Attorney Ralph Schumann provides an update on changes coming to Real Estate Law.
Practice News
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November 4, 2015 |
Practice News
1 comment (Most recent November 5, 2015)
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November 4, 2015 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am a new administrator in a 17-attorney law firm in the greater Boston area. I am the firm's first administrator and after the first six months I am struggling. It is unclear whether I am living up to the expectations of the partners and I feel like I am lost. I would appreciate your thoughts.
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November 3, 2015 |
Practice News
Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court administered the attorney’s oath to 1,605 new attorneys on Thursday at five separate locations across the state.
The largest group —1,306—were admitted in the First Judicial District during two ceremonies at the Arie Crown Theater, 2301 Lake Shore Drive, in Chicago.
All of the candidates 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 96,000.
Justice Anne M. Burke presided over the 9:45 a.m. ceremony in the First District and Justice Mary Jane Theis presided over the 12:45 p.m. ceremony.
At the 9:45 a.m. ceremony, Will County Circuit Judge Richard C. Schoenstedt made the move for admission of the class. Cook County Circuit Judge Sharon M. Sullivan and Chicago attorney Stephen Stern seconded the motion. They all have children who took the attorney's oath during the ceremony.
Other guests of the morning ceremony included: Patricia Brown Holmes, president of the Chicago Bar Association; and Cook County Circuit Judge Jessica A. O'Brien, ISBA Board member and president of the Women's Bar Association.
2 comments (Most recent November 4, 2015) -
November 2, 2015 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday that Gerald Vernon Cleary, III has been appointed as a Circuit Judge of Cook County, at large. This appointment is effective Nov. 5, 2015 and terminates on Dec. 5, 2016. It was created by the retirement of the Hon. Richard F. Walsh.
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October 28, 2015 |
Practice News
A podcast about a CLE program? Why not? Aurora lawyer and podcaster Sam Partida brought his recorder, his energetic style, and his in-the-trenches knowledge of criminal law to the ISBA’s DUI and Traffic Fall Seminar in Elgin earlier this month. The result is a great series of interviews that are an exciting and informative sampler of what you missed if you couldn’t be there – and what you can view online (for CLE credit!) as soon as it’s posted.
View Sam’s blog post about the Elgin program or use the player below to listen:
2 comments (Most recent October 30, 2015) -
October 28, 2015 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am the solo owner of a five-attorney estate planning firm in Los Angeles consisting of myself and four associates. I am approaching retirement and looking at my exit options. Since there are no heirs apparent in the firm, I am looking to sell the practice. However, the potential buyer that I have been speaking with is nervous and concerned about client defections, proper transition, etc. Also, I would like to continue to practice for a few years and don't want to run afoul of the rules of professional conduct. I would appreciate your thoughts.
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October 28, 2015 |
Practice News
Here is the Illinois Supreme Court Call of the Docket for November Term 2015:
Call Tuesday, November 10, 2015 - 9:30 A.M.
- No. 117846 - People State of Illinois, appellant, v. Joshua Tolbert, appellee. Appeal, Appellate Court, First District.
- No. 118672 - People State of Illinois, appellant, v. Gregory Hernandez, etc., appellee. Appeal, Circuit Court (DuPage).
Call Thursday, November 12, 2015 - 9:00 A.M.
- Nos.118693, 118694 - People State of Illinois, appellee, v. Wail Salem, appellant. Appeal, Appellate Court, Third cons. District
- No. 118973 - People State of Illinois, appellant, v. Taron R. Burns, appellee. Appeal, Appellate Court, Fourth District.
Call Tuesday, November 17, 2015 - 9:00 A.M.
- No. 118496 - People State of Illinois, appellant, v. Eduardo Lerma, appellee. Appeal, Appellate Court, First District.
- No. 117720 - Stone Street Partners, LLC, appellee/cross-appellant, v. The City of Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings et al., appellants/cross-appellees. Appeal, Appellate Court, First District.
- Nos.119618, 19620, 119638, 119639, 119644 - Mary J. Jones et al., appellees, v. Municipal 1Employees' Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago et al., appellants. Appeal, Circuit Court (Cook).
- No. 118661 - People State of Illinois, appellee, v. Jerry Boston, appellant. Appeal, Appellate Court, First District.
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October 22, 2015 |
Practice News
Ballard RN Center, Inc. v. Kohll's Pharmacy & Homecare, Inc.
By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. Reagan
In this “junk fax” class action case, the court held that a motion for class certification filed contemporaneously with the complaint was sufficient to bar a claim of mootness by defendant, which tendered the full amount recoverable under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act after the complaint, and class certification motion, were filed. In partially reversing the appellate court and in affirming the circuit court, the supreme court centered its analysis on its opinion in Barber v. American Airlines, Inc., 241 Ill.2d 450 (2011).
In Barber, plaintiff’s class action was properly dismissed because there was no motion for class certification pending when the defendant refunded the $40 baggage fee which was at issue, thereby mooting the class plaintiff’s claim. An underpinning of the reasoning in Barber was that in the absence of a motion for certification, the interests of the other class members were not then before the court.
Here, defendant argued, in part, that the motion for class certification was a “shell” motion that lacked content. The supreme court disagreed, saying that the motion contained a general outline of the action, and effectively communicated the fundamental nature of the putative class action. -
October 22, 2015 |
Practice News
Attorney Rory Weiler discusses the new family law maintenance guidelines for 2015.
3 comments (Most recent October 23, 2015) -
October 22, 2015 |
Practice News
Northwestern University School of Law alumnus J.B. Pritzker and his wife, M.K. Pritzker, have made a $100 million gift that will significantly advance the mission and vision of Pritzker’s alma mater, one of the nation’s leading law schools.
The 156-year-old school will be named the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
The Pritzkers’ gift is the largest single gift ever to any law school.
Northwestern President Morton Schapiro and Law School Dean Daniel B. Rodriguez made the announcement during an event at the Law School today (Oct. 22).
The Pritzkers’ game-changing gift will allow the best students, no matter what their socio-economic background, to get a legal education at one of the top law schools in the country. In addition, it simultaneously focuses on the advancement of the study of law, business and technology, and on public interest initiatives in the areas of civil and human rights.
The funding will help support and advance the Law School’s strategy of developing new kinds of highly marketable lawyers -- creative, constructive problem-solvers armed with entrepreneurial and multidisciplinary skills, resolutely committed to social justice and the rule of law.
The gift supports several social justice centers at Northwestern Law School, including the Center on Wrongful Convictions, the Children and Family Justice Center, the Center on International Human Rights, the Environmental Law Center and other key programs to improve civil society and implement justice.