Get a better understanding of how to achieve the maximum benefit from employing interns, externs, and clerks! Supervising law students is challenging in today’s diverse and fast-paced legal market. Different learning styles, level of competencies, and workplace expectations require supervising attorneys and law firms to develop effective supervision techniques to ensure a productive experience for all involved.

Voting is now underway in the 2018 ISBA Election. ISBA's election provider Election America emailed e-ballots to members with valid email addresses and mailed paper ballots to members without valid email addresses today, Monday, March 26. The last day to request a paper ballot will be Friday, April 13.  Only attorney members who have paid their dues by March 1, 2018 are eligible to vote.  There are three contested seats this year: third vice president, Board of Governors, First Judicial District — Cook County, and Board of Governors, Area 8 — Judicial Circuits 3 and 20. All members may vote for third vice president. Members may also vote for any office that falls in the geographical area of their ISBA address. Candidate biographies are available in the March Illinois Bar Journal. Third Vice President 1 to be elected (3 candidates) Anna Krolikowska, Northbrook Stephen M. Komie, Chicago John Nisivaco, Chicago

The Illinois Supreme Court handed down four unanimous opinions on Thursday, March 22. The court considered the manner, scope, and extent of voir dire in People v. Encalado, concluding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the defendant’s proposed voir dire question. Relying on statutory construction principles and legislative intent, the court upheld a first degree murder conviction in People v. Manning. In People ex rel. Berlin v. Bakalis, the court directed the circuit court to vacate the defendant's one-year term of mandatory supervised release and impose the mandatory four-year term required under the Unified Code of Corrections. Lastly, the court affirmed the lower courts' ruling that State Farm's insured could recover underinsured motorist coverage in Thounsavath v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Co. People v. Manning By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender Arthur Manning was charged with first degree murder arising out of the stabbing death of a “highly intoxicated and ultimately an unwelcome visitor at a residence occupied by defendant” and others. At trial, there was evidence of a fight between the decedent and several of the residents including Manning, who had been armed with a knife. The jury was instructed on self defense and second degree murder at Manning’s request.

Implementing the right technology can transform a law practice. And there's a good chance it isn't the shiny new tech object everyone is talking about. "Often times with solo and smaller firms, and larger firms too, there is a feeling that a particular technology is required at your firm - where there's pressure or recommendations from consultants or colleagues that you should absolutely have a particular type of technology," says Jennifer Ramovs, director of practice management at Affinity Consulting. "And often we make decisions based on that pressure."