Workers’ Compensation Law

Live Webcast
Monday, February 2, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 3:05 p.m.

5.0 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0* hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention

Don’t miss this opportunity to listen as our speakers explore important workers’ compensation issues that may impact your clients. Labor/employment attorneys, workers’ compensation lawyers, and general practitioners who attend this online seminar will better understand:

• The surgical options available for client’s with failed back syndrome;
• The 2025 CMS updates you need to know, as well as what to expect in 2026;
• The Appellate Court cases from then past year that may impact your next workers’ compensation case;
• The different types of incivility found throughout the legal profession and the strategies for dealing with them;
• The vocational rehabilitation and job search issues to be aware of;
• How liens can impact your injured client; and
• Much more.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Deborah A. Benzing, Law Offices of Lawrence P. Cozzi, Chicago

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Salvaging Failed Back Syndrome
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from an orthopedic spine surgeon as he explains the surgical techniques and options used to address failed back syndrome.
Dr. Tom Stanley, OrthoIllinois, Elgin

10:00 – 10:45 a.m. 2025 & 2026 CMS Updates
This segment discusses the CMS updates from 2025 and what to expect in 2026, as well as the duties of insurance carriers and Workers’ Compensation practitioners.
Mark Long, Ametros, Michigan

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. Break

11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Case Law Update
This presentation offers an in-depth look at the Appellate Court cases over the past year that may impact your client and practice.
Kevin T. Veugeler, Healy Scanlon Veugeler Gannon, Chicago

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Civility and Bulling*
Join us for a discussion on the different types of uncivil behavior, the Rules of Professional Conduct guiding civility in our profession, how the ARDC approaches uncivil behavior, and the strategies for dealing with unprofessional behavior.
Rachel C. Miller, Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, Springfield

12:45 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break

1:30 – 2:15 p.m. Vocational Rehabilitation
Gain a better understanding of vocational rehabilitation and job search issues in a workers’ compensation case with this informative presentation.
Joseph Belmonte, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Vocamotive, Inc., Lombard

2:15 – 3:00 p.m. Credits and Liabilities Balancing the Books at Arbitration
Get the information you need on a variety of liens, how they affect the injured worker, and how to maximize recovery when facing them.
Matthew J. Coleman, Coleman Lynch & Partners, PLLC, Chicago


*Professional Responsibility MCLE credit subject to approval



For best practices, before attending the program using ISBA's Zoom platform, please visit our Technical Support page.

1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: November 18, 2022
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­November 19, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Improve the culture of your office and satisfy your annually mandated sexual harassment prevention training requirement by attending this program. Consistent with the requirements established in Section 2-109(B) of the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act (Public Act 101-0220) this program will help you gain an understanding of what sexual harassment is, what remedies are available to victims of sexual harassment, and what responsibilities employers have in the prevention, investigation, and provision of corrective measures to address sexual harassment in the workplace. Topics include: reporting allegations; conditions of employment; settlement or termination agreements; and more. This program is open to both Illinois lawyers and their staff members.

Program Virtual Moderator:
Laura E. Schrick, Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd., Belleville

Program Speakers:
Michael R. Lied, Attorney at Law, Dunlap
Thalia Pacheco, Fish Potter Bolaños, P.C., Chicago

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1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­November 6, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Artificial intelligence can help you run your law firm and free up some of your time in the process, but there are many things to consider before using this technological advancement. Don’t miss this online program that discusses the key issues to consider when using AI, including:

• How AI can complement your own legal research;
• The importance of always double-checking case citations generated by AI;
• The necessity of reading all cases to confirm that the holding is as represented;
• Explaining to your client why your law firm uses AI and how it can help achieve their objective;
• How to establish an AI policy for your law practice to ensure the ethical use of generative AI resources;
• The professional liability issues to be aware of when using AI in your law firm; and
• Much more.

