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  • November 5, 2012 | Practice News | ISBA News
    Don't forget to use ISBA's judicial evaluations in the voting booth

    The Illinois State Bar Association has judicial evaluations for every county in Illinois. Check them out at www.isba.org/judicialevaluations

    Visit Illinois Lawyer Now on Wednesday for results from around the state.

  • November 5, 2012 | ISBA News | Practice News
    ISBA voices support for attorney-client privilege in letters to Kirk, Durbin
    ISBA is voicing its support for legislation in Congress addressing a situation that may open the door to breaches of attorney-client privileged information. In letters to U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin and U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, ISBA president John E. Thies urged passage of S. 3394, which clarifies when privileged information is submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the privilege is not waived as to any third party. Read the letters to Kirk and Durbin.
  • November 5, 2012 | ISBA News | Practice News
    ISBA Member Update with John Thies - Voting for Judges

    ISBA President John E. Thies urges everyone to use ISBA judicial evaluations when they vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Judicial evaluations are available at www.isba.org/judicialevaluations

  • November 1, 2012 | Practice News
    Quick takes on Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions

    Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the Civil case Downtown Disposal Services, Inc., v. The City of Chicago and the Criminal case People v. Murdock.

    CIVIL

    Downtown Disposal Services, Inc., v. The City of Chicago

    By Karen Kies DeGrand, Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC

    A corporation must be represented by counsel in legal proceedings. In a four to three split opinion, with Justice Burke writing for the majority,  the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that a corporation's complaint, filed by its lay president rather than by an attorney, was not automatically a nullity. Rather, circuit courts should consider the circumstances of the case to determine whether the filing defect requires dismissal or may be cured.  

  • November 1, 2012 | Practice News
    Over 2,100 new lawyers sworn-in at 5 admission ceremonies

    More than 2,100 new attorneys will be admitted to practice in Illinois on Thursday, November 1 with Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court presiding and administering the attorney’s oath at five separate locations.

  • October 31, 2012 | Practice News
    Lynch appointed to 14-year term as federal bankruptcy judge

    Chief Judge Frank H. Easterbrook of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas M. Lynch to a 14-year term as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He will take office on January 3, 2013.

  • October 29, 2012 | Practice News
    Lawyers and debt collection

    The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has recently issued regulations to take effect on January 2, 2013 that will regulate debt collection by lawyers. The press release announcing these rules may be found here, which also includes links to other information about it such as a copy of the regulations, a factsheet explaining them, and the Bureau's examination procedures for debt collections.

  • October 25, 2012 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court announces new standards for e-filing in trial courts

    Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride and the Illinois Supreme Court announced on Wednesday new statewide standards and new and amended Supreme Court rules that will allow all courts in Illinois to begin electronic filing of court documents in civil cases.

    1 comment (Most recent October 25, 2012)
  • October 24, 2012 | Practice News
    Best Practice: Redesigning a law firm compensation system

    Asked and Answered

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

    Q. We are an 8 attorney law firm in Evansville, Indiana. We have five members and three associates. We started our firm four years ago. Each member has an equal share for both ownership and compensation purposes. We cut the pie equally. After four years some of the members feel that the equal sharing approach is no longer working and we need to consider a different approach to compensation. I would appreciate your thoughts on how we might get started on modifying our approach.

  • October 22, 2012 | Practice News | People
    Steve Baker Being Honored

    ISBA member Steve Baker is being honored by receipt of "The Promotion of Social Justice Award" by the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

    Details are below for the Nov. 9th dinner and ceremony. The award states as follows: 

    "A lawyer since 1978, Stephen W. Baker has served the Illinois criminal defense community for decades both in the courtrooms - as an Assistant Public Defender and later the Public Defender of DuPage County - and in the halls of the Illinois Legislature.  He has worked vigorously for groups such as the Cook County Public Defender's Office, the Illinois Public Defender Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Steve has fought tirelessly for years against an unending tide of efforts to increase sentences, expand the scope of Illinois criminal laws, shrink our civil liberties, and keep the death penalty. His efforts merit his selection as the first recipient of IACDL's Promotion of Social Justice Award." 

    Steve and other recipients will be honored at IACDL's Annual Dinner, on Friday, November 9, 2012 at the University Club, 76 East Monroe, Chicago, IL 60603.  Cocktails will begin at 6:00 P.M. (cash bar) with dinner to be served at 7 P.M.  

    Cost is as follows: