Convention is start of 133rd state bar year

Accommodations at the Abbey Resort in Fontana, Wis., for the 133rd ISBA Annual Meeting filled up quickly. Scheduled Thursday through Saturday, June 25 to 27, the agenda includes business meetings all three days, and convening of the 201-member ISBA Assembly on Saturday morning.

ISBA Mutual Insurance Co. is the sponsor of the opening reception on Thursday evening. Many activities are planned for lawyers, spouses, guests and children, too.

Also scheduled Thursday is the Southern Illinois University School of Law’s popular workshop on opportunities for lawyers to become law school faculty members.

A breakfast symposium on Friday morning, “Understanding the Dowling Retainer Rules,” will be conducted by the Committee on Law Office Management and Economics.

Also on Friday is a repeat performance of the video seminar, “Lessons in Professional Responsibility Learned from the Illinois Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln.”

The annual awards luncheon on Friday will see many dedicated lawyers and law students honored for professional achievements and public service.

Exhibits by affiliated vendors of products and services that are scheduled on Friday include The Illinois Bar Foundation, which also will be represented Saturday morning, and ISBA Mutual.

Others are the Lawyers’ Assistance Program, Go Next (travel opportunities), Marsh Affinity Group (insurance plans), Fastcase (online legal research), Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund and ATG Trust Co.

Arlington Heights attorney John G. O’Brien will be installed as president during the Friday banquet. He succeeds Jack C. Carey of Belleville.

Before the Assembly meeting on Saturday, a 14th annual networking breakfast is offered by the Committee on Women and the Law, the Committee on Minority and Women Participation and the SIU School of Law.