The Bar News

Bar News Sections

ISBA News

  • June 3, 2010 | ISBA News
    YLD presents $5,000 grant to CASA Winnebago
    [caption id="attachment_11933" align="alignright" width="300" caption="YLD Council member Adela Lucchesi presents a $5,000 check to Fran Rossate of Winnebago CASA."][/caption] ISBA Young Lawyers Division Council member Adela Lucchesi presents a $5,000 check to Winnebago County CASA Board Chairperson Fran Rossate. The grant will support the Recruitment/Training Coordinator to continue to recruit and train additional advocates to respond to the stated need of the Juvenile Court Judge in Winnebago County. The YLD Council started - beginning last year with ISBA Past President Jack Carey - giving a grant in honor of the current ISBA President. This grant is in honor of John O'Brien.
  • May 27, 2010 | ISBA News
    Corrao named executive director of Illinois Bar Foundation
    [caption id="attachment_11801" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Lisa Corrao"][/caption] Lisa Corrao has been selected to be Executive Director of the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF), the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association. Corrao joined the Foundation in March, 2008, as Associate Executive Director.  Her previous experience includes serving as the Director of Development for the Chicago Sinfonietta and Vice President of Advancement for the Illinois Saint Andrew Society in North Riverside. She was Director of Development and Communications of the Glenwood School for Boys and Girls from 1996 to 2000. “Lisa’s extensive experience fits well with the goals and programs of the Foundation,” said Vincent Cornelius of Wheaton, IBF president. “We are looking forward to expanding the IBF’s ability to channel funding to crucial legal and social services that are increasingly needed by Illinois citizens.” Established in 1951, the Illinois Bar Foundation’s mission is to ensure meaningful access to the justice system, especially for those with limited means, and to assist lawyers who can no longer support themselves due to incapacity. A native of Park Forest, IL, Corrao received her B.A.
  • May 18, 2010 | Events | ISBA News
    SIU School of Law to host "Who Me? A Law School Professor" at Annual Meeting
    The Southern Illinois University School of Law will present "Who Me? A Law School Professor" on Thursday, June 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Illinois State Bar Association's Annual Meeting in St. Louis. This program will address reasons to become a law professor and explain the hiring process. Southern Illinois University School of Law presents this program to encourage the diversity among law professors. There will be handouts and time for one on one questions, as well as a group presentation. Click here for more information on the Annual Meeting.
  • May 14, 2010 | ISBA News
    YLD presents grant to CASA Lake County
    [caption id="attachment_11387" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Terri Z. Greenberg and Krysia Ressler"][/caption] The IBF/YLD Children's Assistance Fund recently presented a $5,000 grant to CASA Lake County. Pictured on the left is Terri Z. Greenberg, Executive Director of CASA and Krysia Ressler, Waukegan, member of the YLD Council. The grant was given to support the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers who represent children who are under court jurisdiction because they have suffered physical abuse, family violence, psycholgical torment, sexual abuse, neglect or abandonment while in the care of their parents. CASA volunteers work to help these children find safe, permanent homes.
  • May 12, 2010 | ISBA News | Practice News
    "Medical Malpractice" and "Personal Injury" to air on Illinois Law
    [caption id="attachment_11139" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Appearing on Medical Malpractice – Start to Finish will be (from left): program moderator Samuel A. Kavathas, Karen M. Enright, Hon. Elizabeth Budzinski and Ronald W. Kalish."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_11140" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Appearing on Personal Injury – Start to Finish will be (from left) Hon. Thomas V. Lyons, II, Ronald W. Kalish, Karen M. Enright, and program moderator Samuel A. Kavathas."][/caption] Medical Malpractice - Start to Finish and Personal Injury - Start to Finish, half-hour programs presented by the Illinois State Bar Association, will air on Chicago Access Network Television, Channel 21 in May and June. Medical Malpractice will air on Tuesdays, May 18 and June 1, at 10 p.m. Appearing on the show will be: program moderator Sam Kavathas of Kavathas & Castenes; Karen M.
  • May 11, 2010 | ISBA News
    Fiorentino presented with ISBA Law Enforcement Award
    [caption id="attachment_11408" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Robert Whitfield, ISBA President John O'Brien, Joseph Fiorentino, ISBA member Richard Caifano"][/caption] Cook County Deputy Sheriff Joseph Fiorentino received the 2010 Law Enforcement Award from the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) at a ceremony held May 11 at the ISBA Chicago Regional office. ISBA President John G. O’Brien presented him with the award, which was created to recognize sworn law enforcement officers for conduct that promotes justice and to distinguish those individuals whose service to the public brings honor and respect to the entire criminal justice system.
  • May 11, 2010 | ISBA News
    Election results are in - Enright, Hartigan, Wojcik, Bas win Board seats
