A distinguished slate of Metro East lawyers and judges has been assembled for this year's Lawyer's Workshop, which is making its debut in downstate Illinois with a mix of "nuts and bolts" and "cutting edge" presentations on Family Law, Civil Discovery, Attorney Ethics and Federal Practice.

The Lawyer's Workshop will run from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, April 15, at the Collinsville Holiday Inn. The registration fee is $25 for ISBA members who register by April 8 and $30 after April 8. New admittees may attend for a reduced price of $15 and all law students and legal services attorneys may attend for free. The registration includes all conference materials and a continental breakfast.

"This event offers participants an opportunity to learn from the most experienced and respected members of the bench and bar in southern Illinois," said Jorge Montes, chair of the Standing Committee on Minority and Women Participation. "We are very pleased to sponsor an event of this caliber at a fraction of the price of other CLE programs."

The Lawyer's Workshop has long been a staple of the ISBA's continuing legal education offerings in the Chicago area. The ISBA's Standing Committee on Minority and Women Participation decided to move the event to Collinsville this year, however, as a way to build stronger connections with downstate lawyers.

Highlights of the program include:

Family Law (9 a.m. to 10 a.m.) - Two Madison County judges headline this panel. Associate Judge Janet R. Heflin will speak on "Preserving Your Right to Collect Attorney Fees" and Associate Judge Ellar Duff will discuss "Emergency Protection Orders and Crisis Assistance." Michael D. Shag of Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen in Edwardsville will give a timely presentation on "Proceeding Under the Soldiers' and Sailors' Relief Act.

Civil Discovery (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.) - Dennis Orsey, who has his own law offices in Granite City and serves on the ISBA's Board of Governors, will talk about "Discovery Violations and Contempt Actions - How to Deal with Delays in Discovery Compliance." Two other prominent area attorneys - Veronica Armouti of Sandberg, Phoenix, and von Gontard in St. Louis and Richard K. Hunsaker of Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen in Edwardsville - will present "A Basic Approach to Understanding Medical Discovery and HIPAA Regulations in Personal Injury and Health Care."

Ethics and Law (11:15 a.m. to noon) - Peter L. Rotskoff, senior counselor with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission in Springfield, will discuss four topical issues: Attorney-Client Relations; Avoiding the Pitfalls of Practice; Attorney Trust Funds - Managing Your Trust Account; and Incivility Can Cost You Your License.

Federal Court Practice - The newest member of the federal bench in southern Illinois will be joined by a veteran criminal defense attorney to discuss "The Basics of How to Practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois." Magistrate Judge Donald G. Wilkerson, who assumed his duties on the court on January 3, 2005, will talk about federal civil practice while John D. Stobbs II of the Stobbs Law Offices in East Alton addresses his specialty, criminal practice.

Missouri Bar MCLE credits will be available, including .9 hour of professionalism credit for the Ethics and Law program.

Space for the event is limited, so ISBA members are urged to register early. Registration forms are available on the ISBA's Web site (http://www.isba.org/lawed/schedule.asp) or by contacting Janet Sosin or Phyllis Lester at the ISBA's office at 312-726-8775 or 800-678-4009.