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  • October 2, 2017 | ISBA News
    Campaign Season for ISBA Election Underway

    Campaign season for the 2018 Illinois State Bar Association election begins today, October 2, for open leadership seats of third vice president and one seat each for the following Board of Governors seats: Cook County, Area 1 (Circuit 18), Area 3 (Circuits 12, 13, 16, 21 and 23), Area 4 (Circuits 10, 14 and 15), Area 6 (Circuits 7, 8 and 9), and Area 8 (Circuits 3 and 20). There are also 22 open seats for Cook County Assembly.

    Voting begins in late March and concludes April 30, 2018. Those elected to the Board of Governors and Assembly take office at the opening of the Annual Meeting on June 14, 2018, and the third vice president takes office at the close of the Annual Meeting on June 16, 2018.

    The 2018 ISBA Notice of Election is now available. For more information, including policies, procedures, and candidate packets, visit the ISBA Elections page. 

  • September 29, 2017 | People | Events | ISBA News
    U.S. Senator Dick Durbin To Be Honored at Illinois Bar Foundation Annual Gala on October 20

    U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) will receive the 2017 Distinguished Award for Excellence from the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF) at the organization’s 19th annual black-tie Gala, presented by Simmons Hanly Conroy, on Friday evening, October 20, 2017 at the Four Seasons Hotel, 120 E. Delaware Place, Chicago. The event begins with a cocktail reception at 6:30, followed by dinner, dancing, and remarks by Senator Durbin. The mission of the IBF, the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association, is to ensure meaningful access to the civil justice system, especially for those with limited means, and to assist lawyers who can no longer support themselves due to incapacity.

    Senator Dick Durbin is the 47th U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois and also serves as the Assistant Democratic Leader, the second highest position among the Senate Democrats. He is the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution and the Appropriations Committee’s Defense Subcommittee.

  • September 28, 2017 | ISBA News
    IBF Names 2017 Recipients of Post Graduate Legal Fellowship Program

    The Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF) awarded its 2017 Post Graduate Legal Fellowship Program grants to law school clinics at DePaul University College of Law, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and Northern Illinois University College of Law.

    Each law school selected a 2017 graduate for the one-year fellowship, designed to increase access to civil legal aid, help new attorneys develop practical legal skills and build a network, and encourage the participants to use their skills to serve those in need throughout their career through public interest jobs or pro bono work. The 2017 participants are Mallory Morgan, a graduate of DePaul University College of Law; Caitlin A. Kelly, Loyola University Chicago School of Law; and Ryan Lowe, Northern Illinois University (NIU) College of Law. The IBF and law school share the cost of the fellowships, which have been awarded annually since 2014.

  • September 22, 2017 | ISBA News | People
    ISBA Members Met with Supreme Court of Ireland on President's Trip

    Travelers on the recent ISBA-sponsored trip to Ireland met with members of the Supreme Court of Ireland and toured Dublin’s historic Four Courts building, which houses the Irish Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the High Court, and the Dublin Circuit Court. Pictured from left to right are ISBA member Hon. Martin J. Mengarelli of the Third Judicial Circuit, Irish Supreme Court Justice Peter Charleton, ISBA member Hon. Michael P. McCuskey of the Illinois 10th Judicial Circuit, ISBA President Hon. Russell W. Hartigan (ret.), Irish Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Dunne, and ISBA member and Oak Brook lawyer Margaret A. Bennett.

  • September 21, 2017 | ISBA News
    ISBA Seeks Managing Editor

    The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) seeks an energetic legal professional to manage the production of the Illinois Bar Journal (IBJ) and oversee the production of ISBA section newsletters, the IBJ advertising program, and the Illinois Courts Bulletin. The Illinois Bar Journal Managing Editor position will be based in the Springfield, Illinois headquarters of the ISBA.

    ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS 

    • Manage production of the monthly Illinois Bar Journal, in consultation with the IBJ Editor & Publisher; solicit, edit, and manage content-flow of articles; generate timely and high value article ideas; create content for IBJ (e.g., columns); supervise freelancers who produce lead articles and columns; manage relationship with IBJ printer; perform online indexing and subject-matter tagging.
    • Oversee production of ISBA section newsletters (day-to-day management performed by newsletter managing editor).
    • Oversee the IBJ advertising program (day-to-day management performed by advertising coordinator).
    • Proofread and edit the Illinois Courts Bulletin.
    • Author weekly blog post for Illinois Lawyer Now.
    • Serve as staff liaison to the Illinois Bar Journal Editorial Board.
    • Stay abreast of developments in digital information technology (e.g., apps, tablet-friendly versions) and implement as appropriate.
  • September 20, 2017 | ISBA News
    Hon. Russell Hartigan Pays Tribute at Memorial Service

    The Illinois Supreme Court hosted a memorial service today in honor of the late Justice John J. Stamos at the Illinois Supreme Court in Springfield. Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier delivered the opening and closing remarks. Among those in attendance to pay tribute to Stamos was Hon. Russell Hartigan. 

    Stamos passed away in January 2017 at the age of 92. He was first appointed to the bench in 1968 and served on the First District Appellate Court of Illinois for 20 years before his appointment to the Illinois Supreme Court in 1988. Read Hon. Stamos's full obituary on Illinois Lawyer Now.

     

  • September 19, 2017 | ISBA News
    Belvidere Police Officer Receives Law Enforcement Award

    Officer Michelle Wilgus of the Belvidere Police Department received the ISBA Law Enforcement Award on September 18 during a Belvidere City Council meeting. The award was presented by Julie Johnson, ISBA Board of Governors and attorney at Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa in Chicago.

    The ISBA Law Enforcement Award 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. It recognizes those who excel in law enforcement.

    Officer Wilgus, who was nominated for the award by Johnson on behalf of the ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law, was acknowledged for strengthening the relationship between the Belividere Police Department and the community by starting the ‘Badges with Books’ outreach program.

  • September 19, 2017 | Member Services | ISBA News
    Personalize Your IllinoisLawyerFinder Profile with a Photo Gallery

    Adding a profile photo to your IllinoisLawyerFinder profile is a good first step in helping new and prospective clients get to know you. You can take this a step further by creating a photo gallery that features images of your office space, firm logo, your speaking engagements, and more. This short video provides step-by-step instructions to upload a profile photo and create a unique gallery.

  • September 19, 2017 | ISBA News | People
    Memorial Service for Illinois Supreme Court Justice John J. Stamos

    The Illinois Supreme Court will host a memorial service in honor of the late Justice John J. Stamos at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, September 20, at the Illinois Supreme Court at 20 E. Capitol Avenue in Springfield.

    The opening and closing remarks will be delivered by Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier. Tributes will be given by Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis; the Honorable Benjamin K. Miller, a former Supreme Court Justice; the Honorable Gino L. DiVito, a former Appellate Justice; Mr. James J. Stamos, Esquire, of Stamos & Trucco LLP, the son of Justice Stamos; and ISBA president, the Honorable Russell W. Hartigan, a former Cook County Circuit Judge.

  • September 14, 2017 | ISBA News
    Assembly to Elect Members to "Under 35" ABA House of Delegates Positions

    At the December 9, 2017 ISBA Assembly meeting, two “Under 35” Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates will be elected, one from Cook County and one from the area outside Cook County. 

    The nominees for these positions must be members of the ISBA who are in good standing and from the appropriate area. The elected delegates will serve for two-year terms commencing June, 2018 and will join the ISBA delegation at the ABA meeting in Chicago in August 2018.

    The outside Cook County position has recently become vacant, and Cory White, who is the incumbent for the Cook County position, is eligible for reelection.

    Nominations must be made in writing by at least 20 ISBA members in good standing from the appropriate area. Nominations must be filed with the office of the executive director no later than Friday, November 17, 2017. 

    Questions about the nominating petition may be directed to the ISBA executive director’s office by contacting Kim Weaver by e-mail or calling 800.252.8908.