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  • September 25, 2009 | ISBA News
    Lincoln documentary nominated for Mid-American Emmy
    The WILL-TV documentary Lincoln: Prelude to the Presidency, which the Illinois State Bar Association helped produce for the Lincoln bicentennial, has been nominated for a Mid-America Emmy Award. The Lincoln program focused on Abraham Lincoln's experiences as a lawyer on the circuit in central Illinois and was nominated for best historical documentary. Alison Davis Wood produced the program, and Tim Hartin and Colin Hartin were co-producers. Wood was also nominated in the program writing category, and Tim Hartin and Colin Hartin were nominated along with Julius Bolton for program photography. The Lincoln documentary aired last February on PBS stations across the country during Lincoln's Bicentennial. Click here to order the DVD.
  • September 16, 2009 | ISBA News | Member Services
    Illinois Lawyer Finder provides over 800 referrals in August
    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 August, 2009, ISBA helped people in need of legal services find lawyers in the following areas:
    • Administrative Law    4
    • Animal Law        1
    • Bankruptcy        21
    • Business Law        17
    • Civil Disputes         105
    • Civil Rights        22
    • Collection        28
    • Consumer Protection    21
    • Contracts        11
    • Criminal Law        72
    • Education Law        17
    • Elder law         5
    • Employment Law    84
    • Estate/Probate Law    23
    • Family            137
    • Government Benefits    12
    • Health Law        3
    • Immigration        8
    • Insurance Disputes    8
    • Intellectual Property    6
    • Miscellaneous        7
    • Municipal Law        7
    • Personal Injury        106
    • Real Estate        70
    • Social Security        14
    • Tax            5
    • Workers Compensation    17
    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.
  • September 9, 2009 | ISBA News
    ISBA's Legal Health Checkup runs in DuPage, Kane and Lake counties
    Subscribers to the Daily Herald in DuPage, Kane, and Lake counties awoke today to the third edition of the ISBA's Legal Health Checkup. The 12-page insert informs readers of legal situations they may face, and promotes use of a lawyer. A total of 114,000 Daily Herald readers received the Legal Health Checkup, which is a project of the ISBA Committee on Strategic Marketing for Illinois Lawyers. Topics covered include Patients' Rights, Foreclosure Scams, Legal Rights on the Job, Child Support and Estate Planning. The Checkup's bottom line message is that legal problems require the assistance of a lawyer. Readers are urged to consult their lawyer, and if they need help in finding a lawyer, ISBA's Illinois Lawyer Finder Service is promoted, along with the lawyer referral services of the DuPage, Kane and Lake county bar associations.
  • 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 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 | ISBA News
    John O’Brien interview on Illinois Radio Network
    [caption id="attachment_3803" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Jim Anderson (left) and John O'Brien (right)"][/caption] John O’Brien was interviewed by Illinois Radio Network newsman Jim Anderson today for a half-hour show, “Eye on Illinois,” that will air at various times the weekend of Aug. 28 on IRN’s subscriber stations statewide. John fielded questions about real estate law as well as the work undertaken by lawyers.
  • August 25, 2009 | ISBA News
    IBF awards $2,500 grant to CASA of Franklin County
    [caption id="attachment_3754" align="alignright" width="300" caption="IBF Board member and ISBA 1st Vice President Mark Hassakis of Mt. Vernon presents a $2,500 check to Mariah Hayes, Executive Director of CASA of Franklin County. "][/caption] The Illinois Bar Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce a $2,500 grant to CASA of Franklin County, one of 32 grants awarded this year totaling $304,995. CASA of Franklin County recruits, trains and supports volunteers to speak up for the best interest of abused and neglected children in Franklin County Juvenile Dependency Court. According to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, in 2006, Franklin County was 10th in the state with the highest number of child abuse and neglect reports based on population. As the charitable affiliate of the Illinois State Bar Association, 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. This past year, through the support of ISBA members, IBF distributed more than $425,000 to support these efforts.
  • August 20, 2009 | ISBA News
    ISBA President John O'Brien to appear on WMAY
    [caption id="attachment_3618" align="alignright" width="150" caption="John O'Brien"][/caption] ISBA President John O'Brien will appear on radio station WMAY 970-AM out of Springfield this Saturday, August 22, at approximately 12:30 p.m. to discuss pro bono work that lawyers perform. The segment can be heard through the station's Web site at www.wmay.com and click on the "Listen Live" button.
  • August 18, 2009 | ISBA News
    ISBA's Young Lawyers Division awards $2,000 grant to Life Span
    [caption id="attachment_3524" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Robert Fink (left), YLD vice chair and Kelley Gandurski (right), YLD chair, present the $2,000 check to Ari Bernstein and Sandra Blake of Life Span."][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division recently awarded a $2,000 grant to Life Span to support its counselor's services in the teens/children counseling program. Life Span is committed to the cessation of domestic violence and to the relief of those who suffer from its consequences.
  • August 17, 2009 | ISBA News
    Abe and ISBA at the Illinois State Fair
    [gallery] Members of the Illinois State Bar Association staff worked the "Looking for Lincoln" tent on Sunday at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield and will be back again on Tuesday, August 18. The "Looking for Lincoln" tent also sponsored a re-enactment of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Fair attendees can collect rubbings from all five Lincoln storyboard medallions and receive half-off an adult admission to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The ISBA tent is located on the north east side in the Heartland area, near the "Dock Dogs" show on the outer perimeter. All fair attendees are invited to stop by.