ISBA Assembly votes to support limited scope representations

Also establishes 2 at-large Board seats to reflect under-represented segments of the Illinois Bar The 201-member Assembly of the Illinois State Bar Association voted at its Annual Meeting on Saturday morning to approve recommendations by an ISBA task force that supports the ability of lawyers to engage in limited scope recommendations that it believes will benefit lawyers and consumers. Working with the Illinois Judges Association and the Chicago Bar Association, the ISBA prepared a report on behalf of the Joint Task Force on Limited Scope Representation that would, among other things, establish a “Limited Appearance” form and other procedures that specifically identify a lawyer’s participation in a matter in which a litigant represents himself or herself in court. The report, which is the culmination of an 11-month process, will be presented to the Illinois Supreme Court. Supreme Court Rules currently discourage the practice. In another matter, the Assembly voted to establish two new at-large Board of Governors seated to be filled by ISBA Vice Presidential appointment to reflect under-represented segments of the Illinois State Bar Association in its governance. Vincent F. Cornelius, a criminal defense attorney, in Wheaton, and Jessica Arong O’Brien, a lawyer in the Chicago office of the Illinois Department of Revenue, were named by newly-installed ISBA President John G. Locallo to fill the seats. Click here to view pictures from the Assembly meeting.