The Bar News

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Northern Illinois

  • January 8, 2020 | People
    Barbara W. Smith 1930-2019

    Barbara W. Smith, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, citizen, and attorney, died Saturday, Dec. 14, at the age of 89.

    She was born on July 11, 1930, in Chicago, to Harold and Alta Williams. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1952, and began a career in journalism at the local paper. She joined the Unitarian Church in Urbana where she met William (Bill) Smith at the Unitarian student club. They were married in January of 1956. Twins, Byron and Warren, were born in 1957. A daughter, Vivian, followed in 1961. When the children got older, Barb worked for Dr. Shaheen at RPS 205 and then at the Board of Education Office before beginning law school at Kent School of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology, earning her law degree in 1979.

  • January 8, 2020 | People
    Robert R. Caughey 1940-2019

    Robert R. Caughey, 79, of Pontiac, died Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at 1:07 p.m. at his home.

    Bob was born Oct. 4, 1940, in Pontiac, to Sidney V. and Helen I. (Buell) Caughey. He married AraLee Barnes, who passed away Aug. 24, 1997. He later married Linda (Bounds) Lesher on May 4, 2002. She survives in Pontiac.

    He is also survived by his children, LoriLee (Alan) Dunahee of Fairbury, IL, Shannon (Cathleen) Caughey of Champaign, IL, Wendy (Tim) Bogar of Trophy Club, TX, Christi (Rob) Sullivan of Plainfield, IL, and Amanda Lesher of Normal, IL; and 14 grandchildren.

  • January 2, 2020 | ISBA News
    Nominating Petitions Now Being Accepted for Upcoming ISBA Election

    In the spring, members of the ISBA will elect a third vice president, two Board of Governors seats in Cook County, and 21 seats for Cook County Assembly.

    One board seat is open in each of the following Areas: Area 3 (Circuits 12, 13, 16, 21, and 23), Area 4 (Circuits 10, 14 and 15), Under Age 37 – Cook County, and Under Age 37 Outside Cook County (Circuits 1-23). 

  • December 13, 2019 | Practice News
    U.S. Attorney’s Office Seeks Assistant U.S. Attorney

    The U.S. Attorney's Office Northern District of Illinois is accepting applications for an assistant United States attorney opening in its Civil Division, Financial Litigation Unit. 

    Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least two years of post-J.D. legal experience. U.S. citizenship is required.

    Preferred qualifications include excellent academics, significant litigation, bankruptcy, and collections experience, strong legal writing skills, and commitment to public service.

  • November 8, 2019 | Practice News
    November 2019 Bar Admission Ceremony Highlights

    Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Appellate Court justices welcomed 1,459 new attorneys to the legal profession on Nov. 7 during admissions ceremonies held at five different locations across the state. 

    ISBA staff members were in attendance at all five ceremonies to welcome the state's newest attorneys to the profession, take photos, and talk about the benefits of ISBA membership, which is free for one year for new admittees. Member benefits can be activated by filling out the New Admittee Membership Form. 

    All of those who were sworn in have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They bring the total number of Illinois-licensed attorneys to approximately 96,500.

  • November 4, 2019 | Practice News
    Over 1,400 New Illinois Lawyers to Be Admitted on Thursday

    New attorneys will be admitted to practice in Illinois on Thursday, Nov. 7, with Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Appellate Court justices presiding and administering the attorney's oath to 1,459 new attorneys at five separate locations across the state. 

    All of the candidates set to be sworn in have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They will bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 96,500.

    The largest group, 1,172, will be admitted in the First Judicial District during two ceremonies at the Arie Crown Theater, located at 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, in Chicago. The ceremonies will be at 9:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Media coverage is invited.

  • August 20, 2019 | People
    Patricia L. Hall Joins WilliamsMcCarthy LLP as Associate Attorney

    The law firm WilliamsMcCarthy LLP today announced the recent addition of Associate Patricia L. Hall. Her practice will focus on civil litigation, employment and labor law, and appellate advocacy.

    Before joining WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, Hall practiced in the areas of workers’ compensation defense and appellate advocacy. She is an honors graduate of the Northern Illinois University College of Law, where she was president of the Student Bar Association and co-founded the Professionalism and Ethics Society.

  • May 21, 2019 | People
    Anthony Raccuglia 1933-2019

    Anthony C. Raccuglia, 85, of La Salle, died May 18, 2019, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

    He was born Sept. 4, 1933, in La Salle and grew up in La Salle-Peru, attending local parochial schools. Raccuglia excelled in athletics, receiving state honors in football, basketball, and baseball. Following high school, he turned down a number of baseball scholarships to sign a professional baseball contract with the Washington Senators (now the Minnesota Twins). He played on the Washington Senators’ High Farm Team systems until he was drafted by the U.S. Army during the Korean War in 1953. While serving, he also played baseball for the Army baseball team.

  • May 9, 2019 | Practice News
    May 2019 Bar Admission Ceremony Highlights

    Illinois Supreme Court justices welcomed 335 new attorneys to the legal profession on May 9 during admissions ceremonies held at four different locations across the state. 

    ISBA staff members were in attendance at all five ceremonies to welcome the state's newest attorneys to the profession, take photos, and talk about the benefits of ISBA membership, which is free for one year for new admittees. Member benefits can be activated by filling out the New Admittee Membership Form. 

    All of those who were sworn in have passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. They bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 96,300.

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    May 9, 2019 | ISBA News
    3rd District Admission Ceremony, May 2019

    New attorneys were admitted to practice in Illinois on May 9 at four separate locations across the state. The Third Judicial District ceremony was held at the Third District Appellate Courthouse, 1004 Columbus St., in Ottawa.  

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