ISBA News

[caption id="attachment_10680" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien receives the "Grassroots Award" from ABA President Carolyn Lamm."][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association’s successful outreach to its congressional delegation on such key legal issues as student loan forgiveness, tort and bankruptcy reform, and funding of Legal Services Corporation was recognized this week in Washington, as the ISBA picked up the “ABA Day Grassroots Award.” The bar was honored for its effectiveness in lobbying Congress on behalf of issues of concern to the justice system. The awards’ committee specially noted the versatility and responsiveness of ISBA Executive Director Robert Craghead and Governmental Affairs Director Jim Covington when the voice of state bar associations is needed on Capitol Hill. The association was one of two to receive this year’s award for state organizations. The grassroots award was given in conjunction with ABA Day, a series of Capitol Hill events sponsored by the American Bar Association designed to involve the American legal community in improving access to justice. Hundreds of leaders from bar associations coast-to-coast convened for the meeting.

[caption id="attachment_10201" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Annemarie Kill, Chair of the Standing Committee of Women and the Law, Sonni Williams, Chair of Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, NIU Law Dean Jennifer Rosato and event presenter and newly-elected ISBA 3rd Vice President Paula Holderman"][/caption] The ISBA Standing Committees on Women and the Law and Ethnic and Racial Minorities and the Law co-sponsored "Seek Power! A Law Student's Guide to Authentic Self Promotion" on April 9 at Northern Illinois University College of Law. Newly-elected 3rd Vice President Paula Holderman presented and Justice Susan F. Hutchinson offered words of wisdom to students preparing their career path. The event was followed by a networking reception at the College's Thurgood Marshall Gallery. Click here to view a photo gallery from this event.

[caption id="attachment_10057" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Derek Samz, Cindy M. Johnson, Karen White (moderator) and Julia Jensen Smolka will appear on "Your Customer Files for Bankruptcy, Now What?"."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_10054" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Thomas Lombardo, Cindy Johnson, Karen White (moderator) and Derek Samz will appear on "Maximizing Your Business Collections"."][/caption] Your Customer Files for Bankruptcy, Now What? and Maximizing Your Business Collections, half-hour programs presented by the Illinois State Bar Association, will air on Chicago Access Network Television, Channel 21 in April and May. Your Customer Files for Bankruptcy, Now What? will air on Tuesdays, April 20 and May 4 at 10 p.m. Appearing on the show are Derek D. Samz, of the Park Ridge law firm of DiMonte & Lizak, LLC; Cindy M.

[caption id="attachment_9755" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA presidents past, present and future: Past President Jack Carey, current President John O'Brien, newly-elected 3rd VP Paula Holderman, 2nd VP John Locallo, President-elect Mark Hassakis and 3rd VP John Thies "][/caption] Ballots will be mailed to ISBA members on April 1 for contested elections for the Board of Governors and the Assembly. Also watch for information about the candidates in the Spring edition of Illinois Lawyer Now Quarterly, on its way to your mailbox now. Six candidates are seeking three seats on the Board of Governors in Cook County, two challengers are seeking the Under 37 Board seat outside Cook County, and 127 seats in the 201-member Assembly are being filled. Assembly contests are in the 3rd, 7th, and 18th circuits. Learn about the candidates and vote!