Publications

Illinois Bar Journal
Articles on Attorneys

How Long Must Illinois Lawyers Retain Case Files? By Anton F. Mikel February 2004 Article, Page 76 A look at Illinois' murkey law dealing with who owns the contents of client files and how long lawyers have to keep them.
Increasing Your Civility Quotient By Karen Erger February 2004 Column, Page 103 Civility isn't just a nice thing; it is a hallmark of professionalism and a key component of malpractice prevention.
Is your firm registered with the supreme court? By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2004 Lawpulse, Page 62 News flash: many law firms, not just lawyers, must register, and those who don't could see their fee awards invalidated.
Birth of a Career: The Class of 2003 By Terrence J. Lavin January 2004 Column, Page 8 One of the plums of this position as the president of your Illinois State Bar Association is the opportunity to speak to newly admitted attorneys at the swearing-in ceremony conducted by the Illinois Supreme Court.
How to Increase Your Personal Income By Paul Sullivan January 2004 Column, Page 45 The key: make sure you're recognized as an "expert," especially by prospective clients.
Communicating Your Authority By Maureen B. Collins December 2003 Column, Page 637 Sorry, but proper citation format really does matter. Here's why.
Being Right Versus Saying it Right By Maureen B. Collins November 2003 Column, Page 577 As this cautionary tale illustrates, sometimes what you say to a client is less important than how you say it.
Beyond Eat-What-You-Kill: Determining Partner Compensation By John W. Olmstead November 2003 Column, Page 575 Make sure your partner-compensation system encourages behavior that advances, not undermines, your firm's strategic goals.
To Speak or Not to Speak? By Maureen B. Collins October 2003 Column, Page 525 Sometimes 'tis nobler in the mind to keep thy mouth shut...
What's So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding? By Terrence J. Lavin October 2003 Column, Page 484 The need for civility is one of those constant issues that seem to plague the legal profession. 
Hospitals potentially liable even if doctor takes the blame By Helen W. Gunnarsson September 2003 Lawpulse, Page 430 The supreme court recently affirmed a med-mal plaintiff's right to proceed against a hospital even where the physician falls on his sword.
MJP: it's not just a large-firm issue By Helen W. Gunnarsson September 2003 Lawpulse, Page 430 Do any of your clients winter in Florida? Do you do legal work with your laptop and cell phone while on vacation out of state? Find out what ISBA has done to promote clearer rules defining the dos and don'ts of multijurisdictional practice.
What I Learned from Television By Maureen B. Collins September 2003 Column, Page 471 The observant couch-potato can actually learn a lesson or two from the tube about effective communication.
Limited Liability Practice: What Lawyers Should Consider, What Firms Should Do By Steven G. Frost, Terence T. O'Meara, and Sheldon I. Banoff August 2003 Article, Page 388 Is limited liability practice right for you? Here's a review of the new legal landscape.
Murphy's Law: A judge says "no" to UPL By Helen W. Gunnarsson July 2003 Lawpulse, Page 326 An Illinois-based federal district judge takes a bold stand against UPL, and the seventh circuit affirms.
Leaving with clients in tow By Helen W. Gunnarsson June 2003 Lawpulse, Page 274 If you're leaving your law firm and hope to take business with you, consider these ethical and legal issues.
Sale of a Law Practice: Out of the Shadows and into the Rules By John H. Maville June 2003 Article, Page 292 A look at the ISBA's proposed transfer-of-practice rule.
Meeting the press By Helen W. Gunnarsson May 2003 Lawpulse, Page 220 Why should lawyers talk to reporters? Because it can be good for you and your client, journalists say.
Use Financial, Management Reports to Increase Your Profitability By Paul Sullivan May 2003 Column, Page 257 Your accounting program can produce reports that help you measure productivity and improve your bottom line. Are you using them to full advantage?
Calculated Overhead to Determine Profitability By Paul Sullivan March 2003 Column, Page 143 Can you truly measure how much each lawyer costs your firm and how much profit he or she generates? Here's a guide to getting an accurate cost/revenue picture.
The "Problem Lawyer" By Karen Erger February 2003 Column, Page 93 The damage that drug, alcohol, or otherwise impaired "problem lawyers" do to your firm lingers long after they leave. Here's how to nip problems in the bud, and maybe salvage a career in the bargain.
Illinois Legal Ethics 101 By Thomas More Donnelly January 2003 Article, Page 18 Answers to some of the most common legal ethics questions.
A Day in the Life of Future Lawyer By Todd Flaming December 2002 Column, Page 665 A technolegal tale from the future. And the future is good.
File Retention: Preventing Brownfields in Your Storage Room By Karen Dilibert December 2002 Column, Page 667 How can you avoid a massive, Superfund-style client-file cleanup down the road? Here are some pointers.
Arguments That Work: Rhetorical Strategies for Argumentation By Maureen B. Collins November 2002 Column, Page 611 After evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of your facts and evidence, use one of the rhetorical strategies described here to argue your case.
Communicating with Colleagues By Maureen B. Collins October 2002 Column, Page 555 Attorney-client relationships aren't the only important ones in your professional life. Learn how to talk to your partners, associates and other lawyer-coworkers.
Legislation creates Lawyers' Assistance Program Act P. A. 92-0747 October 2002 Illinois Law Update, Page 512 On July 31, 2002, Gov. George H. Ryan signed into law House Bill 4078, which creates the Lawyers' Assistance Program Act and amends the state Finance Act.
Ten Easy Things New Lawyers Can Do to Mess up Their Careers By Karen J. Dilibert October 2002 Column, Page 557 A career is a terrible thing to waste; but if you insist, here's how to do it.
The Leak-Free Office: Preventing Accidental Breaches of Confidentiality By Paul Sullivan July 2002 Column, Page 377 Are you doing all you should to make sure confidential client information stays that way in your office?
Document-Retention Policies in the Wake of Enron By David F. Barlett June 2002 Article, Page 317 Find out how a uniform and consistent document-retention policy can protect your clients.
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