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ISBA News

  • June 28, 2017 | ISBA News
    ISBA-IBF to Host President's Reception Honoring Vincent Cornelius

    Join the Board of Governors of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Board of Directors of the Illinois Bar Foundation for the President's Reception honoring Vincent F. Cornelius, ISBA president in 2016-2017.

    Thursday, July 20, 2017
    5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
    The Clubhouse Oak Brook
    298 Oakbrook Center
    Oak Brook, IL 60523

    Proceeds of this event will benefit the IBF, whose mission is to ensure meaningful access to the justice system, especially for those with limited means, and to assist lawyers who have fallen upon hard times. Tickets can be purchased for $55. Sponsorship opportunities are also available here or by calling (312) 726-6072.

  • June 28, 2017 | ISBA News | Member Services
    Please Renew Your Membership by Friday

    Thank you for being an ISBA member. Bar association dues for 2017-2018 are due by Friday, June 30, 2017.

    We hope you remember that ISBA offers a wide range of services designed to help you be productive and efficient. ISBA provides a services package valued at over $1,300. We recently added new services and will be adding more in the coming year.

    Renew now to continue uninterrupted access to your current membership benefits and take advantage of the exciting new offerings coming soon.

    NEW AND UPCOMING BENEFITS

    • IllinoisLawyerFinder, our new public-facing member directory
    • PracticeHQ, our new law practice management and technology web portal
    • ISBA Central, our soon-to-launch online discussion groups and communities

    CURRENT BENEFITS

    • Free Online CLE ($349 Value)
    • Fastcase: Free Online Legal Research ($995 Value)
    • Daily case digests and legal news via E-Clips
    • IllinoisBarDocs
    • Liability insurance via ISBA Mutual

    You can renew online, by invoice, or phone at (800) 252-8908.

    We look forward to continuing to serve you!

  • June 27, 2017 | ISBA News
    Petitions Filed for Vacant Assembly Seats in Cook County

    The ISBA will soon fill two vacant Assembly seats in Cook County. One Cook County seat has a one-year term and the other has a two-year term. Both terms begin immediately – the two-year vacancy will be filled first. Assembly members must reside in their circuit or district.

    In accordance with paragraph 3.8(a) of the ISBA's Policy and Procedures on Association Elections, ISBA is notifying members that Khara Coleman of Oak Park and Jill O’Brien of Chicago have filed nominating petitions to be elected to the two ISBA Assembly vacancies from Cook County.

    Any eligible ISBA member in Cook County wishing to be considered for these vacancies must submit a nominating petition to ISBA Executive Department by email to kweaver@isba.org, as described in the Policy and Procedures on Association Elections. This nominating petition must be submitted no later than July 13, 2017. You are asked to also forward the original Nominating Petition to the attention of ISBA Executive Department, 424 South Second Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701.

    According to the Policy, if no other candidates file a nominating petition, Ms. Coleman and Ms. O’Brien will be declared elected. If other nominating petitions are filed, the Board of Governors shall fill the seat from the candidates nominated.

  • June 23, 2017 | ISBA News
    Petition Filed for Vacant Assembly Seat in the 18th Circuit

    The ISBA will soon fill one vacant Assembly seat in the 18th Circuit (DuPage County). This vacancy is for a two-year term and begins immediately. Assembly members must reside in their circuit or district.

    In accordance with paragraph 3.8(a) of the ISBA's Policy and Procedures on Association Elections, ISBA is notifying members that Rick Veenstra of Wood Dale, Illinois, has filed a nominating petition to be elected to the one ISBA Assembly vacancy from the 18th Judicial Circuit.

    Any eligible ISBA member in the 18th Judicial Circuit wishing to be considered for this vacancy must submit to ISBA Executive Department by e-mail to kweaver@isba.org, a nominating petition as described in the Policy and Procedures on Association Elections. This nominating petition must be submitted within 14 days of the June 23 notification date. You are asked to also forward the original Nominating Petition to the attention of ISBA Executive Department, 424 South Second Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701.

    According to the Policy, if no other candidates file a nominating petition, Mr. Veenstra will be declared elected.  If other nominating petitions are filed, the Board of Governors shall fill the seat from the candidates nominated.

    An e-mail containing this information and the nominating petition was sent to members earlier today, June 23, 2017.

    There are three total vacant Assembly seats to be filled. The remaining vacancies are in Cook County. 

  • June 22, 2017 | ISBA News
    Two Members Elected to ISBA Assembly Agenda and Program Committee

    Two Assembly members were elected at the ISBA Annual Meeting to vacant seats on the Assembly Agenda and Program Committee. The committee has primary responsibility for preparing agendas for Assembly meetings. The winners were Carl R. Draper of Springfield and Nicholas J. Feda of St. Charles. Both seats are for two-year terms.

