover the problems with mediation, how to handle parties with subrogation interests, and how to grow your mediation practice. Each day closes with hands-on training that requires attendees to participate in various classroom mediation exercises, including a full mediation as a mediator.

The program is taught by Richard Calkins and Fred Lane—two nationally recognized mediators, authors and educators. Until 20 years ago, both Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane were well-known and highly regarded litigators. Since then, however, they have successfully mediated over 5,000 cases. Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane are co-authors of the “Mediation Practice Guide” and “Lane & Calkins Mediation Practice Guide.” [The “Lane & Calkins Mediation Practice Guide, 2^nd Edition” is included with the purchase of this program.] They are co-founders of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution, which was established in 2001.

Traffic offenders’ nationwide driving court record data to be available at sentencing

Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County Timothy C. Evans announced that, for the first time ever, prosecutors throughout Cook County will receive data from nationwide court records for traffic offenders enabling them to provide judges with better information at the time of sentencing for minor traffic cases, thanks to a collaboration between the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Illinois Secretary of State and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

"From the judges’ viewpoint, this is a tremendous leap forward in their ability to help keep the public safe by keeping dangerous drivers off the road. Judges hearing traffic matters rely on prosecutors to provide the most complete information possible at the time of disposition and sentencing,” said Chief Judge Evans. “Our goal is to ensure that prosecutors working in traffic courtrooms throughout the Circuit Court receive comprehensive information, so that judges can take it into account before exercising their discretion,” said Chief Judge Evans.

ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers Access to Justice Act (Public Act 98-351), Automobile liability insurance (Senate Bill 1898), Privacy and the workplace (Public Act 98-501), Visitation (Public Act 98-462) and Body attachments and child support (Public Act 98-417). More information on each bill is available below the video.

Illinois employers are learning their way around the state's new concealed carry law, which will kick off in earnest when the state police begin issuing permits in a few months.

The Circuit Court of Cook County is proud to announce the opening of The Cook County Elder Justice Center (CCEJC), an innovative elder-friendly facility that is designed to help elderly citizens navigate the Cook County Court system.

The CCEJC is part of the Circuit Court’s Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies Division. The CCEJC is conveniently located and easily accessible on the lower level of the Richard J. Daley Center, Room CL-16.

The unique purpose of the CCEJC is to serve as a resource center for citizens of Cook County who are aged 60 and older. The CCEJC will provide information and support needed to help older adults avoid becoming victims of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. The CCEJC will also provide referrals to the appropriate legal and social service agencies.

• Opening Date: September 3, 2013
• Hours: Monday through Friday - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Location: 50 West Washington Street, Room CL-16
• Telephone: (312) 603-9233

Recognized for Her Tireless Work on Behalf of Kids in Trouble with the Law

Elizabeth “Betsy” Clarke, president of the Illinois-based Juvenile Justice Initiative, was recognized recently for her tenacious work on behalf of young people in trouble with the law. Clarke is the second recipient of the Beth Arnovits Gutsy Advocate for Youth Award, which is given annually by the National Juvenile Justice Network to individuals who advocate for youth justice and juvenile justice reform and who embody "the tenacity, vision, fearlessness and wisdom of Beth Arnovits."

“Betsy Clarke was a natural choice for the Gutsy Youth Advocate award,” said Sarah Bryer, director of the National Juvenile Justice Network. “You only have to look at her longstanding commitment to the field of juvenile justice reform, her support of and engagement in national level reform work, and her tremendous success as an advocate for her vision for change on both the local and national levels… She’s done amazing things.”

This is the first luncheon in a three-part luncheon series aimed at teaching law students and young attorneys practical steps in developing their legal careers. Each luncheon will feature esteemed panelists discussing a variety of topics, while also taking questions from the audience. The first luncheon program will feature two panelists with financial planning backgrounds discussing investing in your future while also paying off your student loans.

When/Where:

• Monday, September 30, 2013, Noon-1
• ISBA Chicago Office, 20 S. Clark, Suite 900

Speakers:

• Kevin C. Koney, CFP®, CRPC®, CMFC®, Certified Financial Planner™ Patricia A. Koney & Associates, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
• Kurt Winiecki, CPA, J.D., President, CEO & Founder, Winiecki Wealth Management

Moderator:

• George Schoenbeck, Co-Chair of YLD’s Professional Development Committee, Associate, Sosin & Arnold LTD

Register at www.isba.org/sections/yld/pdl/09-30-2013

Cost: $10 includes lunch

No MCLE credit is available for this program.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am the managing partner of an eight attorney firm in Central Illinois. We have five partners and three associates. Over the years we have had problems retaining associates. While we believe we provide adequate feedback to our associates regarding our expectations about their performance, several of my partners believe we can do better. I would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

A. One of the most frequent complains I hear during interviews with associates in law firms of all sizes is lack of specific detailed feedback, unclear or non-existent expectations concerning their performance and future career progression, and vague informal performance reviews.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Institute a system where associates, especially when they are new, have a chance to work with all of the partners in the firm.

2. As managing partner solicit feedback from your partners and meet monthly with each associate and discuss their performance during their first two years of employment with the firm.

3. Annually conduct formal performance reviews with each associate. Before the review obtain specific feedback from each of the partners and have each partner complete a written review of each associate using the associate performance rating form. Ask each associate to conduct a self-evaluation using the firm's associate performance rating form and then conduct a detailed review with each associate. The review should be detailed and specific and should be developmental with specific goals and timelines established. Document the review in the associate performance rating form.