    [caption id="attachment_11434" align="alignright" width="234" caption="Clockwise from upper right: Karen Enright, Mark Wojcik, Russell Hartigan, Jamie Bas"][/caption] The results from the Illinois State Bar Association's election are in and incumbents Russell W. Hartigan and Mark E. Wojcik have been re-elected to the Board of Governors. Karen M. Enright of Chicago picked up the third Cook County seat. Jamie L. Bas of Swansea was the winner in the Under 37 Downstate race. Hartigan is a partner at Hartigan & O’Connor P.C. in Chicago. He focuses his practice in civil litigation, municipal, personal injury and real estate. He is the current board liaison to the Civil Practice Section Council, Local Government Law Section, Committee on Legal Education, Admission and Competence. Wojcik is a professor at the John Marshall Law School where he has taught legal writing, torts, human rights and international subjects. He previously chaired the ISBA’s International and Immigration Section and served on the Human Rights Section Council, the Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and the Special Committee on GATS. Enright is a partner at Winters Enright Salzetta & O’Brien, L.L.C. in Chicago.  She focuses her practice in personal injury and won the 2009 ISBA Board of Governors Award. Enright was president of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois from 2007-2008. Bas is an associate at DeFranco & Bradley P.C.
  • May 7, 2010 | Events | ISBA News
    81-year-old new admittee highlights May 2010 class
    [caption id="attachment_11238" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien with 81-year-old new admittee Agnes Prindiville"][/caption] Agnes Prindiville always wanted to be a lawyer. Her father and social norms helped lead her on the path to become a teacher. After a career in the classroom, Prindiville is ready for a new career after being sworn-in with 471 other new admittees Thursday at McCormick Place. ISBA President John O'Brien, Illinois Native American Bar Association President Matthew Beaudet and University of Chicago Law School Professor Randolph N. Stone addressed the new admittees. Nearly 700 new lawyers were sworn-in around the state, bringing the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to almost 88,000. Prindiville recently told the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin that when she was in her 70s, "I had this very latent desire to go to law school to study law." So she took the LSAT and enrolled at DePaul University as a part-time law student in 2004. Now that she's a licensed attorney, Prindiville isn't planning on racking up any billable hours. "I don't expect to make a salary," she told the Law Bulletin. "I expect to do things pro bono.
  • May 5, 2010 | ISBA News
    Ask a Lawyer Day volunteers assist over 200 Illinois residents
    [caption id="attachment_11092" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Some of the Ask a Lawyer Day participants at the Illinois Bar Center in Springfield on May 1 included (left to right): attorney Michael Robinson, lawyer referral clerk Mary Kinsley, front desk receptionist Bev Oshesky, McKinzie Oshesky, attorney Tom Carlisle, legislation staffer Jill Gilpin and legal staffer Tracy Potter."][/caption] Ask a Lawyer Day volunteers manning phone banks at the ISBA's Illinois Bar Center in Springfield provided legal assistance to over 200 Illinois residents on Saturday. Calls were answered from 41 counties from around the state. Volunteers also provided assistance via phone banks at the Chicago Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association and Will County Bar Association. Springfield volunteers included:
    • Thomas Carlisle
    • Henry Hagen
    • Bill McNutt
    • Dale Schempp
    • Tim Tigue
    • Don LoBue
    • Michael Robinson
    • John Bailen
  • April 28, 2010 | Events | ISBA News
    Need legal help? Ask a Lawyer Day is May 1
    Anyone in Illinois with a question about a legal matter can call and talk to a lawyer – at no cost – on Saturday, May 1, Ask a Lawyer Day. Lawyer volunteers will answer phones at four locations around the state from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Any Illinois resident can call 1-800-252-8908, toll-free, or a local number in some areas for a free phone consultation with a lawyer. The 29th annual Ask A Lawyer Day, part of Law Day activities in Illinois, is a public service sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association in cooperation with bar associations in Cook County, DuPage County, and Will County. Lawyer volunteers will be able to answer questions about consumer problems, family law, estate planning, personal injury, or any other legal situations affecting individuals. Property owners who have damage from spring storms and who have questions about their legal rights are encouraged to call for information. Callers will be advised of steps they can take to resolve their legal problems and, if they need additional legal services, they will be advised to see their lawyer.  If they don’t have a lawyer, they will receive a referral through a referral service in their area. Phone numbers to talk to a lawyer on May 1 are:
    • From anywhere in Illinois – ISBA       (800) 252-8908 (toll free) or (217) 525-1760
    • The Chicago Bar Association             (312) 554-2001
    • DuPage County Bar Association        (630) 653-9109
    • Will County Bar Association               (815) 773-1150
    Each of the bar associations operates a lawyer referral service for people who need legal services but do not have a lawyer.