Chicago Area

Women Leaders: A Discussion on Employment, Labor & Inclusion will be held on Wednesday, May 4 from 3-5:45 p.m. at Kirland & Ellis, 300 N. LaSalle in Chicago. A reception will follow from 5:45-6:45 p.m. This event is being put on by the Women's Bar Association of Illinois in collaboration with the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms. The ISBA is serving as an Invited Organization.

Registration and more information is available at https://wbaillinois.org/events/womenleaders/

Join us in Lombard on May 13, 2016 for a comprehensive look at how to handle complicated lien priority and construction escrow matters involving new construction with this informative full-day seminar that uses a fact pattern scenario (based on an actual case) as the backdrop for each presentation! Real estate attorneys, construction law practitioners, and lawyers working in the commercial banking/collections/bankruptcy areas who attend this seminar will better understand: the issues and concerns that can arise with the original development contracts and general real estate purchase contracts; the requirements involved in financing a construction project; the red flags to look for in construction, escrow procedures and disbursements, and related title insurance matters; how mechanics’ liens affect the developer, builder, lender, real estate purchaser, and subcontractor; how mechanics’ lien foreclosure and builder’s bankruptcy impacts a construction project; and changes in the law that substantially affect construction-related issues. The seminar is presented by the ISBA Real Estate Law Section and co-sponsored by the ISBA Construction Law Section and ISBA Commercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy Section. It qualifies for 6.25 hours MCLE credit.

For the first time, the Circuit Court of Cook County will create a Restorative Justice Community Court that empowers victims and residents to play an active role in the rehabilitation of adult offenders who commit certain nonviolent crimes, under a pilot program Chief Cook County Circuit Judge Timothy C. Evans announced today.

The “restorative justice” concept emphasizes the ways that crime harms relationships in the community and brings together the people most impacted by the crime to resolve it. Under the model, defendants take accountability for their actions and then work to repair the harm – for example, through restitution, community service, letters of apology, and peace circles.

Every litigator needs to be aware of the basic rules and procedures for appeals in Illinois Appellate Courts. Don’t miss this full-day seminar in Chicago on Friday, April 29, 2016 that offers an overview of all major aspects of the civil appeals process in the Illinois reviewing courts. Attorneys with basic practice experience in all substantive areas who have never participated (or only rarely participate) in appeals will benefit from this seminar and gain a better understanding of: the general requirements for creating a record for appellate review; the problems that can arise while making a record; when post-trial motions are required to preserve issues on appeal; how to respond to post-trial motions; how to decide if an appeal is the right choice; the ways that the appellate court clerk can help with the clarifying and procedural requirements of an appeal; the special considerations for interlocutory review; important points to consider regarding appellate motion practice; why the standard of review is important to your appeal; how to draft an effective and persuasive brief; how to present a successful oral argument; and much more