Practice News

Anyone in Illinois with a question about a legal matter can call and talk to a lawyer – at no cost – on the 32nd Annual Ask-A-Lawyer Day, Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association ISBA in cooperation with bar associations in Chicago, DuPage County, and Lake County, Ask-A-Lawyer day will have scores of lawyer volunteers responding to phone calls.

Illinois residents can call a toll-free number (or a local number in some areas) to receive a free phone consultation:

• The Chicago Bar Association – 312.554.2001
• DuPage County Bar Association – 630.653.7779
• Lake County Bar Association – 847.244.3143
• From anywhere in Illinois, call the Illinois State Bar Association – 800.252.8908 or 217.525.1760

Lawyer volunteers will be standing by to answer questions about consumer problems, family law, estate planning, personal injury, or any other legal situations affecting individuals. Callers will be advised of steps they can take to resolve their legal problems and, if they need additional legal services, they will be advised to see their lawyer. If they don’t have a lawyer, they can receive a referral to a lawyer who practices in their area through the referral service offered by participating bar associations.

“People often have legal questions and don’t know where to turn,” said John E. Thies, of Urbana, president of the Illinois State Bar Association. “Ask A Lawyer Day provides an easy way for the public to get information about how best to address a legal problem.”

ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews bills in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers the Juvenile Court Act (House Bill 3172), FOIA and attorney’s fees (Senate Bill 1514), Juvenile court jurisdiction (House Bill 2404) and the Condominium Property Act (House Bill 2646). More information on the bill is available below the video.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday the applicable dates for new rules aimed at mitigating abuses and uncertainty in mortgage foreclosures, and helping those who face the loss of their homes by imposing several requirements on mediation programs and lenders seeking to foreclosure.

The rules were announced February 22, and their effective date is May 1.

However, under amendments filed on Monday Supreme Court Rule 114, which requires a lender to attest that the lender has complied with the requirements of any applicable loss mitigation program, will apply to all judgments on or after the May 1 effective date of the rule no matter the foreclosure filing date.

"Because the affidavit (required under Rule 114) must be filed prior to the entry of a foreclosure judgement, the effective date requires application to any case where a judgment of foreclosure has not yet been entered," state amended comments to Rule 114. "Thus, although a case may already have been filed prior to the effective date (May 1) of Rule 114, the Rule would apply if a judgment of foreclosure has not yet been entered."

Supreme Court Rule 113, which establishes practices and procedures in mortgage foreclosure cases, was amended to make clear that it applies only to those foreclosure actions filed on or after the effective date of May 1, 2013.

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil case In re Estate of Boyar and the criminal cases People v. Fitzpatrick, People v. Le Mirage, Inc. and People v. Hunter.