ISBA President John E. Thies discusses one of the best but often overlooked resources on the ISBA website — the Practice Resource Center. The Center houses articles, ethics opinions, and other tools to help inform members about practice-related issues. Visit it at www.isba.org/practiceresourcecenter

Note: The E-filing video has been postponed due to the Supreme Court’s decision to delay the new rule on the treatment of personal information in e-filing.

Are you the competitive type? Do you like to win? The clock is ticking … sign up now for ISBA's friendly competition to support the food banks of Illinois. Register today at www.lawyersfeedingil.org
 
At the ISBA, we like to win too – and we've got a tough challenge to raise one million meals. Of course, the true winners will be the 1.9 million children, seniors, and families that are helped by your generosity and support. Will you join us? We can't do it without your help. Register today!

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today reconvened his non-partisan, statewide Judicial Review Commission to recommend Federal District Court Judges for Illinois.

Senator Kirk's Commission is responsible for the extensive review of applications, interviewing applicants, and providing informed recommendations to ensure a successful, efficient process for recommending the most qualified federal judicial candidates to the President. Senator Kirk will continue to work closely with Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), who has formed a similar committee. There are currently four judicial vacancies on the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. President Obama nominated Thomas Durkin of Mayer Brown LLP, at the recommendation of Senators Kirk and Durbin, to fill one of these vacancies. Durkin’s nomination currently awaits a confirmation vote by the full Senate.

Are you a general practitioner or criminal law attorney with intermediate practice experience? Then you won’t want to miss this informative seminar in Bloomington on January 25, which offers an in-depth overview of Illinois sentencing – from preparing for the hearing and pleas of guilty, to mandatory sentences and additional financial assessments.

Free Online CLE…. It’s ISBA’s newest member benefit to help you practice more affordably and effectively.

All eligible ISBA members can now earn 15 MCLE credit hours, including 6 PMCLE credit hours, per bar year via our online FastCLE "Free CLE Channel" at no additional cost.

Choose from over 30 hours of programs available 24/7 on our online “Free CLE Channel” on FastCLE. Using a computer with internet access, you can access these programs whenever and wherever you’d like. (Live on-site programs are not included in Free CLE at this time.)

Programs available on the “Free CLE Channel” have been chosen by a panel of ISBA members and cover a wide range of topics, and program content will change periodically.

Our 6-hour accredited Basic Skills program is also available on the “Free CLE Channel” to help our new attorney members meet their newly admitted attorney MCLE requirements for free.

For more information – including Benefit Eligibility, Programs, & a User Guide on How To Get Started – visit our Free Online CLE FAQs page.

Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Elizabeth K. Flood and Alice C. Tracy as associate judges of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit.

Ms. Flood received her undergraduate degree in 1992 from the University of Illinois, Urbana, and her Juris Doctor in 1995 from the University of Illinois. Ms. Flood is currently affiliated with the Kane County State's Attorney's Office in St. Charles.

Ms. Tracy received her undergraduate degree in 1982 from Boston College, and her Juris Doctor in 1986 from John Marshall Law. Ms. Tracy is currently affiliated with the Kane County State's Attorney's Office in St. Charles.

Thomas Q. Keefe, Jr., trial attorney and Interim Dean of the St. Louis University School of Law, will be honored at the Fourth Annual Joseph R. Bartylak Award Dinner on Friday, May 3, at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield.         

The Lawyers’ Assistance Program has been confidentially assisting Illinois lawyers, judges, law students and their families with alcohol, substance abuse and mental health issues since 1980. LAP created the Joseph R. Bartylak Award to be awarded annually to deserving ‘downstate’ volunteers. Joe Bartylak served LAP since its inception as an incorporator, volunteer, Board member and as the Associate Director from 2002-2007. Joe also served as Director of Land of Lincoln Legal Services for many years.

This year we will honor Dean Keefe for his continued support of LAP and its mission. Tom exemplifies the qualities that Joe brought to this important work.

Dinner tickets are $75 per person. Tables of 8 may be purchased for $600. If you are interested in attending, please contact Hon. James Radcliffe (ret.), Associate Director, so that we can include you on our mailing list.  He can be reached via mail at 2217 West Main Street, Belleville, IL 62226; via e-mail at jradcliffe@illinoislap.org.  and via phone at (618) 444-9706.

ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews bills in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers Public Act 97-1093 (New probate fee), House Bill 5151 (Medical malpractice and tobacco litigation), House Bill 4963 (Marriage equality) and House Bill 30 (Medical marijuana). More information on the bill is available below the video.

New probate fee. Public Act 97-1093 (Silverstein, D-Chicago; Feigenholtz, D-Chicago) creates a $100 fee to open a decedent's estate to fund the State Guardianship and Advocacy Commission. It exempts indigents, the State Guardian, any state agency, local public guardian, and state's attorney. (2) It also allows the court to appoint a limited guardian for a disabled adult who lacks some but not all of the required capacity. If the court finds that the ward is totally without the required capacity, it may appoint a plenary guardian. (3) It adds criteria for the termination of the guardianship or modification of the guardian's duties. Effective January 1, 2013.

LinkedIn members know that "endorsements" are popping up everywhere. Is it OK for lawyers to make and accept them? Yes, but mind your ethical ps and qs, an authority warns in the January Illinois Bar Journal.