It took two tries, but the Illinois House passed a ban on the death penalty by a 60-54 vote. It failed by a single vote on the first try.
Read more in the Chicago Tribune.
Practice News
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January 6, 2011 |
Practice News
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January 5, 2011 |
Practice News
Okay, not dummies. Rookies. If any of your p.i. clients' medical bills have been paid by Medicare (highly likely), you should get an early start on the laborious and complicated process of making sure Medicare gets its due. Otherwise, the feds can hold up your case and your client's payday. So writes Angelica Wawrzynek in the latest issue of the ISBA YLDNews. And, she wryly observes, "Medicare started having liens on cases after many of your senior partners started practicing, and the procedures for getting these liens resolved have become more and more particular over the years. Make yourself a valuable part of the team by mastering the process." How? Here's how.
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January 5, 2011 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. I am a 55-year-old sole practitioner in Chicago. I have two staff employees. I have recently been thinking about what I would do if I became sick or disabled? How would I take care of my clients and my employees? Would you share your thoughts in this regard? A. While many lawyers and law firms are beginning to think about long range succession issues and the need for long range succession plans, many have not yet addressed the shorter range issues. At a recent presentation on succession/exit planning I was asked by a lawyer in the group the following question: “What if something happens to me today or tomorrow – what is my backup plan?" My presentation was focused on the longer term retirement issues but I also need to address issues such as short term illness, disability, death, and even vacations. Many solo lawyers are in “reactionary mode” and have not adequately prepared backup plans in the event that, in the short term – prior to retirement – something would happen to them.
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January 5, 2011 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select ISBA Assembly member Thomas A. Else and Anthony V. Coco as associate judges of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Mr. Else received his undergraduate degree in 1979 from Elmhurst College, and his Juris Doctor in 1982 from DePaul University. Mr. Else is currently engaged in solo practice in Wheaton. Mr. Coco received his undergraduate degree in 1990 from Indiana University and his Juris Doctor in 1993 from Chicago Kent. Mr. Coco is currently affiliated with the DuPage County Public Defender’s Office in Wheaton.
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January 5, 2011 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that the Ninth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Heidi A. Benson as an associate judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Ms. Benson received her undergraduate degree in 1994 from Knox College, Galesburg, and her Juris Doctor in 1997 from the University of Illinois. Ms. Benson is currently affiliated with Flack, McRaven & Stephens in Macomb.
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January 2, 2011 |
Practice News
What started at a New Year's Day party on Jan. 1, 1976 has become an institution--the list of banished words for the coming year from Lake Superior State University. You may find the list and background here. (Hat tip to Ray Ward of the (new) legal writer.)
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December 30, 2010 |
Practice News
The U.S. Senate recently passed a bill continuing unlimited FDIC coverage for Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA). Click here to read a statement from ABA President Stephen Zack. Click here to read previous coverage on Illinois Lawyer Now.
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December 30, 2010 |
Practice News
By Peter LaSorsa LexisNexis unveiled a new legal research platform created exclusively for solos called remarkably, Lexis Advance for Solos. You can access it at: http://www.lexisnexis.com/newlexis/advance Advance is offered at the flat-rate subscription price of $175 a month and a second lawyer is an additional $140 a month. You cannot add a third as this program is only for one and two person law firms. Also included under this price is access by your paralegal at no cost. For zero dollars a month ISBA members get free access to Fastcase. Let’s look at the features you get with Advance and you can determine on your own if you believe the extra $175 a month (you have to sign a 1-year subscription so the commitment is for $2100 a year) has value to you. The main features of Advance include primary law from all 50 states and U.S. territories, including all federal and state case law available on traditional LexisNexis, all LexisNexis headnotes and case summaries, and all available statutes and constitutions.
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December 29, 2010 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court has announced that the Twelfth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Domenica A. Osterberger and Roger D. Rickmon as associate judges of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. Ms. Osterberger received her undergraduate degree in 1988 from the University of Illinois and her Juris Doctor in 1991 from the University of Illinois. Ms. Osterberger is currently affiliated with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office in Joliet. Mr. Rickmon received his undergraduate degree in 1977 from Lewis University and his Juris Doctor in 1980 from John Marshall. Mr. Rickmon is currently engaged in practice with the Rickmon Law Firm in Joliet.
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December 29, 2010 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. Our firm is meeting later this month to discuss year end bonuses and raises for our staff personnel. Due to the economy we did not give raises and bonuses last year. While we have been holding our own with the present economy we have been trying to watch our overhead very closely. However, we want to be fair to our staff and we don't want to lose key employees to our competitors. We are a five attorney firm and have four staff members that have been with us for many years. Do you have any ideas for us? A. Your situation sounds quite familiar. Many law firms deferred raises and bonuses last year and are wondering what to do this year. Here is what we are seeing:
- Many firms that deferred raises and bonuses last year are doing something this year - raises, bonuses or both.
- Typically raises are in the 3% range.
- More firms are examining ways to hold the line on base salary and shift a larger component of compensation into variable pay based upon performance based bonuses.