ALTON, Ill. —
Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP is proud to announce it has secured more than $12 billion on behalf of clients nationwide, marking a significant milestone in the firm’s continued advocacy for individuals and families impacted by asbestos exposure, environmental contamination, dangerous pharmaceuticals, corporate negligence, and personal injury.
ALTON, Ill. — Simmons Hanly Conroy, a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, is pleased to announce the 2026 Summer Associate class and to welcome back two returning law clerks. The firm has selected seven outstanding law students from schools across the country to participate in the summer associate program, running from May 18 through August 14, 2026.
ALTON, Ill. – Simmons Hanly Conroy, a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, was proud to support the Alton Firefighters Local 1255 Third Annual Golf Tournament as a Gold Sponsor.
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Cindy Buys’ empathy and passion for community service and helping others comes from the deep sense of faith she developed while growing up.
That foundation blossomed into a desire to serve her community.
“I think sometimes when we are young, we think we are going to change the world,” said Buys, SIU Simmons Law School professor and the 2026 Lindell W. Sturgis Award recipient. “But what I’ve learned is what is important to me is to make my corner of the world a better place.”
Local bar associations in Southern Illinois made a big impact in their small communities this holiday season, showing that rural practice isn’t just about providing legal services. At its December meeting, the Williamson County Bar Association announced that its members had raised a total of $1,235 for Gum Drops, NFP, a Carterville nonprofit organization that provides weekend food packages for at-risk children in Southern Illinois.
On November 5, 2025, new attorneys were sworn into the practice of law in Illinois during ceremonies held across all five judicial districts. The Fifth Judicial District was split into two ceremonies—Carbondale and Champaign. Justice David K. Overstreet administered the oath to 37 new attorneys at the Southern Illinois University School of Law Auditorium, located at 1150 Douglas Drive in Carbondale.
Illinois State Bar Association Board of Governors Member Tom Speedie served as the speaker for the Fifth Judicial District ceremony in Carbondale.
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Law school students from around the country will compete this weekend as the Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School hosts the National Health Law Moot Court competition, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, to argue a fictitious case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Twenty-two teams from 15 schools across the country will participate in the 34th Health Law Moot Court — the only mock U.S. Supreme Court competition dedicated to the always evolving and expanding topic of health law.
CARBONDALE, Ill. — With an evidence-based, individualized and comprehensive approach, Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School is enjoying significant increases in first-time passage rates for recent graduates sitting for bar exams.
In Illinois, 77% of 2025 graduates who took the Illinois State Bar Exam in July for the first time passed on the first attempt, while in Missouri, 86% of SIU graduates who took the test passed the first time. Both results are nearly 15 percentage points higher than first-time test results for 2024 graduates.