With minimum continuing legal education requirements a reality, and the first reporting period beginning July 1 for about half of Illinois lawyers, the ISBA is shifting its Law Ed program into high gear.

“The Center for CLE,” ISBA's expanded Law Ed department, plans at least 60 new CLE courses per year, including online, compact disk and video products.

Update programs in certain high-interest areas, such as family law and civil practice, will be offered on an annual or semi-annual basis.

Others will be geared to levels of experience, such as advanced workers' compensation, master's programs on trial technique, and basic skills for new lawyers. Still others will respond to hot topics that arise unexpectedly.

“Most of the ISBA programs are section-driven,” explained Thomas S. Speedie, director of CLE. “But we have the flexibility to quickly produce programs on important issues as they come up. Everything we do is geared to helping our members practice law more successfully.”

While many programs will continue to be offered live in the Chicago area, and in Bloomington, Springfield, Collinsville and other downstate locations, the ISBA expects video and on-line programs to be popular ways of earning MCLE credit.

The new rule also indicates that attorneys may be able to earn credit for attending business meetings that involve discussion of substantive legal topics.

The ISBA will assist its members by providing attendance records for such section and committee meetings that are deemed eligible, in addition to recording MCLE hours earned by members at Law Ed programs.

Along with more programs, a new logo and an enhanced communications effort will let members know how they will benefit from ISBA membership.

The “Member Advantage” includes President Bob Downs' pledge: ISBA members will receive the most affordable, convenient and effective CLE in the state. It's a fact that ISBA membership and dues have never been more valuable or cost-effective.

For example, the ISBA pricing structure remains just $115 for most full-day CLE programs and $90 for half-day programs, with extra savings available for early bird registration. First-year attorneys pay just $15 and $10.

A member of the sections and committees that is sponsoring a seminar may save an additional $10.

ISBA's Law Ed programs are featured in the center-spread of every issue of the Bar News, on the Web at www.isba.org/lawed, and in the Illinois Bar Journal.

Members are notified of individual programs through direct mail brochures and e-mail reminders. The Web site provides FAQs about MCLE requirements for individual attorneys, as well as a link to the complete Supreme Court rule.