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  • August 24, 2017 | Practice News
    Partnering with Online DIY Services: The Plusses and Perils
    When the Trump Administration published its executive orders regarding immigrants and refugees in January, attorneys became first responders, fanning out to the nation's airports to triage the legal needs of those ensnared in the travel ban. Shortly thereafter, the American Bar Association set up the website www.immigrationjustice.us to help coordinate pro bono service offers from the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Enterprising attorneys built www.airportlawyer.org, a site that tracks and registers immigrants' travel information and connects them with volunteer attorneys at their local airport if need be. "These types of efforts are great examples of what lawyers can do with technology," said Chase Hertel, director of business development & partnerships at Chicago-based Road to Status (www.roadtostatus.com), a website that provides document-assembly-style federal forms and attorney referrals for immigrants. "Technology can be used to triage the legal needs of clients, connect with clients where they are - at the airport, or on the internet - deliver services in unique ways, and, most importantly, bridge the legal services gap."
  • August 23, 2017 | ISBA News
    ISBA Joins Legal Organizations to Condemn Anti-Semitism and Racist Hate
    ISBA joined Chicago-based lawyer organizations to condemn acts of racism, anti-Semitism, and discrimination yesterday, August 22, at a press conference held at the Chicago Loop Synagogue. The press conference was held in response to recent violent events throughout the United States targeting racial and ethnic minorities. Recognizing that acts of hatred existed long before last week's protests in Charlottesville and present an ongoing challenge as the country moves forward, yesterday's press conference was an effort to unite the Illinois legal community and encouraged others to stand together against acts of violence and intimidation.  Bar leaders took to the stage to speak about historical and present-day systematic racism, and the need to confront this problem together as a society. They spoke to the role lawyers and professional associations play in upholding the rule of law and ensuring all individuals receive the right to protection under the law, and called upon national, state, and local leaders to take decisive action against all such acts of hatred and racism. President Hon. Russell Hartigan represented the ISBA at the event. The press conference was hosted by the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, the Cook County Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Black Women Lawyers Association. ISBA was a co-sponsor, along with several other bar groups. 
  • August 23, 2017 | Member Services
    Chicago Blackhawks Preseason Tickets Offer
    With the 2017-18 season quickly approaching, we would like to offer you an exclusive opportunity to purchase preseason tickets. Purchase four or more preseason tickets in the 100 or 200 Level to receive a framed commemorative print autographed by Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane!* Note: Purchase 8 or more tickets to receive BOTH frames. (Ex. 4 tickets to 2 games, 8 tickets to 1 game etc.) To purchase tickets, click here and enter the promo code ISBA. Blackhawks Home Preseason Games Offered: Thursday, Sept. 21 vs. Detroit at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 vs. Columbus at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 vs. Boston at 7:30 p.m. Please contact Kevin Kowynia with the Chicago Blackhawks ticket office at 312-455-7191 with any questions *Details regarding print pick-up will be communicated the week leading up to your game date. Prints are distributed at random. Autographed print giveaways are exclusive to this offer. Prints must be picked up at the preseason game purchased. 300 Level seats do not apply to the autographed print offer. Offer available while supplies last. 
  • August 23, 2017 | Practice News
    Best Practice Tips: Measuring Partner Performance
    Asked and Answered By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. I am a partner in a 12-attorney firm in Houston. The firm has five partners and seven associates. We are a first-generation firm and we, the partners, have never practiced in other law firms. Currently, the partners have equal ownership interests and are compensated equally. We are experiencing issues with the present method of partner compensation and we are giving some thought to considering other approaches. One of the issues that we are trying to wrap our heads around is how to measure each partner's performance, value, and overall contribution to the firm. Do you have any suggestions? 
  • August 23, 2017 | CLE
    CLE: Construction Escrow, Lien Waivers, and Sworn Statements - Best Practices [LIVE WEBCAST]
    Discover the importance of and best practice in construction escrow, lien waivers, and sworn statements with this one-hour online presentation on September 20, 2017. Construction law attorneys and real estate practitioners with intermediate practice experience who attend this seminar will learn: the proper payment system of the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act (know and follow it or pay twice for the same work); what to look for from a sworn contractor’s statement; and lien waivers and their accompanying statutory affidavits. The seminar is presented by the ISBA Construction Law Section and qualifies for 1.0 hour MCLE credit. Click here for more information and to register.
  • August 23, 2017 | ISBA News | Member Services
    Word of Mouth in the Digital Age
    In today's digital age, consumers use the Internet to research referrals. When selecting an attorney, they start their research with a trusted source: the bar directory. Watch the video below to learn about how sharing accurate, up-to-date information about your practice and firm on IllinoisLawyerFinder can help new clients find you. 
  • August 17, 2017 | Practice News
    Quick Takes for Your Practice: Advising a Client Stopped on Suspicion of DUI
    Juliet Boyd, of Boyd & Kummer, LLC, discusses a frequently asked criminal and traffic law question: How do you advise your client who was stopped under suspicion of driving under the influence? Watch the video below for eight helpful tips.
    3 comments (Most recent September 8, 2017)
  • August 17, 2017 | CLE
    CLE: First Annual Abraham Lincoln's Legacy - Lessons for Today's Lawyer
    Abraham Lincoln overcame poverty, lack of formal education, chronic depression, and other obstacles to become one of the leading lawyers in Illinois. Lessons from Lincoln's life and law practice continue to inspire, influence, and impact generations of lawyers who strive to be leaders in the legal profession. Don't miss this full-day seminar in Lincoln, Illinois on September 8, 2017 that examines Lincoln's legal career, the character traits that helped him achieve success in law and politics, how he dealt with his personal and professional issues, and how he networked with clients and lawyers around the state to build a successful practice.  
  • August 17, 2017 | Practice News
    Yes, Lawyers Must Report Judicial Misconduct
    The Illinois Bar Journal recently covered what happens when attorneys baselessly accuse judges of improper conduct (http://bit.ly/2u4L5LU). But what about when a judge truly does something improper? Is there an obligation to report? The simple answer is yes. An attorney's duty to report attorney misconduct under Rule of Professional Conduct 8.3 extends to judges as well (http://bit.ly/2u50X19). Rule 8.3(b) states, "A lawyer who knows that a judge has committed a violation of applicable rules of judicial conduct that raises a substantial question as to the judge's fitness for office shall inform the appropriate authority." Note, however, that Comment [3] to the Rule provides that a "measure of judgment" is required when a lawyer seeks to comply with the reporting requirement and that not all violations may trigger it. Find out more in the August Illinois Bar Journal.
  • August 16, 2017 | Practice News
    Best Practice Tips: Book Writing as a Business Development Strategy for Attorneys
    Asked and Answered By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. I am a partner in an 18-attorney law firm in Jacksonville, Florida. Our business development committee requires all attorneys to submit annual personal business development plans. I have been thinking about writing a book. Is such a goal worth my time investment? I welcome your thoughts. A. While writing a book is not terribly difficult, it takes time and commitment, and will consume some non-billable hours. However, as David Maister often states, “attorneys should consider their billable time as their current income and their non-billable time as their future.”  In other words, non-billable time is an investment in your long-term future. I believe that authoring a book is an excellent way of building your professional reputation and brand and it will pay dividends in the long-term. Authoring a book can create opportunities that could change your whole life. When I wrote my book, I had 142 non-billable hours invested in the book and I had some content available from past articles that I had written over the years. Often a good starting point is to start writing articles around a particular topic/theme and later tie them together in a book. This is a good way of taking “baby steps.” During the writing process, authoring a book may seem like anything but freedom. However, it is a trade-off. Work for the book now and it will work for you later.