What are the consumer legal guides?
ISBA’s consumer legal guides are short brochures intended to help the public understand common legal issues, their rights and responsibilities under Illinois law, and the steps that can be taken to resolve common legal matters. Each guide focuses on one substantive area of law. Our library of guides is available to the public for free on the For the Public page of the ISBA website and available for attorneys to purchase in the ISBA Bookstore. Most members who purchase the guides either display them in their client waiting rooms or hand them out at public seminars they speak at.
What role do ISBA’s section councils and committees play in the creation and publication of the consumer legal guides?
As leaders and experts in their substantive areas of law, our section councils and committees are tasked with updating existing titles at least every two years. Not all sections and committees have brochure titles under their purview, however, any section council or committee may suggest new titles and create the necessary content for them.
What is the chair’s responsibility in the creation and publication process?
If you are chairing a section council or committee that has oversight over one or more consumer legal guide title(s), you are responsible for ensuring they are reviewed once during the bar year and updated if necessary.
What is the best way to ensure the guides are reviewed and updated?
The best way to ensure completion of this task is to include the consumer legal guides on your meeting agendas. At the first meeting of the year, select one or more volunteers from the section council or committee to read and review relevant consumer legal guide(s). Ideally, you will also set a deadline.
The appointed volunteer(s) will be tasked with reviewing the content for accuracy. If the information is accurate, please let your staff liaison and the publications manager know that the title does not need any updates. If the law has changed or other revisions are needed, the volunteer(s) should make revisions in Word using Track Changes and send them to the publications manager at sanderson@isba.org. Staff handles fi nal edits, production, and publication.
Where can I get a copy of the guide that my section council or committee is responsible for updating?
Simply email the publications manager at sanderson@isba.org and she will provide you with both a PDF of the guide and a Word version for editing and updating.
What do I do if I have any additional questions or require more support?
ISBA staff is here to help! Please contact your staff liaison and the publications manager at sanderson@isba.org if you have any additional questions or require any assistance.
Listing of consumer legal guides
Please see following pages for existing consumer legal guide titles and responsible section council or committee.