AVVO launches controversial lawyer bidding serviceBy Adam W. LaskerFebruary 2013Lawpulse, Page 66AVVO.com's new online service allowing lawyers to quote fees for prospective traffic-ticket clients sends the public the wrong message, ISBA-member critics complain.
Lincoln on the WallBy Hon. Ron SpearsFebruary 2013Column, Page 104Lincoln was an exemplary but not perfect lawyer - which makes his example all the more inspiring.
Fiduciary-duty exception to attorney-client privilege does not exist in IllinoisJune 2012Illinois Law Update, Page 292Illinois courts have not recognized a fiduciary-duty exception to attorney-client privilege. On March 22, 2012, the Illinois Appellate Court refused to find such an exception, reversing the opinion of the trial court.
Ethics Hotspots in Client RelationsBy Bonnie BoothMay 2012Article, Page 244Returning phone calls, carefully defining your scope of representation - such client-friendly behavior isn't just good business practice, it can keep the ARDC from your door.
Ethics Puzzlers: Facebook, Fees, and MoreBy Peter L. Rotskoff and Melinda J. BentleyFebruary 2012Article, Page 84What if opposing counsel wins a continuance to go to a funeral but takes an island vacation instead (and posts photos on Facebook)? Ethics authorities explore these and other hypotheticals.
The high court empowers the ARDC to go after UPLBy Helen W. GunnarssonJanuary 2012Lawpulse, Page 10New rules give the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission authority to prosecute actions for the unauthorized practice of law.
Client service 101By Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2011Lawpulse, Page 604A seasoned family law practitioner explains how to avoid common mistakes lawyers make in working with clients.
The Ethical Office: Managing Nonlawyer StaffBy Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2011Article, Page 614The Rules of Professional Conduct make managing nonlawyer staff a high-stakes business. Find out which rules are most directly implicated and learn how to be a better boss.
Substitution of judge for cause: the high court keeps the bar highBy Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2011Lawpulse, Page 604The supreme court refused an invitation to hold that "appearance of impropriety," as opposed to proof of actual prejudice, is the standard for substitution of judge for cause.
What's the best way out of an ethical pickle?By Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2011Lawpulse, Page 604Taking quick remedial action and preemptive self-reporting can be the best way to handle a disciplinable blunder, ethics authorities advise.
Ethical Issues in Representing Elderly Clients with Diminished CapacityBy Kerry R. PeckNovember 2011Article, Page 572When can - and must - you allow your diminished-capacity client to make a decision you advise against? This article explores this and other ethics issues that arise in serving elderly clients.
ABA ethics, Part 2: Proposed rules address admission on motion, MJP and moreBy Helen W. GunnarssonOctober 2011Lawpulse, Page 490Proposed ABA model rules speak to admission on motion, multijurisdictional practice, disclosure of confidential information, and choice of law provisions in lawyer-client agreements.
Illinois Supreme Court Rule Changes: The Year So FarBy Michele M. JochnerOctober 2011Article, Page 520From new IOLTA rules to a new official citation system, a range of important supreme court rule changes took effect from January through September of 2011.
Don't be an oddsmakerBy Helen W. GunnarssonAugust 2011Lawpulse, Page 382It's a bad idea - maybe even an ethics no-no - to tell clients what you think their chances of winning are, an ISBA lawyer opines.
Are cell phones "contraband"? And what's a "penal institution"?By Helen W. GunnarssonMay 2011Lawpulse, Page 222A volunteer lawyer is charged with a felony for allegedly bringing "contraband" - her cell phone - into a police station interview room.
Volunteering to represent indigents pro bono in an area of law with which you're unfamiliar? Your heart may be in the right place, but be careful.
Ethics in the age of TwitterBy Helen W. GunnarssonJanuary 2011Lawpulse, Page 10An ABA ethics commission is looking for suggestions about how to bring the model ethics rules in line with globalization and 21st Century communications technology.
Selling OutBy Helen W. GunnarssonJanuary 2011Article, Page 20The 2010 update of Illinois' ethics rules make it easier to sell a law practice. But what about practical issues like valuation and transition planning? Seasoned solos offer advice.
ISBA ethics opinions: updated and easier to researchBy Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2010Lawpulse, Page 610A new searchable online index of ethics opinions, freshly updated in light of the new rules, makes them a better resource than ever for ISBA members.
Business Lawyers and the New Ethics RulesBy Markus MayOctober 2010Column, Page 540It's now easier to represent multiple clients, and to practice in Illinois if you're from out of state.
Clearer Guidance for Estate Planning LawyersBy Katarinna McBride and Graham B. SchmidtAugust 2010Column, Page 433What about clients with diminished capacity? Confidentiality and prospective clients? Here's a look.
