The Bar News

Bar News Sections

Chicago Area

  • September 2, 2009
    Equality for Kids campaign succeeds despite economic crunch
    Equip for Equality is proud to announce that its Equality for Kids Campaign raised more than $235,000 in its first year.  The Campaign secures critical funding for Equip for Equality's Special Education Clinic and other disability rights initiatives, and will allow the organization to increase its pro bono efforts on behalf of kids with disabilities.  Attorney General Lisa Madigan is serving as the Honorary Chairperson of the Campaign Committee, which was launched with funding from the American Bar Association's Litigation Section and the Lawyers Trust Fund from Illinois. "Despite the economic downturn, leaders in the legal and business community have been incredibly generous," said Duane Quaini, former Chairperson of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, and a Campaign Co-Chair. "Equip for Equality's mission and its reputation for obtaining positive results for students with disabilities is compelling and has motivated many donors to invest their limited charitable dollars in the Campaign."  As the parent of a person with a significant developmental disability, Mr.
  • September 1, 2009 | ISBA News
    Illinois Bar Foundation announces grant recipients
    The Illinois Bar Foundation, the charitable affiliate of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), has announced the recipients of its new grants totaling $304,965 awarded to 32 law-related nonprofit organizations, including: Chicago
    • Apna Ghar, Inc., $7,500
    • Cabrini Green Legal Aid, $15,000
    • CARPLS, $25,000
    • Center for Conflict Resolution, $5,000
    • Center on Halsted, $5,000
    • Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers, $8,000
    • Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation, $15,000
    • Equip for Equality, $20,000
    • Family Rescue, $7,500
    • Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice, $10,000
    • Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, $5,000
    • Illinois Legal Aid Online, $20,000
    • Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, $7,500
    • Legal Aid Bureau of Metropolitan Family Services, $10,000
    • Public Interest Law Initiative, $15,000
    • Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, $5,000
    Elsewhere in Illinois
    • CASA of Franklin County, Benton, $2,500
    • CASA of Jefferson County, Mt. Vernon, $2,000
    • CASA of McHenry County, Woodstock, $2,000
    • Center for Prevention of Abuse, Peoria, $5,000
    • Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois, Springfield, $13,465
    • Macon County CASA, Decatur, $5,000
    • Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., Rockford, $15,000
    • St. Clair County CASA, Belleville, $10,000
    • Dove Domestic Violence Program, Decatur, $10,000
    • Life Span, Des Plaines, $10,000
    • Catholic Urban Programs/Neighborhood Law Office, East St.
  • August 31, 2009 | Member Services
    Last chance to take the 2009 ISBA Membership Survey and enter our prize giveaway
    We've already heard from over 2,000 ISBA lawyer members ... have we heard from you? If you have not yet taken the 2009 ISBA Membership Survey, today is your last chance to do so! All ISBA lawyer members are invited to take the survey.  Please refer to the survey e-mail sent to you on August 26th for the link to the survey.  (If you have questions about the survey, or need assistance accessing the survey, please contact Ann Boucher, Membership Coordinator, at 800.252.8908.) We want to know what you think about the various programs and benefits the ISBA offers its members and how we could be serving you better.  Your responses will help guide the ISBA's future direction and services.  This is your chance to be heard and we are listening! After you have completed the survey, we will enter your name in a drawing for one of the following prizes if you choose to provide your contact information* at the end of the survey:
    • Four (4) members will win an iPod Nano loaded with up to six (6) MCLE/PMCLE hours of FastCLE programs of their choosing. (Valued at up to $330)
    • One (1) member will win the grand prize, including one (1) free year of membership in the ISBA plus an iPod Nano loaded with up to six (6) MCLE/PMCLE hours of FastCLE programs of their choosing. (Valued at up to $650, depending on membership category)
    To take the survey, please open up the follow-up e-mail sent to you on August 26th and click on the link provided within the e-mail.
  • August 28, 2009 | ISBA News
    "Surviving the Mortgage Crisis" and "How to Choose the Right Lawyer" to air in September
    [caption id="attachment_3686" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Nancy Z. Hablutzel (from left), Lawrence O. Wagner and Ophelia Navarro will appear on "Surviving the Mortgage Crisis.""][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association's Illinois Law cable program will air two shows "Surviving the Mortgage Crisis" and "How to Choose the Right Lawyer for You" during the month of September on CAN-TV Cable Channel 21. [caption id="attachment_3687" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Nancy Z. Hablutzel (front, from left), Bonita B. Hwang Cho and (rear, from left) Jesus Perez and M. Yaser Tabbara will appear on "How to Choose the Right Lawyer for You.""][/caption] "Surviving the Mortgage Crisis" will air on Sept. 1, 15 and 29 at 10 p.m. This program will be moderated by Chicago lawyer Nancy Hablutzel with commentary by Lawrence O. Wagner of the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago and Ophelia Navarro, Executive Director of the Spanish Coalition for Housing. "How to Choose the Right Lawyer for You" will air on Sept. 8 and 22 at 10 p.m.
  • August 27, 2009 | Events
    Justinian Society of Lawyers to hold Installation and Awards Dinner
    The Justinian Society of Lawyers will hold its 2009 Installation and Awards Dinner on Sept. 23 at the Palmer House Hilton. Hon. Richard F. Pellegrino will receive the Award of Excellence and Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias will receive the Honorable Anthony Scariano Humanitarian Award. Visit the Society's Web site for more information.
  • August 25, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Tuesday, August 25

