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  • February 24, 2011 | ISBA News
    ISBA President Hassakis meets with Cook County Juvenile Courts Chief Judge Michael Toomin
    [caption id="attachment_17935" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA President Mark Hassakis and Presiding Judge of the Cook County Juvenile Courts Michael Toomin discuss juvenile justice issues."][/caption] Illinois State Bar Association President Mark Hassakis met to discuss juvenile justice issues with the presiding judge of the Cook County Juvenile Justice Division, Judge Michael Toomin. President Hassakis had earlier toured the facility with Illinois Juvenile Justice Initiative President Betsy Clarke and Dr. Beverly Butler, Special Assistant to Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans. The group met with Judge Toomin and Chief Court Officer Diane Walsh after the tour to discuss juvenile justice issues, specifically re-entry programs and alternatives to detention. Judge Toomin recently succeeded Curtis Heaston, who led the juvenile courts for more than a decade earlier this year.
  • February 15, 2011 | ISBA News
    Young Lawyers present $4,000 check to DeKalb County Youth Service Bureau VolunTeen Program
    The Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division recently presented a $4,000 check to DeKalb County Youth Service Bureau VolunTeen Program. On hand for the presentation were (left to right): Jason Nicol, Executive Director of the Youth Services Bureau, Andrea Broska, Clinical Director of the VolunTeen Program and Heather Fritsch, YLD Vice-Chair.
  • February 11, 2011 | ISBA News
    Hon. April Troemper urges law students to aim high
    [caption id="attachment_17712" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Hon. April Troemper"][/caption] By Alice Noble-Allgire, Professor, SIU School of Law “Set your sights high, realizing that when life throws you an obstacle, there’s always Plan B and sometimes Plan C” — that was the message Judge April Troemper delivered to students at a Women in Leadership Workshop hosted by Southern Illinois University School of Law last month. A 1998 graduate of the SIU law school, Judge Troemper was asked to give the opening day’s luncheon address on January 13 to inspire students to follow in her footsteps as a successful attorney, a member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Board of Governors and, most recently, among the esteemed ranks of the state’s judiciary as an Associate Circuit Judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Springfield. Judge Troemper used her own experience to demonstrate that hard work, perseverance, and creating genuine relationships are the pathway to leadership.  After describing a number of personal and financial obstacles that threatened her ability to attend college, Judge Troemper said that’s when she learned an important life’s lesson: “When life throws a huge obstacle in the way, come up with a Plan B and go around it.”
  • February 9, 2011 | ISBA News | Member Services
    Illinois Lawyer Finder makes over 750 referrals in January
    The Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyer Finder Service provides referrals to local lawyers Mondays through Fridays.  The Service makes referrals in a number of areas of law.  For the month of January 2011, ISBA helped people in need of legal services find lawyers in the following areas:
    • Administrative Law - 14
    • Bankruptcy - 3
    • Business Law - 13
    • Civil Disputes - 87
    • Civil Rights - 27
    • Collection - 23
    • Consumer Protection - 23
    • Contracts – 12
    • Criminal Law - 72
    • Elder law - 12
    • Employment Law - 95
    • Estate/Probate Law - 33
    • Family - 134
    • Government Benefits - 19
    • Health Law - 3
    • Immigration - 3
    • Insurance Disputes - 9
    • Intellectual Property - 5
    • Miscellaneous - 2
    • Municipal Law - 6
    • Personal Injury - 77
    • Real Estate - 31
    • Social Security - 13
    • Tax - 9
    These numbers do not include additional referrals made through the online Lawyer Finder service. Want to be part of the ISBA Lawyer Finder Service?  Call (800) 252-8908 and ask for the Legal Department, or visit www.illinoislawyerfinder.com Clients should call (800) 922-8757.
  • February 9, 2011 | ISBA News
    Notice regarding online voting in ISBA elections
    As we near the 2011 election for ISBA offices, I want to give you advance notice of important changes being made - changes that can make it easier for you to cast your vote and that, over time, will reduce the cost of conducting elections for the Association. We are introducing the option of electronic voting for the first time this spring, and it is truly an option - all members will be able to choose to vote either electronically or by paper ballot. Here's what this will mean from your perspective: If you have provided ISBA with your email address, you will receive a ballot by email from our vendor, VR Election Services, along with instructions about securely casting your vote electronically. However, if you prefer, you will have the option to request a paper ballot after receiving the email. If you have not provided ISBA with an email address or if the address we have for you is not a valid, functioning address, you will receive a paper ballot and voting instructions through regular mail. Included with the instructions will be information about how to vote electronically if you so choose.