  • June 22, 2017 | ISBA News
    ISBA President Russell W. Hartigan: From Bar to Bench and Back

    He's been a litigator for 33 years, a Cook County Circuit Court judge for 6½ years, and currently works as a mediator and arbitrator - with a side gig as a high school football referee for 40 years - but perhaps the most consistent, year in and year out feature of Russell Hartigan's career has been his deep involvement in the Illinois State Bar Association.

    So dogged has been his advocacy of bar membership that he has been kiddingly dubbed "the pied piper of the Illinois bar" by his older son, Michael, who stepped into his father's shoes with the Chicago-based firm of Hartigan & O'Connor when the elder Hartigan became a judge in the Fifth Municipal District in southwest suburban Bridgeview in 2010.

    And now that pied piper has become the bar's president after being sworn in June 16 at the ISBA Annual Meeting. Hartigan plans to spend his year prioritizing issues like helping solos and small firms with succession planning, finding ways for the legal profession to help combat gun violence in his native Chicago, addressing law student debt, and - in keeping with his son's nickname for him - attracting young attorneys to ISBA membership.

    Find out more more in the July Illinois Bar Journal.

    1 comment (Most recent June 23, 2017)
  • June 21, 2017 | ISBA News
    2017 Annual Meeting Highlights

    The 141st Annual Meeting was held last week, June 15-17, at The Abbey Resort in Fontana, Wisconsin. Attendees celebrated the accomplishments of the past year, planned for the year ahead, expanded their professional networks, and earned CLE credit. During section meetings and at the Assembly meeting, various members of the ISBA community were recognized with awards. At the Friday dinner and program, the Hon. Russell Hartigan was installed as ISBA president for 2017-18. 

    The photo galleries of highlights from the Annual Meeting are listed below:

  • June 20, 2017 | ISBA News
    Congratulations to the Annual Meeting Bingo Winners

    Congratulations to the winners of the Annual Meeting bingo contest:

    • $200 Amazon Gift Card - Roza Gossage
    • Affinity Tech $50 Gift Card - Rosemary Collins
    • $100 Gift Card - Nancy Easum
    • $100 Gift Card - Jeanie Pearlman
    • $100 Amazon Gift Card - John Voorn
    • $50 Amazon Gift Card - Bridget Schott
    • Gift basket with tickets & a day of golf - Jan Strzalka
    • Yoga mat & water bottle - Emma Dorantes
    • Gift basket with ISBA logo items and books - Lisa McLeod
    • Coffee-themed logo basket with Starbucks gift cards - Ron Menna
    • Custom website assessment ($99 value) - Freddi Greenberg
    • Google Home - Mark Wolf
    • OPI nail polish gift basket ($100 value) - Marylou Kent
  • June 14, 2017 | ISBA News
    Judge Russell Hartigan to Be Installed as 141st President of Illinois State Bar Association

    Hon. Russell W. Hartigan, of Western Springs, arbitrator, lawyer, and retired Cook County judge, will be installed as president of the Illinois State Bar Association at the organization’s 141st Annual Meeting on Friday, June 16 at The Abbey Resort in Fontana, Wis.

    During his year as president, Judge Hartigan will concentrate on several initiatives. He is dedicated to helping lawyers manage their practices. He will assist solo practitioners and small firms with succession planning through programming aimed at lawyers nearing retirement age to help them think about what’s next for their practices and clients. In addition, he plans to expand the association’s law firm management programming and resources, which includes launching the ISBA’s management and technology web portal, PracticeHQ.

    To help the legal profession combat gun violence, Judge Hartigan will establish a blue-ribbon committee to recommend an appropriate role for the ISBA in educating others on and addressing the issue.

    A third initiative will focus on new and young lawyers. He plans to address law student debt and practice-oriented training in law school by working with the ISBA Council of Illinois Law School Deans. He is also committed to recruiting young attorneys to ISBA membership.

  • June 13, 2017 | ISBA News
    ISBA Seeks Candidates for 3 Assembly Vacancies

    The ISBA will soon fill three vacant Assembly seats, two in Cook County and one in the 18th Circuit (DuPage County). One Cook County seat has a one-year term and the other has a two-year term. Both terms begin immediately – the two-year vacancy will be filled first. The 18th Circuit vacancy is for a two-year term and begins immediately. Assembly members must reside in their circuit or district.

    Interested in being a candidate? Under a policy change adopted at the 2016 Annual meeting, Assembly vacancies are no longer filled in the first instance by the Board of Governors. Instead, those seeking election must submit a nominating petition with at least 10 member signatures to the Executive Director at kweaver@isba.org. Within seven days of receiving the first petition, the ISBA will send notice via email to the membership in the affected area calling for any other nominations. If none are received within 14 days of the notice, the member submitting the nominating petition is declared elected. If more nominating petitions than vacancies are submitted, the Board will fill the vacancy from those submitting the petitions.

    The new policy is at paragraph 3.8(a) of the ISBA Policy and Procedures on Association Elections. Please consult the full document for details about Assembly vacancies, nominating petitions, and other election-related processes.  If you have questions, contact Kim Weaver, Assistant to the Executive Director, at 800.252.8908 or kweaver@isba.org.