The Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar announced on Tuesday a fee increase to take the Illinois bar examination.
The fee to take the bar exam will increase from $400 to $500. A late filing fee will increase from $600 to $700. The fee for those applying late at the last possible deadline will remain at $1,000.
The fee increases are effective January 1, 2014, and will begin for those applying to take the bar examination in July 2014.
Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil cases Wells Fargo Bank v. McCluskey, Hartney Fuel Oil Company v. Hamer, The Board of Education of Roxana Community Unit School District No. 1 v. The Pollution Control Board, Schultz v. Performance Lighting, Inc., Rogers v. Imeri and the criminal cases People v. Radojcic and People v. Pikes.
The Supreme Court of Illinois announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on November 20, 2013, during the September Term of Court. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. Our firm is an estate planning firm in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. We are a three attorney firm. We are a very "marketing orientated" practice and invest a lot of money and time into marketing and advertising. Still we are not getting the volume of work we need to reach our financial goals and targets. Most of our work is coming from our local city and a surrounding city or two. We are beginning to think that - for the most part - we now have all the work we can get from these communities and we need to expand and establish a presence (offices) in other target cities. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
The ISBA Disaster Legal Services Manual is a great resource for Illinoisans and Illinois Lawyers in the wake of major storms like the one on Sunday. The ISBA hopes this manual can help out those Illinoisans in need.
Here are the main topics covered: Public Benefits in Illinois, Housing Issues, Consumer Protection Issues, Social Security and Banking Issues, Personal Finance and Bankruptcy Issues, Replacing Lost Documents, Employer/Employee Issues, Wills and Estates, Disaster Preparedness Checklist, Resource and Referral Guide, Local Resources.
The full manual is available at www.illinoislawyerfinder.com/sites/default/files/pamphlets/booklets/DisasterLegalServicesManual.pdf
The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission honored Thomas P. Sullivan, a partner at the Chicago firm of Jenner & Block, as the 2013 recipient of the George N. Leighton Justice Award on Monday.
The award is given by the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission to honor Retired U.S. District Court Judge George N. Leighton. The award recognizes one who has given exceptional service to the legal community and exhibits the qualities that personified Judge Leighton's character, service and legal career.
"The George N. Leighton Justice Award is given to Thomas Sullivan in recognition of his distinguished service to the legal community in Illinois for more than 50 years," Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman said. "We congratulate him on receiving this most deserving award."
The Illinois Labor Relations Board is seeking attorneys interested in being appointed of Counsel for persons of limited means. When charging parties are unable to pay for adequate representation, the Board may appoint counsel to represent them in proceedings before the Board. Hearings are typically held in Springfield or Chicago. The Board maintains a list of attorneys from which a party may select a representative.
By rule, appointed counsel is compensated at the rate of $75 per hour plus costs, subject to a $5,000 maximum (which can be increased by Board order).
If you would like to be considered for appointment or if you have questions, please contact Deputy General Counsel Sarah Kerley at Sarah.R.Kerley@illinois.gov or (217) 785-4004.
The two requirements for the position are:
Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Friday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil case In re Karavidas and the criminal case People v. Trzeciak.
By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender
The Illinois Supreme Court is appreciative of the attendance today of key stakeholders of Cook County and the Cook County justice system for substantive discussions on how we might all work together to enhance the administration of justice.
The Court also is grateful for the presence of Chief Judge Eric T. Washington of the Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals, and Tim Murray, executive director of the Pretrial Justice Institute, for helping to facilitate this morning's discussion. Finally, the Court thanks Retired Illinois Chief Justice Ben K. Miller and Retired U.S. District Court Judge David H. Coar for their attendance and for their willingness to ensure that all of us move forward toward a common goal.
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Q. I am the managing partner of a 12-lawyer firm in Rochester, Minnesota. I am in my early 50s. Two of my partners are in their 60s and two are in their 70s. None of them want to discuss retirement - in fact they jokingly state that they would like to work forever. Do you have any thoughts regarding encouraging/motivating senior partners to embrace retirement?