An effective oral argument can illuminate critical points and new perspectives that transcend the briefs, writes Christian Ketter in his August Illinois Bar Journal article, “Answer the Question!” But too often, Ketter argues, one clenches defeat from the jaws of victory by refusing to grapple with the hypothetical bounds of the unknown. And rarely does a precedent present itself with perfectly aligned facts—hence, the nature of appellate review.
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August 12, 2025 | Practice News
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August 11, 2025 | ISBA News
The ISBA’s Rural Practice Initiative Committee created the Rural Practice Fellowship Program in 2020 to increase access to attorneys in rural areas of Illinois. The aim of the Program is to connect rural and small-town attorneys and law firms looking to hire summer law clerks and full-time associates with law students and attorneys interested in practicing law in rural communities in Illinois. -
August 11, 2025 | CLE
Local municipal and township council have the responsibility to convene an electoral board whenever objections arise for the nomination of municipal and township offices. For municipalities, these offices include president, mayor, clerk, trustee, alderperson, and municipal library board, whereas township offices include assessor, clerk, trustee, supervisor, and highway commissioner. -
August 8, 2025 | Practice News
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, a not-for-profit organization with a long and successful history of civil rights enforcement and advocacy, seeks an attorney to join our legal team and work to address systemic racism and advance economic opportunity, applying creative legal strategies through a community-driven advocacy model. The attorney will serve in the position as a Program Counsel or Senior Counsel depending on years of legal experience. -
August 6, 2025 | Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission) is seeking two volunteer members to serve on its Forms Committee. The expected term of service is three years (starting on January 1, 2026). We are specifically seeking candidates from the following court stakeholder groups: -
August 6, 2025 | Practice News
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is accepting applications for one attorney position. -
August 5, 2025 | CLE
ISBA’s two-day Solo and Small Firm Conference is back again, giving you the opportunity to earn CLE credits while enhancing your knowledge and networking with colleagues! -
August 4, 2025 |
Member Services | ISBA News
The Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyer Finder Service provides referrals to local lawyers Mondays through Fridays. The Service makes referrals in a number of areas of law. For the month of July, 2025, the ISBA helped 1,545 people in need of legal services find lawyers.
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August 4, 2025 | Practice NewsJustice Mary K. O’Brien of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a Resident Circuit Judge vacancy in DuPage County – Fifth Subcircuit. Please be advised that any candidate seeking appointment to this vacancy shall reside within the subcircuit boundaries. See 705 ILCS 35/2f-18 (West 2022); 705 ILCS 40/2(d) (West 2022). The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Paul Fullerton on October 15, 2025.
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August 4, 2025 | Practice News
Each August, the Illinois Bar Journal publishes its “Legislative Roundup,” a summary of bills awaiting or just signed by the governor and of interest to members of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA). Several of these bills were supported by the ISBA or revised after ISBA input. Some were written by members or grew out of ISBA initiatives. The Legislative Roundup that appears in the August Illinois Bar Journal was painstakingly compiled by David P.