ISBA News

Nearly two dozen volunteer attorneys helped answer hundreds of questions that came in by phone, e-mail, and Skype at the 36th Annual Ask A Lawyer Day last Saturday, April 29, in Springfield and Chicago. Attorneys were qualified to answer questions on over 30 areas of law, and the majority of the questions fielded were about domestic/family, personal injury, and criminal law. The calls helped members of the public resolve their legal issues with additional information or gave them the next steps toward resolving those issues, such as a lawyer referral. The endeavor also garnered positive media coverage throughout Illinois.

On hand to answer calls in the Chicago office were ISBA President-Elect Hon. Russell Hartigan, Zachary Hunsinger, Vanessa Hammer, John Zrnich, Nathan Neff, Shannon Heilman, Scott Fintzen, John Donlevy, Alice Dolan, James Coogan, Samuel Cannizzaro, Kristi Verti, and Huan Cassioppi Tran. At the Springfield office, Thomas Carlisle, Hon. Michael Robinson, Brendan Harris, Rex Gradeless, Jason Adams, Don LoBue, and John Taylor answered calls. 

The ISBA would like to extend a sincere thank you to the volunteers who worked out of both offices. 

President-elect Russell Hartigan and Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington represented the ISBA at ABA Day in Washington, D.C. on April 25-27. ABA Day is a three-day conference that brings together leaders of the ABA and state and local bars from across the country to meet with members of Congress and advocate on behalf of lawyers. Of special interest this year was funding for legal services.

ISBA's Allerton Conference 2017, sponsored by the Civil Practice and Procedure Committee, took place last week, on April 19-21, 2017, at Starved Rock Lodge in Oglesby, Illinois. The conference provided an opportunity for invited lawyers, judges, and law professors from around the state to discuss important issues affecting civil procedure and litigation. The ultimate goal of the event is for attendees to offer suggestions for new Supreme Court rules and legislation sponsored by the ISBA, and propose programs to the ISBA Board of Governors.

The focus of this year's conference was the changing landscape of civil practice, with an emphasis in the areas of technology, ethics, and economics. The event kicked off on Wednesday evening with a welcome reception, followed by introductory comments from Jessica Hegarty, Allerton 2017 chair; Vincent Cornelius, ISBA President; and the Hon. Michael McCuskey of the 10th Circuit. Lloyd Karmeier, chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, delivered the opening remarks.

Thursday's programming featured Keynote Speaker Daniel Katz, professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law. He addressed how technology is changing the practice of law and the challenges lawyers are facing as a result. The rest of the day's events included fireside chats and afternoon sessions on reducing costs while increasing efficiency, alternative business structures, and alternative dispute resolution. The day concluded with a brainstorming dinner in which guests split into groups for discussion.

After nearly a year of renovations, updates to the Illinois Bar Center — the Springfield headquarters of the Illinois State Bar Association, located east of the state Capitol complex — were completed last month.

For many years, the ISBA invested in the Chicago Regional Office, which is frequently used as a meeting space by members. But, as the Springfield office heads into its 50th year of existence, a major renovation was in order. According to Dennis Archer, ISBA’s assistant executive director for administration and finance, “It was time for us to bring [headquarters] up to the level that the CRO is.” After all, as Archer pointed out, “When our members come to Springfield now, we are expecting them to stop by so I think that is what we really got out of it. It kind of opens up another meeting place for our members.”

In preparing for the remodel, ISBA had several goals in mind: to make the space more appealing to members and increase the building’s accessibility, all while preserving the building’s historical architectural roots and maintaining the organization’s professional atmosphere.