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  • August 10, 2016 | Practice News
    Best Practice: What reports should firm administrator be providing?

    Asked and Answered

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

    Q. I am the firm administrator of a 16-attorney firm in San Diego. We have six equity members, four non-equity members, and six associates. We also have four paralegals and six staff members. We are managed by a three member executive committee. Each month I provide the equity members and the executive committee with the same reports from our software system. They are quite numerous. The equity members and the executive committee complain that they get too many reports and they don't look at them while the non-equity members and the associate complain that they don't get access to any financial information. Do you have any suggestions?

  • August 5, 2016 | Practice News
    USAO Criminal Division Attorney position open in Fairview Heights

    The USAO has one Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) position available in the Criminal Division in our Fairview Heights office. The United States Attorney's Office (USAO), Southern District of Illinois (SDIL), is a fast-paced, collegial, and energetic office which seeks to maintain the highest standards of excellence in the enforcement of federal laws and the representation of the United States.  Our headquarters are located in Fairview Heights, Illinois, a suburb of St. Louis, MO.  Our branch offices are located in Benton and East St. Louis, in or near the federal courthouse. The office presently employs 32 attorneys and 34 support staff.

  • August 3, 2016 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Law firm acquisition due diligence - What should I ask for?

    Asked and Answered

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

    Q. I am the managing partner of a five lawyer firm in Denton, Texas. We have the opportunity of acquiring a sole owner practice in a nearby city with a complimentary practice area. We have had one meeting and our firm is interested. We want to initially do a quick and dirty due diligence so see whether this firm is really a qualified opportunity. What sort of information should we ask for?

  • July 29, 2016 | Practice News
    DEA Division Counsel position open in Chicago

    The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Department of Justice, is seeking an experienced attorney to work as a Division Counsel in the Chicago Field Division of DEA.  The position is part of the staff of DEA, Office of Chief Counsel and is located in Chicago, Illinois.

    Job Description: 

    The Division Counsel is involved in all legal matters and issues concerning the Chicago Field Division, including criminal, civil, and administrative law.  This includes substantive drug-related and money laundering statutes, investigative methods and techniques, search and seizure, electronic surveillance, interview and interrogation, evidence, discovery, drafting and reviewing legislative proposals relating to criminal law and procedure, and Federal sentencing guidelines, legal training, and legal review of operational policies and procedures.  It also includes matters relating to support of civil and administrative litigation, including regulatory issues under the Controlled Substances Act (21 USC § 801 et seq.), as well as personnel and fiscal law questions.

  • July 27, 2016 | Practice News
    Quick Takes for Your Practice: Pleadings - 4 things to know

    Attorney Robert Duncan discusses 4 things you need to know about pleadings when starting your legal career.

    1 comment (Most recent August 10, 2016)
  • July 27, 2016 | Practice News
    Best Practice: How much should law firms spend on marketing?

    Asked and Answered

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

    Q. I am the managing partner of a 12-attorney firm in Providence, R.I. In our recent partner meetings we have been discussing ramping up marketing. How much should we be spending on marketing?

  • July 26, 2016 | Practice News
    ISBA Statehouse Review for the week of July 26, 2016

    ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers Property crimes Public Act 99-631, FOIA Public Act 99-586, Creates the Local Government Travel Expense Control Act Public Act 99-604, Common Interest Community Association Act Public Act 99-627, Omnibus Juvenile justice changes Public Act 99-628, Cell site simulator device Public Act 99-622, Short-term guardian Public Act 99-599, Land Trust Beneficiary Rights Act Public Act 99-609 and Common Interest Community Association Act and the Condominium Property Act. Public Act 99-612.

    More information on each bill is available below the video.

  • July 25, 2016 | Practice News
    Chapman appointed associate judge in DuPage County

    Chief Circuit Judge Kathryn E. Creswell is pleased to announce that following a tabulation of ballots by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in Springfield, the Circuit Judges of the Eighteenth Judicial Court, DuPage County, Illinois have appointed Bryan S. Chapman to the position of Associate Judge.

    Mr. Chapman fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Judge Jane Hird Mitton.

  • July 22, 2016 | Practice News
    Assistant U.S. Attorney position open in Central Illinois

    The United States Attorney's Office (USAO), Central District of Illinois is seeking an experienced attorney to serve in the Civil Division and handle defensive cases where they will defend government agencies and employees of the government sued in an individual capacity in a wide variety of challenging cases and to represent the government in affirmative litigation when public funds have been wrongfully obtained by fraud. The Civil Division defends the interest of the United States from suits alleging statutory torts, constitutional torts, employment discrimination, and a myriad of other claims. The Civil Division also prosecutes cases for fraud and other violations of federal laws and is responsible for collecting monies owed to the government as a result of criminal fines, defaulted student loans, mortgage foreclosures, bond forfeitures and civil judgments. The division's civil rights enforcement program investigates and litigates cases involving discrimination in the areas of housing, public employment, disability, voting and education.

    Job Description: 

  • July 21, 2016 | Practice News
    Quick Takes for Your Practice: How to effectively try an allocation of parental responsibilities case

    Illinois Family Law Judge Kevin Busch outlines how to effectively try an allocation of parental responsibilities case.

    1 comment (Most recent July 21, 2016)