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John O'Brien

  • May 7, 2010 | Events | ISBA News
    81-year-old new admittee highlights May 2010 class
    [caption id="attachment_11238" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien with 81-year-old new admittee Agnes Prindiville"][/caption] Agnes Prindiville always wanted to be a lawyer. Her father and social norms helped lead her on the path to become a teacher. After a career in the classroom, Prindiville is ready for a new career after being sworn-in with 471 other new admittees Thursday at McCormick Place. ISBA President John O'Brien, Illinois Native American Bar Association President Matthew Beaudet and University of Chicago Law School Professor Randolph N. Stone addressed the new admittees. Nearly 700 new lawyers were sworn-in around the state, bringing the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to almost 88,000. Prindiville recently told the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin that when she was in her 70s, "I had this very latent desire to go to law school to study law." So she took the LSAT and enrolled at DePaul University as a part-time law student in 2004. Now that she's a licensed attorney, Prindiville isn't planning on racking up any billable hours. "I don't expect to make a salary," she told the Law Bulletin. "I expect to do things pro bono.
  • April 27, 2010 | ISBA News
    Did you know ISBA President John O'Brien is a Stephen King fan? Find out more about ISBA's 133rd president
    [caption id="attachment_10768" align="alignright" width="150" caption="John O'Brien"][/caption] ISBA President John O'Brien was featured in this week's "Info Junkie" column in Crain's Chicago Business. President O'Brien dishes on "Chicago Tonight," Amazon's Kindle and his favorite books. Find out more about ISBA's 133rd president. At home in Arlington Heights or at his health club, WBBM-AM/780 for "the basics of living in Chicago," and the Daily Herald and Tribune for local and state news and client-related tidbits. "Somebody might have won an award; I've gotten a lot of mileage from handwritten notes. They go a long way toward building relationships."
  • April 23, 2010 | Events
    IBF to host reception honoring ISBA President John O'Brien
    [caption id="attachment_10551" align="alignright" width="175" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien"][/caption] The Illinois Bar Foundation will host a reception honoring Illinois State Bar Association President John O'Brien on Thursday, May 6, at the Metropolis Ballroom, 6 S. Vail Avenue, Arlington Heights. Please RSVP by April 30th to ldriscoll@isba.org or (312) 726-6072. Registration form
  • February 22, 2010 | ISBA News
    ISBA President John O'Brien explains how to avoid foreclosure on radio show
    ISBA President John O’Brien was a special guest on Dick Kay’s popular WCPT-AM (“Progressive Talk”) radio show on February 13 to discuss foreclosures. John explained how to avoid foreclosure and the steps involved in a foreclosure. His key message was: “Hire a lawyer first.” To hear the 50-minute interview in its entirety, click here.
  • February 16, 2010 | ISBA News
    ISBA President John O'Brien presents "The Papers of Abraham Lincoln" to libraries throughout the state
    [caption id="attachment_8458" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien (right) presents "The Papers of Abraham Lincoln" to Lincoln Library Director Nancy Huntley as Lincoln re-creator Randy Duncan looks on at the ISBA's Illinois Bar Center in Springfield."][/caption] ISBA President John O'Brien presented a complete, four-volume set of hardcover books, The Papers of Abraham Lincoln, to the public libraries in Belleville, Edwardsville and Springfield on Friday and in Danville, Decatur and Bloomington on Tuesday. The ISBA, in partnership with its charitable affiliate the Illinois Bar Foundation, purchased sets for all 102 Illinois counties as a contribution to the Illinois Bicentennial celebration of Lincoln's birth on Feb. 12, 2009. "Public libraries throughout the state will now have this important set of books that include details of his 50 most prominent cases," O'Brien said. "It is a lasting tribute to the most revered lawyer in the history of our state and nation." The Papers, a long-term project dedicated to identifying, imaging and publishing all documents written by or to Abraham Lincoln during his lifetime (1809-1865), is considered the most comprehensive collection of texts during his life.
  • January 28, 2010 | ISBA News
    ISBA helps support IJC traveling exhibit
    [caption id="attachment_7874" align="alignright" width="300" caption="IJC Chair LaQuietta Hardy-Campbell and ISBA President John O'Brien"][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association Board of Governors approved a sponsorship of the Illinois Judicial Council Foundation's Subcircuit Traveling Exhibit during its meeting last Friday. IJC Chair Hon. LaQuietta J. Hardy-Campbell presented the request on behalf of the Council. The IJC project is an expansion of the IJC's Pictorial Exhibit which has pictures of its members and a history of the IJC. The Subcircuit Traveling Exhibit is a new and separate exhibit which discusses the creation and impact of subcircuits in Cook County. Since the passage of Cook County's subcircuits, the number of black judges in Cook County and the number of pictures in the exhibit have greatly increased. The Chicago Mayor's Office of Special Events has allowed the IJC to annually display its exhibit in the Daley Center. The pictorial exhibit has been displayed in the Daley Center for over 15 years during February, Black History Month.
  • November 12, 2009 | ISBA News
    ISBA President John O'Brien offers advice on avoiding foreclosure in Champaign News-Gazette
    [caption id="attachment_5637" align="alignright" width="150" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien"][/caption] ISBA President John O'Brien offered advice on avoiding home foreclosure and other topics in an interview in today's Champaign News-Gazette. "Be proactive. Call somebody. You've got 10 months before you're really in trouble. You've got a lot of time to do something," said John G. O'Brien, a real estate attorney from Arlington Heights who founded the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association. Click here to read the full story
  • November 3, 2009 | People
    ISBA President John O'Brien helps kick off Legal Services campaign
    [caption id="attachment_5308" align="alignright" width="215" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien with Illinois Third District Justice Mary McDade"][/caption] Illinois State Bar Association President John O'Brien helped kick off the Legal Services campaign at a luncheon on Tuesday. The Campaign for Legal Services Donor Recognition and Kick-Off Luncheon was held at the Packard Plaza Building in Peoria. Justice Mary McDade delivered an inspired speech on the importance of legal services.
  • October 26, 2009 | ISBA News
    ISBA celebrates National Pro Bono Week 2009

    Times are tough. To paraphrase the great philosopher Pogo, the legal profession is confronted with insurmountable opportunities. Now is a great time for all ISBA members to take on some Pro Bono work. If you can't afford to donate the time, consider donating money instead. There is no better time to start because this is National Pro Bono Celebration Week. The ISBA Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services has a wonderful website where you can learn more - http://www.isba.org/probono/. I encourage you to help the Bar of Illinois do even more for the citizens of the state. Sincerely, John O'Brien ISBA President

  • October 21, 2009 | ISBA News
    Solovy thanks ISBA Board for supporting historic preservation commission
    [caption id="attachment_4902" align="alignright" width="292" caption="ISBA Board member and candidate for Third Vice President Paula Holderman, ISBA President John O'Brien and Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Jerold Solovy at the Board of Governors meeting on Oct. 16."][/caption] Jerold Solovy, a 54-year member of the ISBA and the Chairman of the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, appeared before the ISBA Board of Governors last week to thank the Board for its support of the historic preservation committee. Solovy is also the Chairman Emeritus of Chicago firm Jenner & Block. The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission was created by the Supreme Court Historic Preservation Act in 2007. Under the Act: "The Commission shall assist and advise the Court in regard to the acquisition, collection, documentation, preservation, cataloging, and related matters with respect to historic aspects of buildings, objects, artifacts, documents, and information, regardless of form, relating to the Illinois judiciary.