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ISBA News

  • December 13, 2017 | ISBA News
    Temporary ISBA Service Interruption on Dec. 29-30

    All ISBA systems will be down due to electrical work beginning Friday, Dec. 29 at 8 a.m. until Saturday, Dec. 30 at 12 p.m. (noon). During this time the ISBA website will not be available. As a result you will also not be able to log into Fastcase, online CLE, and ISBA Central. Here is what you need to know and steps you can take to ensure continued service.

    Online CLE

    You will not be able to access online CLE at all during the outage. If you need to complete CLE credit before the end of the year, we strongly urge you to plan to finalize that before the outage. 

    ISBA Central Communities and Discussion Groups

    Discussion groups will still be available via email, but you will not be able to log into ISBA Central. (Note: if you are already logged into the ISBA website, you may be able to access ISBA Central by going to it directly at http://central.isba.org).

    Fastcase

    For members who need to access Fastcase during this time, please follow the instructions below.

  • December 12, 2017 | ISBA News
    2017 Midyear Meeting Highlights

    The 2017 Midyear Meeting was held last week, Dec. 7-9, 2017, at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago. Attendees celebrated the profession, discussed issues of mutual interest to the bench and bar, attended business meetings, earned CLE credit, and expanded their social and professional networks at receptions and dinners. During section meetings and at the Assembly meeting, various members of the ISBA community were recognized with awards. 

    The photo galleries containing highlights from this year's Midyear Meeting are now available and listed below:

    Opening Ceremony

    YLD 20th Annual Holiday Party

    ISBA/IJA Joint Meeting Luncheon

    Law School Alumni Receptions

    Diversity Leadership Council "Count Me In" Reception

    Illinois Supreme Court Cocktail Reception

    Illinois Supreme Court Dinner

  • December 8, 2017 | ISBA News
    Congratulations to the ISBA Midyear Meeting Prize Winners

    Congratulations to the following prize winners at the ISBA Midyear Meeting:

    • $50 Amazon Gift Card - Daniel Kegan
    • 3 months of service ($1,287 value) - Sarah Taylor
    • $100 Visa Gift Card - Laura Kern
    • $100 Amazon Gift Card - Margaret A. Bennett
    • TENS unit - Melissa Greathouse
    • Bottle of champagne in a wine cooler bottle holder - Haskell M. Pitluck
    • $50 gift card - Bridget L. Schott
    • $25 Starbucks gift card - Alice Sackett
    • Amazon Echo Dot - Jan Strzalka
    • $100 Amex Gift Card - Roza Gossop
    • Amazon Echo - Melissa Olivers
    • $100 Amex Gift Card - Donald Shriver
    • $100 Amex Gift Card - John Voorn
    • Microsoft Home - Andy Scheifer
    • Student Microsoft Office 365 - Kim Dugan
    • Spa gift certificate - Bernard Peter
    • Amazon Echo show - Joan Amuda
    • IBF tickets to Illinois Lawyers Rock - Douglas Olivers

    Winners can pick up their prizes at the registration desk on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

  • December 8, 2017 | ISBA News
    ISBA Bookstore Sale Ends Today

    Today is the last day to save 20% on all orders placed through the ISBA webstore! Our special holiday offer includes ISBA books, client brochures, and merchandise. Take advantage of the Bookstore Holiday Sale by visiting the ISBA Storefront and entering the coupon code "HOLIDAY17" at checkout. 

    You can use this coupon code to save on our newest book, The Direct Examination of the Plaintiff's Physician: A Handbook for Illinois Personal injury Lawyers, or on our tried-and-true bestsellers, like the 2018 Daily Diary. 

    Shop the ISBA Bookstore now.

  • December 6, 2017 | ISBA News
    Early Booking Promotion for ISBA Mediterranean Cruise Available Through Dec. 10

    The deadline to receive your early booking promotion for the ISBA Mediterranean Cruise with President Russell W. Hartigan has been extended. Now through Sunday, Dec. 10, you will receive a $500 per person airline credit when you book your cruise and airfare.

    The cruise is a nine-night voyage aboard the Amazara Quest, departing from Barcelona, Spain, on May 15 and arriving in Nice, France on May 24.

    Additional details about the cruise and its itinerary are available through the Member Marketplace. To take advantage of the early booking promotion, fill out the Mediterranean Cruise Registration Form and follow the submission instructions.

  • December 5, 2017 | Member Services | ISBA News
    Lawyer Referral Service Makes Over 800 Referrals in November

    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 November 2017 there were over 800 referrals given. ISBA helped people in need of legal services find lawyers in the following areas:

  • November 30, 2017 | ISBA News
    Save on ISBA Bookstore Orders Through Dec. 8

    Now through December 8, you can save 20% on all orders placed through the ISBA webstore. The offer includes ISBA books, client brochures, and merchandise. Take advantage of the Bookstore Holiday Sale by visiting the ISBA Storefront and entering the coupon code "HOLIDAY17" at checkout. 

    You can use this coupon code to save on our newest book, The Direct Examination of the Plaintiff's Physician: A Handbook for Illinois Personal injury Lawyers, or on our tried-and-true bestsellers, like the 2018 Daily Diary. 

    Start your holiday shopping at the ISBA Store now.

  • November 28, 2017 | ISBA News
    Midyear Meeting Advance Registration Deadline Is Friday

    The advance registration deadline for the 2017 Midyear Meeting, which will be held Dec. 7– 9 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, is this Friday, Dec. 1. Register online now to celebrate the profession and consider issues of mutual interest to the bench and bar with the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association. 

    This year's highlights include:

    • Opening reception
    • Luncheon presentation by Joel D. Weisman, host and senior editor of Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review
    • A Whole New Electronic World: Do's and Don'ts for Judges (And Lawyers Too) program
    • Hot Topics in the Legal Profession program
    • The Hero's Journey: Honor, Integrity, and Your Legal Career Through the Lens of History program
    • Diversity and Inclusion in the Practice of Law program
    • Count Me In! reception hosted by the ISBA Diversity Leadership Council
    • Friday reception and dinner honoring the justices of the Illinois Supreme Court, featuring Justice Mary Jane Theis as a speaker
    • ISBA Assembly meeting
  • November 22, 2017 | ISBA News
    ISBA Offices Closed for Thanksgiving

    The ISBA Springfield and Chicago offices will be closed for Thanksgiving beginning 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The offices will resume normal business hours on Monday, Nov. 27.

    On behalf of everyone at the ISBA, we wish you a happy, fun, and safe long weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!

  • November 17, 2017 | ISBA News | People
    Distinguished Counsellors Class of 1967 Honored

    The annual Distinguished Counsellors Luncheon honoring ISBA members who have been admitted to the bar for a period of 50 years was held yesterday, Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Union League Club in Chicago. Justice John B. Simon, appellate judge for the First District, spoke on behalf of the Class of 1967. In total, there were 168 honorees. 

    Honorees in attendance were joined by family, friends, and ISBA leadership. One by one, the Class of 1967 was invited to the stage to be presented with a certificate of recognition by Hon. Russell W. Hartigan, ISBA president, to show our respect and admiration for those who have dedicated their lives to the profession and serve as living examples of the profession's highest ideals. James McCluskey, ISBA president-elect, and David Sosin, ISBA second vice president, joined Hartigan in presenting the awards. 

    The tradition of conferring the title of "Distinguished Counsellor" dates back to 1940, when ISBA held its first ceremony at the Sangamon County Circuit Court. 

    Congratulations to the 1967 Class of Distinguished Counsellors: