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  • January 21, 2015 | Practice News
    Chief Justice Garman announces applicants, screening committee for 7th Circuit vacancy

    Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman announced Wednesday the formation of a judicial screening committee for the Seventh Judicial Circuit.

    Chief Justice Garman established the screening committee to assess the qualifications of those persons who have applied for appointment to the at-large Circuit Court vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Patrick J. Londrigan on December 8, 2014. Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court holds the authority to fill interim judicial vacancies until the next General Election.

  • January 21, 2015 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Pros and cons of hiring children of law firm partners

    Asked and Answered

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

    Q. I am a partner in a four partner firm located in Houston. We have three associates in the firm. One of our partners has a son just finishing law school and he would like him to join the firm. We have never had children of partners work in the firm before and I am concerned about setting a precedent. We have a good relationship among all of the attorneys and I do not want to see our relationship tarnished. I would appreciate your thoughts.

  • January 18, 2015 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court disbars 6, suspends 14 in latest disciplinary filing

    The Supreme Court of Illinois announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, during the January Term of Court. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.

    1 comment (Most recent January 26, 2015)
  • January 16, 2015 | Practice News
    Conlon, Fernandez appointed as Cook County Circuit Judges

    The Illinois Supreme Court and Justice Mary Jane Theis announced Friday the appointment of Chicago attorneys Alison C. Conlon and Rossana P. Fernandez as Cook County Circuit Judges.

  • January 15, 2015 | Practice News
    Ethics Question of the Week: Can I give media interviews on cases I'm not involved in?

    Q.  Although I’m not involved in it in any way, a local news media outlet wants to interview me on air about a very contentious case in my community. Can I?

  • January 15, 2015 | Practice News
    Beware the Avvo badge

    A recent post by Dustin Christensen on the popular Lawyerist blog points out that including the badge that lists your Avvo rating can actually promote competing lawyers. “If you have claimed your Avvo profile, you have probably seen links to claim your badge, which you can add to your website in order to show visitors your Avvo rating,” Christensen writes. “To do this, Avvo gives you a code you can copy and paste into your website to display your badge.”

    As he notes, “Avvo says the badge will send visitors ‘to your Avvo profile where they can review information about you and likely contact you for help to solve their legal needs’….What Avvo doesn’t tell you is that the badge also includes a link to an Avvo directory page specific to your city and practice area. That’s right: the badge includes a link to a list of your competitors,” Christensen writes.

  • January 14, 2015 | Events | Practice News | ISBA News
    Volunteers needed for ISBA Mock Trial Invitational

    The 2015 ISBA High School Mock Trial Invitational, which is co-sponsored by the ISBA and the Illinois Trial Team of the U of I College of Law, will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15, 2015 at the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign.

  • January 14, 2015 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Niche marketing strategies

    Asked and Answered

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

    Q. I am with a 17-attorney general business firm located in Boston and chair of the firm's three-member marketing committee. At this year's planning retreat we discussed the concept of niche marketing and whether we should focus on a specific niche. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

  • January 8, 2015 | Practice News
    The right to go topless

    On November 12, 2014, Sonoko Tagami sued the City of Chicago alleging that section 8-8-080 of the city's municipal code is impermissibly vague, representing an unconstitutional infringement on her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

    Titled "Indecent Exposure or Dress," the ordinance prohibits women from exposing to public view "any portion of the breast at or below the areola." Women are required to cover their breasts with an "opaque covering." The ordinance does not prohibit men from being topless in public. Tagami was issued a notice of ordinance violation on August 24, 2014 when she was participating in "Go Topless Day," an annual event where women go topless in public to express their view that women, like men, should not be prohibited from appearing bare-chested.

    1 comment (Most recent January 8, 2015)
  • January 8, 2015 | Practice News
    Applications sought for 5 associate judge vacancies in Cook County

    The Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County has posted a notice that there are five vacancies in the office of associate judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Applications are being accepted for these vacancies, as well as additional vacancies which may occur during the nomination process, that will be filled by vote of the Circuit Judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County.