Lincoln’s law practice at core of CLE program

Some changes have been made in scheduling of the ISBA Law Ed seminar, “Lessons in Professional Responsibility Learned from the Illinois Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln.”

The next presentation of the Master Series video seminar will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 12, in the ISBA Chicago Regional Office. Luncheon is included.

It will be repeated, without lunch, from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 3, at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, and Friday, June 5, at the Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale.

In addition to enjoying Abraham Lincoln’s practical advice about being an honorable and successful lawyer, seminar participants will receive 4.0 hours of MCLE, with 4.0 hours of Professionalism MCLE subject to review.

Acted “in person” by Lincoln portrayer Joe Woodard, the script is based on research by John Lupton, associate director of The Papers of Abraham Lincoln Project.

Topics include reverence for the law, conflicts of interest, solicitation, fees and retainer agreements, pro bono work, selling a law practice, and managing client concerns and expectations.

Also covered are the lawyer as an advocate, the lawyer as a peacemaker, and the lawyer’s duties to the court such as avoiding over-zealous advocacy and frivolous lawsuits.

Each of the 15 segments will be followed with comments by leaders of the Illinois bar, including ISBA President Jack C. Carey, general counsel Charles J. Northrup, past president Cheryl I. Niro, and Illinois Bar Foundation President Vincent F. Cornelius.

Jurists on the panel are Judges Ronald D. Spears and Jesse G. Reyes, and Appellate Justice Shelvin Louise Marie Hall, as well as retired judge Sheila M. Murphy and Jerome Larkin, administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

Participating lawyers are Steven Beckett, Robert A. Clifford, Michael P. Downey, Richard D. Felice, Warren Lupel, John Maville, John T. Phipps and John E. Thies.