There are pitfalls for attorneys who assume that a privilege follows whenever client communications are preceded simply by promises to maintain confidences.

In In re Scarlett Z.-D., the Illinois Supreme Courtrefused to grant equitable adoption rights to a nonparent who had played a childrearing role. The author looks at the policy issues surrounding the role of nonparents in childrearing.

The 2015 Allerton House Conference looked at topics ranging from the law school debt crisis to the impact of LegalZoom.

Social media use by lawyers and other technology topics were on the agenda of the 2013 Allerton Conference.

While other jurisdictions address discovery challenges posed by ESI, Illinois has yet to act.

Two recent cases shed light on spoliation claims in Illinois.

Family relationships have evolved, and so have guardianships.

The first district rules that judicial estoppel can be a bar to refiling.

Is the “superior parental rights” doctrine outdated?

Illinois courts should require prediscovery conferrals and other deposition-management techniques, the author opines.

This year's Allerton Conference focused on electronic evidence, spoliation, and other important topics not squarely addressed by Illinois' recent evidence-rules codification.

The Illinois Parentage Act should be amended to make it easier for same-sex partners to establish their parenthood.

How should legal parenthood at birth be established when children are born into civil unions?

The supreme court underscores the limits on the power to decide which cases courts can hear.

While Vailas' goal of protecting nonresidents is laudable, the approach it took commands too high a price.

Important differences between the two limit the persuasive power of federal precedents in Illinois.

A court rules that an Illinois eBay buyer could not hale a California seller into court in Illinois.

The med-mal caps ruling continues the age-old battle over separation of powers.

Learn about the losing battle to challenge automated traffic enforcement.

Nonlawyers can represent an employer in administrative proceedings before the IDES.

A recent Illinois Supreme Court opinion analyzes exceptions to the mootness doctrine.

Illinois judges should be free to impose sanctions for misconduct after final judgement and on behalf of nonparties if the facts warrant.

The challenges civil-rights claimants face in choosing a forum, shaping their pleadings, and more.

What are the best ways to combat incivility? Tougher rules? More sanctions? Allerton House conferees considered these options and more.

 Lessons from the A and A case.

 A majority in Berry found that while the trial court ruled correctly the system failed.

Two recent appellate cases limit the power to sue nonresidents.

Voluntary dismissals need only be noticed to defendants in the second suit.

Courts should grant extensions for “good cause” failures to comply. So what’s “good cause”?

Courts should allow sanctions against firms for lawyers' misconduct.