  • February 7, 2011 | ISBA News
    President Hassakis meets with IDJJ executive team
    [caption id="attachment_17541" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Illinois State Bar Association President Mark D. Hassakis met with leaders from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) on Friday, Feb. 4, to find ways that ISBA can help the Department with its mission of preserving public safety by reducing recidivism. On hand for the meeting were (left to right): Justin Slaughter, IDJJ Director of Programs, Beth Compton, IDJJ Chief Counsel, Arthur Bishop, IDJJ Director, ISBA President Hassakis and Ashley Cross, IDJJ Chief of Staff."][/caption] Illinois State Bar Association President Mark D. Hassakis continued his push to improve the state’s juvenile justice programs by meeting with leaders of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice on Friday, Feb. 4, at the Thompson Center in Chicago. The meeting covered a wide-range of issues the Department faces and focused on ways ISBA can help IDJJ move forward by “laying a brick everyday,” the guiding philosophy of new IDJJ Director Arthur Bishop. Three areas were identified where IDJJ is making improvements. The first is its continued withdrawal from the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), where it resided until four years ago. However, IDJJ still operates under IDOC’s administrative policies. The second is passing legislation beneficial to its core mission. This can be seen in the push to update legislation on juvenile expungements.
  • February 3, 2011 | ISBA News
    Felice unopposed for ISBA 3rd VP; Other election news
    Wheaton lawyer Richard D. Felice will lead the Illinois State Bar Association as its president in 2014-15. Felice, a former member of the Board of Governors, was the only candidate filing petitions for 3rd vice president by Monday's filing deadline. He will become 3rd vice president at the annual meeting in June and serve one year in each of three vice presidential offices. Following Mark D. Hassakis in the office of president will be John G. Locallo of Chicago, John E. Thies of Urbana, Paula Hudson Holderman of Chicago, and Felice. Six candidates filed for four vacancies on the Board of Governors in Cook County: Patrice M. Ball-Reed, Umberto S. Davi, Martin L. Glink, Christopher T. Hurley, Stephen M. Komie, and John L. Nisivaco. Two candidates filed for Board of Governors Under 37, Downstate: Jennifer Walsh Hammer of Springfield and Tara H. Ori of Waukegan. Also filing unopposed for re-election to their seats on the Board of Governors were Shari R. Rhode of Carbondale and Frank A.Sommario, Under 37, Cook County. Twenty-six seats on the ISBA Assembly from Cook County are up for election. Twenty-four candidates filed petitions by Monday's deadline. This year's filing deadlines were different from previous years, as will be the method of voting by ISBA members. Electronic voting will be offered as an option in addition to paper ballots for contested races.
  • February 2, 2011 | ISBA News
    ISBA offices open today
    The Illinois State Bar Association's Springfield and Chicago offices are open today (Thursday) after being closed on Wednesday due to the blizzard.
  • January 28, 2011 | ISBA News
    Illinois Law videos "Filing Your Tax Return" and "Hot Tips in Taxes" now available online
    "Filing Your Tax Return" and "Hot Tips in Taxes" will air on Illinois Law in March - but here's a not-so-sneak peek. The shows are moderated by Karen A. White of SmithAmundsen LLC in Chicago with a panel featuring James Krupp of Krupp & Krupp in DeKalb, Nancy Franks-Strauss of Nancy Franks-Strauss, Ltd. in Chicago and Larry Krupp of Kessler Orleans Silver Co. in Deerfield.
  • January 25, 2011 | ISBA News
    Don't forget - deadline for nominating petitions is Jan. 31
    Nominating petitions for the upcoming ISBA election must be filed by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2011 at either the Illinois Bar Center, 424 South 2nd Street, in Springfield or the ISBA Chicago Office at 20 S. Clark Street, 9th Floor, Chicago. Petitions must be physically submitted with original signatures. Petitions submitted via email or fax will not be accepted. This election will decide a new Third Vice President, 7 Board of Governors and 26 members of the Assembly (Cook County). Click here for more information on ISBA elections.