Attorney Erin Wright Lothson discusses the top 3 things lawyers need to consider when using social media.
Practice News
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March 17, 2016 |
Practice News
1 comment (Most recent March 30, 2016)
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March 16, 2016 |
Practice News
Tax scams can hit close to home, even for tax lawyers like Kathryn Garlow of Chicago. Her sister called and said, “Kathy, someone from the IRS called and left a message. They want me to call them back. I’m worried.”
She told her sister what she tells her clients -- the call was a fake. "The IRS doesn’t contact you by telephone, only through written correspondence,” Garlow writes in the March ISBA Federal Taxation newsletter. She goes on to share advice from the IRS that you can give to your clients, to community groups -- even to siblings.
"1. The IRS will only ask for payment with a written, mailed bill. They will not ask for payment over the telephone.
2. In the written correspondence, the IRS will give you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount due.
3. The IRS does not require taxpayers to pay only by a prepaid debit card.
4. The IRS will not ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5. The IRS will not threaten to bring in law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying the amount due."
Read her article for more about how to avoid tax scams, including what to tell a client who gave a social security number to scammers.
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March 16, 2016 |
Practice News
ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers Condominium Property Act (Senate Bill 2359), Condominiums and common-interest communities (Senate Bill 2358), Forcible Entry and Detainer Article (Senate Bill 3166) and Illinois Human Rights Act (Senate Bill 2506). More information on each bill is available below the video.
Condominium Property Act. Senate Bill 2359 (Mulroe, D-Chicago) amends the powers and duties’ section of the current Act. Under current law, the board (by a majority vote of the entire board of managers) has the right to assign its future income from common expenses or other sources and to mortgage or pledge substantially all the remaining assets of the association unless the condominium instruments expressly provide to the contrary. Senate Bill 2356 deletes the statutory clause “unless the condominium instruments provide to the contrary.” Scheduled for hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee.
Condominiums and common-interest communities. Senate Bill 2358 (Mulroe, D-Chicago) requires an assignment of a developer’s interest in the property to be in writing and recorded for it to be effective. Scheduled for hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee.
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March 16, 2016 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. We are an 18-attorney firm based in Tucson, Arizona. Our practice is a boutique general liability defense firm. Our clients tend to be self-insured large corporations and smaller business firms. Currently all of our clients are billed by the hour. Recently, we have been discussing whether we should propose an alternative billing approach to our clients. We would be interested in your thoughts.
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March 14, 2016 |
Practice News
Chief Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for an At-Large Circuit Court vacancy in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Arnold F. Blockman on September 16, 2016. Judge Blockman has been an At-Large Circuit Judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit since 1996.
Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. The application process will lead to the final Court approval. Applicants will undergo an evaluation and screening process.
Notice of the vacancy has been posted in the courthouses throughout the Circuit. The application form and instructions may be obtained by visiting the Illinois Supreme Court’s website at www.illinoiscourts.gov and following the instructions in the “Latest News” scroller announcing the Sixth Judicial Circuit vacancy.
Deadline for submission of an application is Friday, April 1, 2016.
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March 14, 2016 |
People | Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed James R. Mendillo of Belleville to serve as the Chair of the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (ARDC). The ARDC is the Supreme Court agency that investigates allegations of lawyer wrongdoing in Illinois. His appointment was effective on January 1, 2016. Mr. Mendillo will preside over the next Commission meeting, set for April 15, 2016.
Mr. Mendillo is a partner in the Belleville firm of Freeark, Harvey, and Mendillo, PC. He is licensed to practice law in both Illinois and Missouri.
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March 10, 2016 |
Practice News
ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers Judicial Facilities Fee (Senate Bill 2503), Condominium Property Act (Senate Bill 2863), Juries in civil litigation (Senate Bill 3286), Adoption Act (Senate Bill 2926), Trusts (Senate Bill 2842) and Supplementary proceedings (Senate Bill 3303). More information on each bill is available below the video.
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March 10, 2016 |
Practice News
Attorney David Holtermann discusses holding client funds in trust through an IOLTA account.
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March 9, 2016 |
Practice News
If you only have 5-6 minutes to spare and want a lightning overview of the Fastcase service, take a look at the video below:
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March 9, 2016 |
Practice News
The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts announced Wednesday that the Eleventh Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Amy L. McFarland as associate judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.
Ms. McFarland received her undergraduate degree in 1996 from Illinois State University and her Juris Doctor in 1999 from the University of Denver. Ms. McFarland is currently affiliated with Bloomington Legal Services.