ISBA Bar News

Read archived copies of the ISBA Bar News, published through June 2009, here. Timely news about ISBA and the legal profession is now available online at www.IllinoisLawyerNow.com and in Illinois Lawyer Now Quarterly, which is mailed to all ISBA members.

2009

June - John O’Brien: Active champion of the bar; A message from the incoming ISBA president; Carey convenes ISBA Assembly

May - John Thies to head ISBA in three years; Convention is start of 133rd state bar year; Farewell to Bar News in June

April - Future ISBA president to be elected; 133rd ISBA Annual Meeting kicks off new year activity; ISBA’s image ad campaign renews public awareness

March - Felice, Thies head ISBA election ballots; Abbey reservation block opens; Web store offers Lincoln items

February - Nine lawyers selected as 2009 Laureates; Fitzgerald: ‘Lincoln is with us in spirit; Fastcase enhances legal research

January - Prejudgment interest proposal is adopted, Research tips webinars set, Election filing period to end Feb. 17

2008

December - New year brings new slate of seminars; Learn Fastcase tips, earn MCLE; Electronic newsletters more timely, less costly

November - Several Lincoln events on Midyear slate; Fastcase helps find answers; Assembly to air ’09 legislative package issues

October - Felice, Thies announce 3rd v.p. candidacies; Lincoln themes to highlight Midyear Meeting; Fastcase allows printing texts in dual-column

September - DiVito exemplifies professional excellence; Lincoln lectures begin; LAP dinner speaker bet everything, and lost

August - Lincoln bronze to grace Mt. Vernon site; Board elects officers; Conference speaker airs practice closing tips

July - Assembly votes thumbs down on death penalty, ConCon; Networking, MCLE credits featured at fall conference; Enhancements to Fastcase coming in Aug.

June - CLE Fest kicks off Annual Meeting; President-elect a bar leader since 1981; Solo, Small Firm registration discounted

May - John Locallo to be ISBA president in 2011; St. Louis is site of 132nd Annual Meeting; CLE Fest timed to provide MCLE hours

April - ISBA election ballots must be tallied May 12; Timely military law panel precedes call-up; MCLE reporting period nears; attendance forms to be mailed

March - Several ISBA election contests under way; ISBA commissions Lincoln bicentennial bust; Abolish the death penalty? ISBA will consider issues

February - Diversity task force has 3-part program; Six new Laureates are elected; Member Marks gain momentum

January - Use of abandoned accounts for legal aid urged; Status of unmarried couples explored by seminar panel; Lawyers Trust Fund grants could reach $10 million

2007

December - 'Atticus Finch' creator, Harper Lee, is named honorary ISBA member; Notice of ISBA Election; Deadlines ahead for June honors

November- Unmarried couples’ issues added to Midyear seminars; New membermark identifies ISBA lawyers to clientele; Law Ed series, ISBA Mutual are his legacy

October- AskCoLT for tech answers: Attorneys needed for disabled vets; Lawyer involvement urged in civic education field

September- Disabled vets to get assist in handling claims appeals ; Accord reached in UPL case of We the People; Foundation to honor Pedersen

August- Small Firm Conference offers MCLE opportunities; Watch for MCLE credit reports covering Jan. 2006 - June 2007; Our ‘Abe’ attends State Fair to boost image of lawyers

July- ISBA president consistent as a bar leader ; Solo, Small Firm Conference to expand skills ; Fall CLE slate shaping up

June- New year of challenges faces bar leaders ; CLE offerings are another ‘Member Advantage’; Check your clients’ legal health

May- Mark Hassakis to head state bar in 2010; Lincoln enhances lawyers’ image on billboards; O’Connor protects judiciary from being trampled

April- Image ad campaign making April debut!; ISBA opposes gross tax plan; Referral phone hours extended

March- Feldman, Hassakis file for ISBA leadership; Flexibility for members, savings for ISBA in dues payment change; New lawyers get ‘Basic Skills’ program

February- Banks asked to provide fair rates for IOLTA; ABA leader to laud women in law; 37 newsletters are substantive, brief, on point and time-saving

January- Senior Lawyers plan seminars to enable smooth transitions; ISBA Mutual is partner for new online Fastcase; Courthouse security study is under way

2006

December- Legal tech boot camp can save time, money for support staff ; Attrition among agency lawyers, because of debt, erodes legal aid; Court’s Rules Committee to air proposals Jan. 22

November- Two justices to address Midyear programs ; IBackup a new member service, also OfficeMax ; Petition signing

October- ISBA ratings for judiciary on Web site ; Midyear offers unique events; GAL training program slated

