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  • March 14, 2018 | Practice News
    Best Practice Tips: Attorney Career Progression

    Asked and Answered

    By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

    Q. I am a member of a three-member executive committee with a 12-attorney firm in San Antonio, Texas. One of our responsibilities is oversight of our career development program for associates and non-equity partners. We have been discussing our policy of admitting associates to non-equity partner and non-equity partners to equity partner. Presently, we do not have anything in writing regarding timeline for consideration or what qualifies one to move to the next level. Associates and non-equity partners are unhappy with the present process. They want more clarity concerning their career advancement within the firm. Your advice would be helpful to us.

  • March 8, 2018 | Practice News
    Pilot Pro Bono Conflicts Panel Launches in the 10th Circuit

    By Marisa Wiesman 

    There are, literally, millions of people who qualify for free civil legal aid in Illinois. But once you venture outside of Cook County, there are only a handful of organizations dedicated to providing free civil legal aid to people who cannot afford an attorney. In all but a few counties, there is just one organization that provides these services. When that organization is unable to help someone due to a conflict of interest, that low-income person usually has nowhere else to turn for legal help. These conflicts are not limited to family law matters. Conflicts arise across the range of issues legal aid organizations handle, including housing, consumer, and public benefits matters.

  • March 8, 2018 | Practice News
    Stop Putting That IRS Circular 230 Disclaimer on Email

    It seems that every attorney appends boilerplate disclaimers — sometimes lengthy ones — at the bottom of emails. For many, it may be a standard footer the entire firm uses. For others, it might be something borrowed from another lawyer. Whatever the value of these disclaimers in general, many still contain some language that is not only unnecessary but inaccurate in its most familiar form — the IRS Circular 230 disclaimer.

  • March 7, 2018 | Practice News
    Best Practice Tips: Demonstrating Expertise Through Marketing

    Asked and Answered

    By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

    Q. I am a new non-equity partner in a 16-attorney firm in Phoenix, Arizona. My equity partners are telling me that I have to do more than generate billable hours and perform quality work for clients. They now expect me to bring in clients. Where do I start?

    A. I often advise attorneys that while what you know is important what you want to be known for is more important. Just having your name known is pretty useless unless it is known for something. For example, it is best to be known as an outstanding personal injury plaintiff lawyer – not just a good lawyer. In law firms it is the reputation for expertise that matters, not just the reputation. Therefore, a successful marketing program must project and demonstrate expertise. This can be accomplished in the following ways:

  • March 7, 2018 | Practice News
    ISBA Judicial Ratings Available for March 20 Primary Election

    Illinois voters are responsible for electing and retaining judges. To assist them in making informed decisions, ISBA provides information about the qualifications of judicial candidates and judges seeking retention. Lawyers who practice alongside candidates and judges are in a unique position to assess the professional qualities that are necessary for good judges. 

    In anticipation of the March 20 primary election, judicial evaluations, poll results, candidate biographies, and information about Cook County's 15 subcircuits are now available.

  • March 1, 2018 | Practice News
    Quick Takes for Your Practice: Helping Your Client Buy or Sell a Business

    William A. Price of GrowthLaw.com discusses how to help your client buy or sell a business.

  • March 1, 2018 | Practice News
    Decades-Old Maintenance Deduction Eliminated By New Tax Law

    Late last year, President Trump signed the GOP's tax bill into law. While it has been lauded in some circles as a welcome tax break for American workers and businesses, changes to the tax code will make getting divorced more expensive for maintenance payors by removing a deduction in place since 1942.

    Beginning on January 1, 2019, former spouses that pay maintenance will not be able to deduct the payments from their taxes. This change only applies to orders or settlements signed after January 1, 2019.

    Under the new tax law, not only will maintenance payors be unable to deduct the payments from their taxes, payees will not have to report the money as income. This will change the calculations under Illinois's new maintenance statute, which are based on the gross incomes of both spouses.

    2 comments (Most recent March 18, 2018)
  • February 28, 2018 | Practice News
    Best Practice Tips: Selling My Law Practice to My Associate

    Asked and Answered

    By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

    Q. I am the owner of a general practice firm in Chicago’s west suburbs. My firm has three associate attorneys and three staff members. I am 64 and contemplating my retirement and exit from the practice. I would like to start phasing back over the next three years and be out of the practice by December 31, 2021. There is one associate in the firm to whom I would like to sell the practice and he has expressed an interest as well. What are your thoughts as to how I approach this?

  • February 23, 2018 | Practice News
    USAO Southern District of Illinois Seeks AUSA

    The United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Southern District of Illinois has one criminal assistant united states attorney (AUSA) position available in the Fairview Heights office. The Criminal Division is divided into three units: Fraud and Corruption, Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement, and Violent Crimes. Over two-thirds of  the criminal case load consists of drug trafficking crimes and crimes of violence, including child exploitation offenses. Approximately 15 percent of our criminal cases are white collar crimes, including official corruption and theft.

  • February 23, 2018 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments in Urbana

    The Illinois Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two cases at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, March 15, at 10:30 a.m.

    The court periodically holds oral arguments at various locations throughout Illinois to better inform the public on the work it does. According to statements made by Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier in a press release issued by the court, inviting community residents to attend helps demystify the the appellate process, which is often poorly understood — sometimes even by lawyers. He also noted that holding arguments outside of the Illinois Supreme Court Building in Springfield reminds court members that rulings have a direct and real impact on the state's citizens.