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Southern Illinois

    Note: Breaking legal news will return on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
  • August 24, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Monday, August 24

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Southern Illinois

    State

    Nation

  • August 24, 2009 | Member Services
    Membership Mondays

    What Your Dues Dollars Bring You

    Reminder: Dues payments are due by Monday, August 31. If you have already paid your dues, THANK YOU!   If you have not yet paid, you can do so online or by phone (call Ann at 800-252-8908); Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express are all accepted.  Members can also pay through our flexible automatic dues installment program, Membership Made Easy, which allows payments to be broken up into easily affordable increments. As our membership renewal campaign comes to a close, we'd like to remind you of all the exciting programs and services the ISBA provides its members.  By renewing your membership you can: Practice more affordably. The ISBA provides members with free online legal research through Fastcase, which contains a comprehensive 50-state and federal caselaw database, including IL statutes and IL-based federal district court cases.
  • August 24, 2009 | Member Services
    $100 off ISBA Mutual for Solo and Small Firm attendees
    Receive a $100 premium credit on your next policy renewal with ISBA Mutual for every member of your firm who attends the ISBA's 5th Annual Solo and Small Firm Conference. Click here to register for the conference, Oct. 22-24, 2009. There is an early bird discount for those who register by August 28, 2009. There are no separate forms to fill out or submit to obtain your premium credit. All you have to do is attend the conference and your premium credit will automatically be applied on your next renewal. We believe that the ISBA Solo and Small Firm Conference offers useful up to date practice information that may help those attending avoid malpractice pitfalls. The premium credit for the Solo and Small Firm Conference applies to the 2009 conference only and may not be applicable to conferences in future years. Please note that this is a premium credit on the renewal of your professional liability insurance policy with ISBA Mutual, not a discount on the registration fee. You will be receiving the brochure to register for the 13th Annual Risk Management Conference in early September. As usual, you will also qualify for a $100 premium credit on your next renewal by attending this conference. Attend both the ISBA 5th Annual Solo and Small Firm Conference and the 13th Annual ISBA Mutual Risk Management Conference and you will receive $200 in premium credit on your next renewal. The dates for the Risk Management Conference this year are:
    • October 6, Collinsville
    • October 7, Bloomington
    • October 8, Oak Brook
    • October 9, Chicago
  • August 21, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Friday, August 21

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Southern Illinois