September- Fastcase is here, and it’s free to members!; GAL training seminar videos scheduled; Health savings plan available

August- Stellar speakers join faculty for Solo, Small Firm CLE presentations; ISBA pamphlets provide helpful data for public; DePaul Law Alumni to honor Irene Bahr

July- New services gain approval from Assembly in budget vote; Solo, Small Firm Conference offers 36 educational panels; Rainmaking seminar slated on July 18 at Drake Hotel

June- LTF grants for 2007 nearly $6 million!; BOG Awards for Albrecht; Dues mailing on hold until budget gets OK

May- John O’Brien elected to head ISBA 2009; 130th Annual Meeting highlights focus on education, installation ; ISBA E-Clips combines cases, news, CLE info

April- Bench-bar forums to air behavior issues; Newspaper ads to urge use of ISBA lawyers; Confidentiality sought in bench-bar peeves

March-O'Brien, Wojcik vie for 3rd vice president; Career panels, job fair offer keys to success; Mental Health Law Day marked May 10

February - Six Laureates will be inducted at April 6 event; ISBA readies plans to meet CLE standards; Biased juries, high bail face Russians

January - Juvenile offenders to move from Corrections; ISBA Mutual votes 10 percent premium rebates for ‘05 insureds; Arquilla, Davidson elected to ABA House

2005

December - Unique medical insurance plans open to members; ISBA election petitions are now available; 25 legal help groups funded by Foundation

November - Assembly to hear strategic marketing plan; Illinois Bar Journal wins national award; GATS could boost Illinois lawyers globally

October - MCLE timeline; Disaster relief fund growing; Federal judge to provide view on asylum cases

September - Illinois lawyers give to hurricane relief; Bill signed; it's one more victory in war with UPL; Solo, Small Firm Conference Oct. 7-9 offers varied CLE

August - Here are ten good reasons why you shouldn't miss the Solo, Small Firm Conference; Thies, O'Brien elected to offices by ISBA Board; Bar groups help fund Judge Treat's marker

July - ABA highlights include ISBA's reception for Justice McMorrow; assembly OKs revised version of pro bono rule; juror instruction video is available for bar programs

June- New court rule permits practice sale, transfer due to disability, death; Past president exemplar earns Medal of Merit; What's on tap when at Abbey?; John O'Brien leads pack in board election

May- 129th Annual Meeting provides new experience; Roll call: 80,000 attorneys!; New dues plan has automatic payment options

April- The Abbey dons new face for 129th ISBA Annual Meeting; Law Day helps people realize U.S. freedoms; LexisNexis pairs systems for efficiency

March- Carey unopposed for 3rd v.p.; Deadlines near for several award presentations in June; Board to meet April 8 in Geneva

February- Seven Laureates will be inducted April 7; Downstate workshop slated; Family law CDs are convenient, unique updates

January- ISBA Assembly debates court rule proposals; Futurist provokes thought for bar conference action; Web site, ISBA 'wizard' clarify Capitol capers

2004

December- Board adopts five proposals for 2005 legislative action; Election filing begins Jan. 15; MBNA enhances credit card plan

November-Mayor Daley to address Midyear event; Dues discounts given to members for recruiting; Bar associations to challenge FTC appeal

October- 2005 Laureate nominees face Dec. 1 deadline; Riding a dead law practice? Don't just study the carcass; Judge candidate ratings, polls are on ISBA web page

September- ISBA to monitor judicial campaign; Hurricane victims need counsel; ABA adopts malpractice coverage rule

August- Transfer of law practice issues get court scrutiny; General Practice seminar to open fall CLE series; ISBA conference to help lawyers

July- Ole Pace focuses on economics of practices, great deals on products in new member benefit, Assembly adopts proposed Model Rules of Conduct after five years of study

June- Ole Bly Pace is ISBA's next president; Special recruitment offer ends June 30; Court Rules Committee slates hearing on ISBA practice transfer proposal

May- ISBA ad campaign supports court system, ISBA mentors on call to share expertise, Pace takes office at 128th Annual Meeting

April- 3rd vice president campaign focuses new interest on ISBA, your one-stop legislative info service: ISBA, ISBA backs city license-hold amendment

March- Three seek election as ISBA v.p., fee arbitration service obviates client lawsuits, Allerton Conference is April 15-17 in Utica

February- ISBA files practice transfer rule proposal, mentoring plan gets board OK, laureate dinner tickets available

January- 12 Laureates will be inducted March 3, UPL task force winning battle with violators, complex family law issues to be explored