Program Coordinators:
Michael J. Rooney, Attorney at Law, St. Charles

Program Chat Moderator:
Hon. Donald Bernardi (ret.), Bloomington

Program Speaker:
Andrew G. Vaughn, Deviant Marketing, Chicago

Friday, December 12, 2025
JW Marriott, 151 W Adams St, Chicago
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
(during the ISBA/IJA Midyear Meeting)

1.50 hours MCLE credit, including 1.50* hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment credit



Get the information you need regarding the ethical use of artificial intelligence with this informative panel presentation. Attorneys with basic to intermediate practice experience who attend this seminar will better understand:

• What artificial intelligence really means and the differences between “old” AI and today’s LLM/Generative AI (GenAI).
• How the ARDC’s new guidance will help you to maintain compliance with ethical standards, including:
  • The ethics of (not) using AI and billing by the hour (Illinois Rule 1.5, Comment 9);
  • Preventing the unauthorized practice of law committed by relying upon GenAI answers; and
  • Other competency obligations, including duty to supervise, avoiding bias, candor to courts, and advertising implications.
• How to use, store, and protect client data within a GenAI/LLM system (and how to judge a system is sufficiently secure/appropriate for lawyers) to comply with Rule 1.6.

An in-house attorney also provides client viewpoints such as securing data when using a GenAI system and whether you should adjust your billable rates to reflect the use of GenAI.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Margo Lynn Hablutzel, Gainwell Technologies LLC

Program Speakers:
Neil Ballentine, Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, Chicago
Aaron Brooks, Brooks Law and Consulting, LLC, Chicago
Mathew Kerbis, Subscription Attorney LLC, Deerfield
Sari W. Montgomery, Robinson, Stewart, Montgomery & Doppke LLC, Chicago


*Professional Responsibility MCLE credit subject to approval

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2.0 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 21, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Are you looking to better understand liens, how to handle them, and what you can do to get the best results for your clients (while also protecting yourself)? Then don’t miss this online program that explains how liens can impact your practice, what to look for in the future, and how to avoid (or correct) the common pitfalls and sticky situations you may encounter with lienholders. Additional topics include:

• The various types of liens that can arise in a personal injury case, including Healthcare Services Act liens, ERISA liens, workers’ compensation liens, and attorney liens;
• The differences between liens, subrogation, and reimbursement;
• The order in which creditors are paid (lien priority);
• What it means to perfect a lien and how to do it;
• The importance of tracking a lien to ensure they are property recorded, released, and managed; and
• How to get your client’s liens reduced or resolved.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Judith Conway, Cooney & Conway, Chicago

Program Chat Moderator:
Josh Rohrscheib, Onward Injury Law, Bloomington

Program Speakers:
Laura A. Castagna, Kelly & Castagna, Bloomington
Greg Jones, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis
Hon. Eileen M. O’Connor, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago

6.25 hours MCLE credit, including 6.25 hours approved Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025 – Friday, September 12, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 30, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Why is Illinois joining 42 other jurisdictions that have chosen to implement NextGen for their bar exam? What effect will this implementation have on the practice of law in this state? How are these changes likely to impact both law school study and the legal community as a whole? Get the answers to these questions and more with these two half-day seminars that explore the various ways Illinois law schools are preparing their students to practice law in the real world. Topics include:

• An overview of the NextGen Bar Exam;
• How law school leadership can help students succeed after law school;
• The historical efforts of the Illinois State Bar Association in helping prepare law students to practice law;
• Understanding what the NextGen Bar Exam means for the future of legal education and the practice of law; and
• A look at the new topics on the NextGen Bar Exam.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Ted A. Donner , Donner & Company Law Offices, LLC, Glen Ellyn

Overview: Illinois Adopts the NextGen Bar Exam*
Moderator: Prof. Wendy H. Vaughn, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb
Prof. Jon J. Lee , Distinguished Scholar in Residence, National Conference of Bar Examiners, Wisconsin
Susannah Pollvogt , Principal Consultant for Curriculum, Law School Admission Council, Pennsylvania
Suzanne J. Schmitz , President, Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar, Carbondale

Law School Leadership: What Do Students Need from Their Law Schools and Bar Associations?*
Moderator: Jason R. Blumenthal, Donahue & Rose, P.C., Rosemont
Moderator: Joseph A. Souligne, Webber & Thies, P.C., Urbana

