The Bar News

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Northern Illinois

  • June 29, 2009 | Member Services
    ISBA Membership Mondays, June 29

    15% discount on ABA books for ISBA members

    If you’re an ISBA member, you’re entitled to a 15% discount on ABA books, including their great titles like How to Start and Build a Law Practice, 5th Ed; The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law; A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting, 2nd Ed; How to Build and Manage an Estates Practice, 2nd Ed; Letters for Divorce Lawyers: Essential Communications for Clients, Opposing Counsel, and Others; The Criminal Lawyer's Job: A Survival Guide Visit the ISBA store for details. ISBA Membership Mondays is a regular feature on Illinois Lawyer Now.
  • June 26, 2009 | ISBA News
    John O'Brien sworn-in as 133rd President of the Illinois State Bar Association
    [caption id="attachment_1410" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA President John O'Brien is sworn in by Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald as his wife Karen looks on."][/caption] John O'Brien was sworn in as the new Illinois State Bar Association President on Friday before a sold-out crowd at the Annual Meeting in Lake Geneva. "I am humbled and honored to serve as the 133rd President of the ISBA," O'Brien said. "I am especially honored by the presence of so many past Presidents and I realize I would not be here without their encouragement. Their presence also reminds me that we  -- all of us -- owe a debt to the past and have a duty to the future of the ISBA." O'Brien, of Arlington Heights, is the founding president of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association. He has been a champion of taking on the unauthorized practice of law by real estate companies and title insurance firms.  He was  elected to the ISBA Assembly in 1997. "We are called to service and tonight we rededicate ourselves to the ongoing struggle to attain access to a free and independent judicial system fueled by the hard work of lawyers and judges alike," O'Brien said. In 2002, he received the most votes for a seat on the Board of Governors.
  • June 26, 2009 | Events | ISBA News
    ISBA honors distinguished members at Annual Meeting
    [caption id="attachment_1360" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Former Gov. Jim Thompson, outgoing ISBA President Jack Carey, ISBA Young Lawyer of the Year Award winner Sean Wieber and President-elect John O'Brien"][/caption] Outgoing ISBA President Jack Carey presided over the annual awards presentation Friday at The Abbey in Lake Geneva. President-elect John O'Brien presented the awards. Former Gov. Jim Thompson was on hand after nominating Winston & Strawn colleague  Sean Wieber, winner of the ISBA's Young Lawyer of the Year Award. Click here to view our photo gallery from the Awards Luncheon. The award recipients were: Board of Governors Award
    • Karen M. Enright
    • Robert H. Hanaford
    • Michele M. Jochner
    Matthew Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award
    • Michael T.
  • June 26, 2009 | ISBA News
    Annual Meeting underway in Lake Geneva
    [caption id="attachment_1316" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Annual Meeting Opening Reception"][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association's Annual Meeting kicked off Thursday night in Lake Geneva with an Opening Reception and Workshop on "Becoming a Law Professor". Click here to view our photo gallery from the Opening Reception. SIU Law School Dean Peter Alexander and Professor Alice Noble-Allgire walked ISBA members down the path of becoming a law professor. Alexander and Noble-Allgire discussed two key ways to do this. 1. Submit your resume to the AALS to reach hundreds of law schools. Click here to visit the AALS website. 2. Apply directly to the law school.
  • June 25, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Thursday, June 25

    State

    Judge sets Blagojevich trial date for June 3, 2010, Sun-Times

    SCOTUS

    Teen strip-searched in school wins partial victory, CNN This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day.
  • June 25, 2009 | Events | ISBA News
    SIU Law workshop "Becoming a Law Professor" to help kickoff ISBA Annual Meeting
    The "Becoming a Law Professor" program will address reasons to become a law professor and explain the hiring process. Southern Illinois University School of Law presents this program to encourage diversity among law professors. There will be handouts and time for one on one questions, as well as a group presentation. The workshop will take place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, at the Illinois State Bar Association's Annual Meeting in Lake Geneva, Wis. For more information on the ISBA's Annual Meeting, click here. Visit Illinois Lawyer Now ofter for frequent updates from the Annual Meeting.
  • June 24, 2009 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court names Reardon as Executive Director of Commission on Professionalism
    [caption id="attachment_1232" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Jayne Reardon"][/caption] The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that Jayne Reardon has been appointed as executive director of the Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, a body established to improve civility between and among lawyers, their clients and judges in Illinois. Ms. Reardon, a University of Michigan Law School graduate who is an experienced Illinois lawyer and licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, has served as deputy director of the commission since 2006. During that time, she has been a key formulator of policy approved by the Commission and a facilitator of quality continuing legal education in the area of professional responsibility. Supreme Court Justice Robert R. Thomas initiated the concept of the Commission to improve professionalism among lawyers and judges, and the full Supreme Court established the Commission in 2005. The Commission has achieved its goals with limited staff and budget. No taxpayers dollars are involved as the Commission is funded by a small portion of the annual registration and licensing fees paid by Illinois attorneys.
  • June 24, 2009
    Breaking legal news for Wednesday, June 24

    Northern Illinois

    State

    Chicago area

    This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day.
  • June 24, 2009 | Events
    Women's Bar Association to hold 14th annual golf outing
    The Women's Bar Association of Illinois will hold its 14th annual "No Threat, No Sweat" golf outing on Thursday, Aug. 20, at Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale. This is a shotgun scramble event so players of all skill levels are welcome. Cost is $150 for members, their guests and judges, $175 for non-members. This fee includes 18 holes of golf, cart, beverages, BBQ lunch and a dinner reception. Click here to register.
  • June 24, 2009 | People
    Flowers installed as president of Illinois Trial Lawyers
    [caption id="attachment_1202" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Peter Flowers"][/caption] Peter Flowers of the Geneva firm Foote, Meyers, Mielke & Flowers was installed as the 56th President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association in early June at its annual convention. Flowers, 41, obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1989 from Loyola University and his Juris Doctor in 1992 from DePaul University. Currently, Flowers concentrates his practice in the areas of medical malpractice, wrongful death litigation, workers' compensation, personal injury and product liability litigation. He has a special interest in the representation of children who have been injured by the neglectful conduct of medical professionals. Flowers is a member of the American Association for Justice, Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association (a member of the ISBA Assembly), DuPage County Bar Association and Kane County Bar Association.