The Bar News

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Chicago Area

  • November 5, 2013 | CLE
    CLE: Civility in the Courtroom

    The need for civility in the courtroom has never been greater – especially in the age of stressful economic times and advanced technology! As an Illinois attorney, you need to understand how less-than-civil conduct can negatively impact your argument and reputation. Join us in Chicago on Dec. 5 for this half-day seminar that offers good practice tips for handling your next case with civility and professionalism. Litigators with all levels of practice experience who attend this seminar will better understand: why the Illinois Supreme Court Rule 794(d)(1) requires attorneys to complete six hours of Professional Responsibility MCLE credit; how civility is doing in the Illinois state and federal courts; how to achieve proper civility in the courtroom; what the Commission on Professionalism of the Supreme Court of Illinois has found in regard to civility in the Illinois courtrooms; why certain litigation areas are more prone to uncivil behaviors; and how to foster civility in the courtroom.

    The program – which qualifies for 3.5 hours MCLE credit, including 3.25 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval) – is presented by the ISBA Bench and Bar Section and co-sponsored by the ISBA Civil Practice and Procedure Section and the ISBA Family Law Section.

    Click here for more information and to register.

  • November 4, 2013 | Practice News
    Applications being accepted for legal externs with U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Chicago

    The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of the Chief Counsel in Chicago, Illinois, is responsible for providing legal advice, training and services in cases related to the ICE mission in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Wisconsin.  The office represents the United States in immigration removal proceedings, and provides legal support to ICE components focusing on customs, worksite enforcement, employment law, and administrative law.  Legal externs assist in the representation of the United States government in immigration removal proceedings.

    Legal Extern Location: Chicago, Illinois

    Application Materials:   Resume, transcript, writing sample, and cover letter indicating dates when available.  Applications should be submitted to occ-chi-applications@ice.dhs.gov.  All electronically submitted documents must be in MSWord or Adobe Acrobat format. 

    Qualifications:  First-year (second semester) and second-year law students.  Previous or concurrent course work in immigration law helpful, but not necessary.  Must be a U.S. citizen.  Will be subject to a background investigation due to the sensitive nature of the work performed.

    Application Deadline: For Spring of 2014: Applications will be accepted between October 31 and November 14, 2013.

    Minimum Weeks  Required: 10 weeks minimum, 15 - 20 hours per week.

    Salary: Volunteer (without compensation).            

  • November 4, 2013 | Events | ISBA News
    ISBA to honor Class of 1963 Distinguished Counsellors

    The Illinois State Bar Association will honor the Class of 1963 Distinguished Counsellors on Thursday, Nov. 14. This title is conferred annually upon those ISBA members who are completing their 50th year of practice.

    The Class will be honored during a special luncheon at the Union League Club of Chicago located at 65 West Jackson Street. A reception will begin at 11:15 a.m., and lunch is scheduled for noon.

    Honorees receive one complimentary ticket to attend the luncheon. Additional tickets may be purchased in advance at $75 per person. Members of the “Class” and their guest(s) will be seated at special tables, each seating 10 persons. All tickets will be held for pick up at our registration table immediately prior to the luncheon.

    Tickets to the luncheon are available and may be purchased online at www.isba.org/distinguishedcounsellorsluncheon. Any questions regarding the luncheon may be directed to Kim Weaver at kweaver@isba.org.

    As part of the efforts to recognize 50 years of service, the Illinois Bar Foundation will produce a class yearbook with photographs and information about honorees and their experiences in the law.

    Congratulations to the 1963 Class of Distinguished Counsellors

    1 comment (Most recent November 13, 2013)
  • November 1, 2013 | People
    Rudolph Kaplan offices now at 20 N. Clark

    The Rudolph Kaplan law firm has moved its offices to 20 N. Clark in Chicago. The firm, headed by David Rudolph and Seth Kaplan, provides legal services to individuals and businesses throughout the Chicago area. It has a diverse practice concentrated in all aspects of business and real estate law – both transactional and litigation.

    The new address is 20 N. Clark, Ste. 2500, Chicago, IL and more information on the firm is available at rudolphkaplan.com.

  • October 31, 2013 | Events
    Phi Alpha Delta to celebrate Daniel P. Ward Student Scholarship's 20th anniversary

    Phi Alpha Delta Chicago Alumni Chapter will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Daniel P. Ward Student Scholarship on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. The event will be held at the Union League Club of Chicago located at 65 West Jackson.

    For 20 straight years, the PAD-CAC has hosted this event and awarded area law students with scholarships to continue their law studies. Scholarship recipients apply for scholarships, and those chosen to receive an award are invited to attend the dinner as a guest of the Alumni Chapter for free.
     
    Tickets are available at $60 for students and $95 for lawyers/judges, if the payment is received by November 8, 2013. Thereafter, the price increases to $75 for students and $125 for lawyers/judges. In addition, the event is seeking table sponsors for the scholarship dinner. For more information, please contact Julie-April Montgomery at 773-955-4370.