Roundtable Discussion: What the NextGen Bar Exam Means for the Future of Legal Education*
Moderator: Daniel R. Thies , Webber & Thies, P.C., Urbana
Prof. Marsha Griggs , St. Louis University School of Law, Missouri
Megan Kreminski , Director of Academic Success, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago
Susannah Pollvogt , Principal Consultant for Curriculum, Law School Admission Council, Pennsylvania
Prof. Kate Waldinger, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago

Next Gen’s Emphasis on Foundational Lawyering Skills*
Moderator: H. Case Ellis, Resolute Systems, Chicago
Michael Bergmann , Executive Director, Public Interest Law Initiative, Chicago
Melissa A. Smart , Director of Education, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Chicago

Pricing Information

• Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
• ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
• Fees:
• ISBA Member Price of $150 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
• Non-Member Price $310
• New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
• Law Students – Free

Live Webcast
Thursday, December 18, 2025
11:00 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.

1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0* hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit

Although mediation offers the path of least resistance to resolving differences between parties, it still requires thorough preparation from both you and your client. Don’t miss this in-depth look at how to help your client get the most out of mediation, including what to expect at the meeting, the best practices for preparing for the mediation (from both the plaintiff and defense perspectives), how to prepare a concise and compelling mediation package, and how to handle yourself throughout the mediation process.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Judith Conway, Cooney & Conway, Chicago

Program Chat Moderator:
Josh Rohrscheib, Onward Injury Law, Bloomington

Program Speakers:
Michael R. Hartigan, Hartigan & O’Connor, LLC, Chicago
Hon. Clare McWilliams (ret.), Resolute Systems, Chicago
Jeffrey A. Schulkin, Ankin Law, LLC, Chicago


For best practices, before attending the program using ISBA's Zoom platform, please visit our Technical Support page.

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3.0 hours MCLE credit, including 3.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 8, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 9, 2025 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this two part series from ISBA’s 5^th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar, as we take an in-depth look at how inventions and advancements in science and technology create opportunities for lawyers to represent innovators, as well as those clients who are disrupted by the innovation (including the legal profession). The program takes place at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum located on the historic island that supported part of the railroad bridge subject to Lincoln’s famous case of Hurd et al v. Rock Island Bridge Company (often called the Effie Afton trial.) Ft. Armstrong has been on Rock Island since 1816. Army Dr. Emerson was stationed at Ft. Armstrong from 1834 to 1836 and took Dred Scott with him as a slave. Slavery was prohibited in Illinois and that later served as Scott’s claim for freedom in the Dred Scott case. The first rail bridge over the Mississippi used the Island to connect Illinois to Iowa and was finished in 1856 (and struck by the steamboat Effie Afton the same year!). President Lincoln signed the legislation creating the Arsenal in 1862, which became a prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Join us for this informative, historical look at how Lincoln addressed the science and technology issues of his time, and how lawyers of every generation face similar challenges. Topics include:

• The ethical issues facing lawyers regarding science and technology innovations;
• How AI and emerging technology is impacting current lawyers and law practice; and
• Much more.

Program Coordinators:
J. Steven Beckett, Beckett Law Office P.C., Urbana
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville

Contemporary Ethical Issues
Explore the ethical issues facing lawyers today – from the need to stay current with technology to problems with email, websites, cybersecurity, and more – with this informative session.
Peter L. Rotskoff, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Springfield

How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Lawyers and the Legal Profession
Get the information you need about how the evolving area of AI may impact your law practice and the legal system.
Jonathan T. Nessler, Nessler & Associates Ltd., Springfield

Block Chain, AI, Disruptive Innovations – What is a Lawyer To Do?
This panel presentation discusses what we can learn from Lincoln’s experiences with science and technology, and how lawyers and the legal profession will continue to be impacted.
Moderator: J. Steven Beckett, Beckett Law Office P.C., Urbana
Jonathan T. Nessler, Nessler & Associates Ltd., Springfield
Guy C. Fraker, Attorney and Author, Bloomington
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville



*Originally presented as part of the ISBA’s 5th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy Conference. Find more sessions in this series in the ISBA On-Demand CLE catalog.



Pricing Information

• Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
• ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
• Fees:
• ISBA Member Price of $105 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
• Non-Member Price $210
• New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
• Law Students - Free