Section Newsletters

Articles From 2009

Legislative report: Amendments to the Adoption and Juvenile Court Acts provide new permanency options, procedures By Linda S. Coon Child Law, December 2009 The last session of the Illinois General Assembly saw new bills pass that provide new permanency options and procedures under the Adoption and Juvenile Court Acts
Legislative update Real Estate Law, October 2009 A legislative note of interest to real estate law practitioners.
Legislative update Child Law, September 2009 A summary of recent legislation of interest to child law practitioners.
Legislative update By Kyle Rominger Environmental Law, February 2009 An overview of environmental legislation signed into law in 2008.
Legislative update: What to expect beginning January 1, 2010 By Susan Dawson-Tibbits Elder Law, December 2009 The Illinois General Assembly recently passed two bills that will have an impact on our elderly clients. Both of these bills become law as of January 1, 2010.
Less is more: Lessons from BLINK By J.A. Sebastian Bench and Bar, April 2009 The book, BLINK: THE POWER OF THINKING WITHOUT THINKING, was published in 2005 and asks the questions: How valid is a first impression? What factors are considered? How often (who has time?) do we even think about how we think?
Less is more: Lessons from BLINK By J.A. Sebastian Administrative Law, January 2009 BLINK: THE POWER OF THINKING WITHOUT THINKING is about thinking in new ways about how we think. How valid is a first impression? What factors are considered? How often (who has time?) do we even think about how we think.
Lessons from a life in the law By Hon. Warren D. Wolfson Bench and Bar, December 2009 Editor’s note: Judge Wolfson gave this talk as he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jewish Judges Association at its annual dinner on November 15, 2009. Justice Anne Burke received the Association’s Seymour Simon Justice Award.
Letter from the Chair By E. Julia Almeida Child Law, September 2009 A message from Section Chair E. Julia Almeida.
Letter to new admittees from the YLD Chair By Kelley A. Gandurski Young Lawyers Division, December 2009 On behalf of the Illinois State Bar Association/Young Lawyers Division, I congratulate all of you on your admittance to the Illinois Bar. 
A life in the law By Hon. George N. Leighton Bench and Bar, December 2009 Remarks given during his honorary initiation as a member of the Chicago Alumni Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity on October 21, 2009.
A life to die for: A case study on life insurance settlements By Stephen M. Margolin Trusts and Estates, March 2009 A fictional story illustrating why life insurance policy issuers may wish to re-examine their negative outlook on the life insurance settlement business.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009: Congress responds to Justice Ginsberg’s dissent in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Inc. By Daniel K. Wright Labor and Employment Law, June 2009 The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 (the “Ledbetter Act” or “Act”) rejects the United States Supreme Court’s decision inLedbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Inc.
Lincoln … A license to practice and a legacy to remember By Michele M. Jochner General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, March 2009 As we celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, we are reminded of his course-altering actions as President of a Civil War-ravaged nation.
Lincoln’s life lessons By Michele M. Jochner Bench and Bar, April 2009 The celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln allows us to rediscover the eloquent words and timeless wisdom of our country’s most admired president.
Loan Modification Agreement Corporate Law Departments, February 2009 The following sample Loan Modification Agreement has been prepared for educational and information purposes only.
Maintain ethical corporate governance during the economic downturn By R. Stephen Scott Corporate Law Departments, January 2009 The current economic downturn poses many new challenges to corporations. Failure to maintain ethical corporate governance, to save costs or to avoid delayed actions, may only complicate or derail the corporate objectives, as the automakers and Bank of America have learned. Failure to meet important stakeholder expectations will surely lead to loss of the public’s support, while exceeding those expectations should lead to greater support and achievement of the corporate objectives.
Maintenance: ‘Til death do us part By Matthew G. Shaw Family Law, January 2009 Illinois trial courts have routinely imposed life insurance provisions on maintenance obligors, in order to secure maintenance payments.
Making business sense of building green in the Midwest By Christina Spicer Business Advice and Financial Planning, December 2009 Over the past couple of years, there has been a lot of talk about green buildings and the high costs associated with building to green standards.
Making evidence meaningful By Hon. Barbara Crowder Civil Practice and Procedure, May 2009 Some suggestions and observations to make evidence more meaningful.
Making pro bono your own By Jasmine V. Hernandez Bench and Bar, October 2009 Practitioners throughout Illinois must file their annual registration forms with the Supreme Court of Illinois’ Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (hereinafter “ARDC”) on the first of January every year. To stay on the master roll of attorneys and comply with Rule 756(f), we must report whether we provided pro bono legal services or made monetary contributions to organizations that provide pro bono legal services in the previous year.
Malpractice waiting to happen By James Moster Business Advice and Financial Planning, December 2009 There is a great deal of regulation in everything we do and in every business we start. Consider the fact that in one day in June 2009, the Illinois State legislature passed 800 new bills (this is not a misprint; it is 800). 
Management of urban soils as “Clean construction and demolition debris” By Joseph R. Podlewski, Jr. Environmental Law, February 2009 For several years those engaged in redevelopment of urban sites in Illinois have advocated the classification of soils containing contaminants (particularly lead and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, or PNAs) within area background concentrations as “Clean Construction and Demotion Debris,” or “CCDD.”
Mandatory disclosure and expanded ethics requirements for government contractors By John E. Jensen Corporate Law Departments, January 2009 Starting on December 12, 2008, new rules require all federal contractors to disclose to the government violations of many federal criminal laws and any false claims made to the government. These changes are likely to cause contractors to reassess their ethics and compliance programs. The changes will present contractors with challenging questions, such as whether a disclosable violation has occurred.
Matt Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award nominations By Michael K. Goldberg General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, December 2009 Matt Maloney was an attorney’s attorney. Those of us who knew him were amused by his quick wit, challenged by his sharp legal mind and humbled by his dedication to practicing the law as a profession and not just a business.
A matter of right: Same-sex marriage—A look at the evolving law By Ray Prather Trusts and Estates, May 2009 While Illinois does not have a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, same-sex marriages are against the public policy of the State
Maxit, Inc. v. Van Cleve: Supreme Court clarifies the need for express approval by Workers’ Compensation Commission of any attempt to settle or waive employee rights and benefits By Richard L. Turner, Jr. Civil Practice and Procedure, January 2009 Any attempt to waive or compromise rights needs to be explicit and should definitively refer to the rights accruing to the particular party under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.
May 22, 2009 Deadline for Comment on Proposed NDIL Patent Rules Intellectual Property, May 2009 The judges of the Northern District of Illinois have issued for public comment proposed local rules to guide the pretrial procedures in patent cases. The public comment period will run for sixty days until Friday, May 22, 2009. Following the public comment period, the judges will consider the proposed new local patent rules in light of the comments received.
May municipalities in Illinois regulate oil and gas well drilling and operation? By David Foreman Mineral Law, June 2009 What, if any, authority does a municipality have to regulate or prohibit the drilling or operation of an oil and gas well within its municipal limits?
Mediation and Domestic Violence: A practical guide for mediators and attorneys By E. Nicole Carrion Women and the Law, May 2009 While most judges and attorneys agree that mediation is generally a good thing for most custody and visitation cases, there may be certain cases, such as cases that involve domestic violence, that may require special considerations during mediation or perhaps a waiver of mediation altogether.