For Member Appreciation Month, we're giving five lucky members a Sonos One Smart Speaker or a Visa gift card of equivalent value – winner's choice! All you need to do to enter is renew your ISBA membership by May 31, 3018.  You can renew online or by phone at (800) 252-8908. All major credit cards accepted. Invoices will be mailed at the end of May. Important Disclosures: This drawing is sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Bar Center, 424 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701. Only ISBA members are eligible to participate in this drawing. Prize may be taxable to the extent provided by law. The estimated odds of winning this prize depends on the number of entries. Entries must be submitted prior to May 31, 2018. Winner will be chosen by a random drawing within 24 hours of the close of the giveaway. Winner will be notified via email within 5 business days after the drawing. Prize may not be exchanged or transferred. If you are unable or unwilling to accept your prize, ISBA reserves the right to select another winner for that prize. No purchase is necessary to be entered into this drawing, and a purchase will not increase the chances of winning the prize. Visit our Member Appreciation Month page to stay on top of this month's activities.

The United States Attorney's Office (USAO), Central District of Illinois is seeking an experienced attorney to serve in the Civil Division. The USAO is responsible for representing the federal government in litigation involving the United States in the Central District of Illinois, which includes criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the federal government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Civil Division handles a variety of cases including affirmative litigation to recover public funds which have been wrongfully obtained by fraud, civil rights enforcement, defensive matters involving government agencies and employees, asset forfeiture, and collections. This position is located in Springfield, Illinois.

This May, we're celebrating you during Member Appreciation Month. Want some time alone with an expert to get their advice on what you could be doing to improve the management of your practice in the areas you most need help? 

Asked and Answered By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC Q. I am an attorney in New Orleans who has been in practice for ten years. I practiced with a small firm for eight years as an associate and then opened my own firm two years ago. I primarily work from home supplemented with a virtual pay-as-you-go office. I do not have any staff employees. I have been approached by a 14-attorney firm that would like me to join their firm as a partner. Their offer includes a salary that I feel is low and a bonus based upon a percentage after covering my salary, other direct costs, and indirect firm overhead. The overhead allocations seem extremely high to me. In my practice, I am bringing in around $100,000 in gross fees and my overhead averages $10,000-$15,000 per year. My profit margin is around 90 percent. I feel like I am better off building up my practice rather than accepting their offer. What are typical overhead and profit margins for law firms?