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  • May 19, 2016
    Congratulations to the winner of the Apple Watch from SoFi!
    Congratulations to Judd Goldrich for winning the Apple Watch Sport contest. sponsored by SoFi. Don't forget to check out our Membership Appreciation Month site for upcoming promotions. *SoFi is the leader in student loan refinancing and has originated over $9 billion in loans for over 150,0000 borrowers. SoFi consolidates and refinances federal and private student loans to offer rates customized to you, creating meaningful savings. For more information, and to qualify for a $300 welcome bonus upon refinancing, please visit sofi.com/ISBA.
  • May 19, 2016
    Illinois top for animal protection laws
    "The Animal League Defense Fund ranked Illinois as the top jurisdiction in the United States for animal protection for the eighth consecutive year in 2015," Chicago lawyer Ken Stalkfleet reports in the May issue of Animal Law, newsletter of the ISBA Animal Law Section. Other top states are Oregon, Maine, California, and Michigan. Which is not to say there isn't room for improvement. "Illinois was the only state in the top five without an affirmative duty for police officers to enforce animal protection laws," Stalkfleet wrote. "The report also listed several potential improvements, including stronger felony provisions for neglect and abandonment, mandatory forfeiture of animals following conviction, and the institution of an animal abuser registry." Read his article to learn about animal protective legislation introduced in this session.
  • May 19, 2016 | Practice News
    Quick Takes for Your Practice: Construction Accidents - Investigation and Considerations
    Attorney Kim Davis discusses how to properly investigate a construction accident.
  • May 19, 2016 | Member Services | CLE
    Member Appreciation Month: Free CLE webcast will keep your technology secure
    Free live webcast for the first 1,000 registrants! Sponsored by ISBA Mutual Insurance Company. Register today! SECURITY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE WEAKEST LINK: Simple Security Measures Every Lawyer Should Take Presented by ISBA Mutual Insurance Company Live Webcast | Tuesday, May 24 | Noon - 1PM 1 hour MCLE | 1* hour PMCLE Program Speaker: Barron Henley The Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.6(e) requires a lawyer to make "reasonable efforts" to prevent the disclosure of confidential client information. Comment 19 further stipulates that "reasonable precautions" must be taken to prevent client information from falling into the wrong hands.
  • May 19, 2016 | CLE
    CLE: Education for Attorneys Appointed to Represent Children
    Don’t miss this two-day program on June 2, 2016 – June 3, 2016 that’s designed to help attorneys who represent children. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 906(c)*, attorneys should receive ten hours of education every two years in child development; roles of guardians ad litem and child representatives; ethics in child custody cases; relevant substantive state, federal, and case law in custody and visitation matters; and family dynamics, including substance abuse, domestic abuse, and mental health issues. Topics for this seminar include: the requirements for those representing children in litigation; the challenges facing the next generation of advocates; the issues attorneys may face when dealing with client problems; recent changes to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act; legislative and case law updates; how to prepare children for litigation; how litigation may impact children; the work of non-attorney professionals in the parental allocation process; establishing parental responsibilities; structuring and scheduling parenting time; the rights of stepparents and grandparents; addressing domestic violence; and more. The roles of attorney, child representative and guardian ad litem are also discussed.
  • May 18, 2016 | Events | CLE
    Free CLE Laugh and Learn: Think Fast: Improving Your Communication Skills through Improv
    The ISBA Young Lawyers Division will present "Think Fast: Improving Your Communication Skills through Improv" on June 17 during the Annual Meeting in Rosemont. Sharpen your critical thinking and legal reasoning skills with this fun, interactive seminar! Improve your communication, listening, and quick reaction skills with this one-hour program that’s designed for all attorneys who use these skills in the courtroom to respond to questions from the judge and arguments from opposing counsel. The seminar engages attendees in a number of interactive activities that are used by improvisational actors to help you strengthen your quick-thinking and story-telling abilities. Pre-registration not required; walk-in registration only. Pre-registration for this CLE is not required, walk-in registration only.
  • May 18, 2016 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Should capital contributions be required for new equity partners?
    Asked and Answered By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. I am the sole owner of a 25-attorney litigation boutique firm in Los Angeles. I am the only equity partner with nine non-equity partners and 15 associates. I am concerned that if I don't provide a path to equity partnership, some of my senior talent may gradually defect to other firms or split off to create their own firms. I also believe that providing a path to equity partner for deserving non-equity partners is the right thing to do. Therefore, I am planning on admitting two non-equity members this year. Should I require capital contributions?
  • May 17, 2016 | Practice News
    Department of Justice has 5 openings in Chicago for Assistant U.S. Attorney
    The Northern District of Illinois, Chicago Office is accepting applications for Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) openings in its Criminal Division in Chicago, Illinois. The applicant selected will represent the U.S. Government as an AUSA in a wide range of unique and complex cases. Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least 2 years post-J.D. experience. Preferred qualifications: Excellent academics, significant litigation experience, criminal law experience (for our Criminal Division), strong legal writing skills, and a demonstrated commitment to public service. United States citizenship is required.
  • May 16, 2016 | ISBA News | Member Services
    Congratulations to the winner of the Beats headphones from Go Next!
    Congratulations to David Saltiel for winning the Beats Studio Wireless Headphones from ISBA travel partner Go Next. Over 1,300 members participated in this contest. Don't forget to visit our Member Appreciation Month website for upcoming promotions.
  • May 13, 2016 | CLE
    CLE: Developments in Illinois Insurance Law: 2015 in Review and a Look Forward – Live Webcast
    Don’t miss this opportunity to keep apprised of all major Illinois insurance case law developments, as well as a look forward as we continue through 2016. Attorneys working in the insurance law arena who attend this online seminar on June 2, 2016 will gain a better understanding of automobile insurance developments, changes to commercial insurance coverage, the various forms of life and health insurance coverage, and recent developments with additional insureds. The seminar is presented by the ISBA Insurance Law Section and qualifies for 2.25 hours MCLE credit. Click here for more information and to register.