  • October 29, 2013 | ISBA News | Events
    Young Lawyers Professional Development Series - Advice From the Bench

    The second luncheon in a three-part luncheon series aimed at teaching law students and young attorneys practical steps in developing their legal career. Each luncheon will feature esteemed panelists discussing a variety of topics while also taking questions from the audience. This luncheon program will feature sitting judges offering tips to young lawyers on how to make a good impression in the courtroom.

    Speakers:

    • The Honorable James F. Holderman, United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    • The Honorable Thomas R. Mulroy, Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division

    • The Honorable Laura C. Liu, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division

    When/Where:

    • November 13, 2013, noon to 1 p.m.
    • ISBA Chicago Office, 20 S. Clark, Suite 900
    • Chicago, IL 60603

    Moderator:

    • Jessica Durkin, Co-Chair of YLD's Professional Development Committee, Associate,  Miroballi Durkin & Rudin

    Cost: $10 includes lunch. Cancellations will be accepted and refunded through Friday, November 8.  After November 8, no refunds will be given for cancellations.

    No MCLE credit is available for this program.

    Deadline to register is 4 pm, November 8.

    Register now!

  • October 29, 2013 | People
    Durcan joins Carmen D. Caruso Law Firm as Of Counsel

    Experienced Chicago commercial litigator, Christopher Durcan, joins the Carmen D. Caruso Law Firm. Durcan will be Of Counsel with the Firm and will work with Carmen Caruso and the other members of the Firm on a variety of cases as he grows his commercial litigation practice.

    Previously, Durcan practiced with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP and Butler Rubin Saltarelli & Boyd, LLP where he defended corporate clients in nationwide class actions and gained favorable outcomes in complex litigation issues for small, mid-size and Fortune 500 companies. He also has a proven track record of specialized insurance and reinsurance litigation and arbitration focusing on contract disputes.

    Durcan, an alumnus of University of Chicago Law School, has been practicing law for 10 years. Earlier in his career, he honed a strong understanding of business and gained consulting and project management skills at top tier consulting firms Ernst & Young and Hewitt Associates.

    Durcan is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association and the McHenry County Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in Illinois.

    Durcan resides in Crystal Lake with his wife Martha and their two children, Matilda and James.

  • October 29, 2013 | People
    Hon. Robert Scott 1923-2013

    The Hon. Robert Clement Scott, 90, of Fort Lauderdale, passed away on Oct. 2.

    Born April 8, 1923, and raised in Chicago, he attended Mae McMillan School in Fort Lauderdale in 1937-38, and graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Chicago and the University of Notre Dame.

    Judge Scott was an infantry combat veteran of World War II who received the Bronze Star. After practicing law in Chicago, he moved to Ft. Lauderdale in 1951, where he met his wife, the former Mary Louisa Smith.

    He was an early president of the Notre Dame Club of Fort Lauderdale, a 60-year member of The Florida Bar, and three- term member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors, a Fellow in the American College of Probate Counsel, and from 1982 to 1993 a Circuit Judge for Broward County. But, most important, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

  • October 29, 2013 | CLE
    CLE: Collection Issues You Don’t Know About…But Should

    Update your knowledge on the collection issues you don’t know about (but should!)  with this informative full-day seminar!


    Don’t miss this opportunity to update your knowledge on the ins-and-out of the less common (but sometimes more complicated) issues that can arise when attempting to collect a commercial debt, whether it’s during a foreclosure, bankruptcy or post judgment proceeding. Attorneys with intermediate practice experience working in commercial litigation, banking, or collections and bankruptcy who attend this seminar in Chicago on November 15th will better understand: the important collection issues within a foreclosure; what happens to your judgment lien on real estate if the defendant passes away; how to break through a trust; how piercing the corporate veil or taking action against fraudulent conveyances can help you collect debts for your client; how the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act shields your servicemember client from adverse collection actions; otions for getting your client’s claim out of a defendant’s bankruptcy; how to handle your client’s lawsuit against a company that’s out of business; and much more!

    The program is presented by the ISBA Commercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy Section and qualifies for 6.0 hours MCLE credit.

    Click here for more information and to register.

  • October 25, 2013 | Practice News
    Access to Justice Commission hosts 2nd Annual Conference

    The Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission hosted its second annual Conference on Oct. 23 that brought together more than 300 people from the legal and judicial fields to discuss the impact of pro bono work and evolving pro bono projects on the courts.

    Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride opened the Conference and gave an overview of the Commission's work and accomplishments in the past year.

    Bryan Stevenson, executive director at the Equal Justice Initiative based out of Alabama, served as the Conference's keynote speaker. A graduate of Harvard Law School and the Harvard School of Government, he has represented capital defendants and death row prisoners in the Deep South since 1985 when he was a staff attorney with the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia. He has been recognized by several national publications and organizations as one of the nation’s top public interest lawyers.

    Following Mr. Stevenson's address, there were three additional presentations about pro bono programs in Illinois and discussions on how to increase and improve on them.