The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice and the Access to Justice Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts are excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2026-2027 Access to Justice (ATJ) Improvement Grant Program. Courts across Illinois at all levels are encouraged to apply for funding and to consider joining the Court Navigator Network (Network) of court personnel who assist self-represented litigants (SRLs) and advance access to justice.
ISBA members, sign up to receive The Bar News' biweekly e-newsletter by emailing emailpreferences@isba.org
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June 1, 2026 | Practice News
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June 1, 2026 | CLE
The Future of Limited Scope Representation: Fifth District Live Webcast Wednesday, June 24, 2026 11:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. 2.0 hours MCLE credit, including 2.0 hours Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit (subject to approval) -
June 1, 2026 | People
The Honorable Carole Kamin Bellows, a trailblazing Chicago lawyer and judge, died on May 29, 2026, in Evanston, Illinois. She was 91. Carole was the first woman in the United States elected to lead a state bar association and went on to serve more than three decades on the bench of the Circuit Court of Cook County.1 comment (Most recent June 2, 2026) -
May 28, 2026 | ISBA News
For our Member Appreciation Month contest, submit a 100-word summary of your most notable artificial intelligence (AI) experience. Perhaps you’ve found a way to save a huge amount of time with AI or used AI to make a connection or establish a pattern you would not have discovered on your own. Conversely, maybe you have a cautionary tale of an AI prompt gone very wrong! Our favorite submissions will be published in the Illinois Bar Journal, and a $100 Visa gift card will be given to the top entry. -
May 28, 2026 | Practice NewsThe Illinois Supreme Court announced today amendments to Supreme Court Rule 795(d)(14) which will permit newly-admitted attorneys to participate in a pro bono pilot program to earn Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit. With this amendment the Court hopes to address unmet legal needs in the state and help foster a career-long commitment for new attorneys to pro bono service.
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May 27, 2026 | Events
On May 14, 2026, ISBA friends and colleagues gathered at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, in Lisle, IL, for the annual Member Appreciation and Recognition Reception. The 2025-26 ISBA Award Recipients were honored. -
May 27, 2026 | ISBA News
ISBA members will receive discounted access to an award-winning Legal AI platform for contract drafting, review, and negotiation. Miami, Florida – May 28, 2026 — The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) and SimpleDocs today announced a strategic initiative to help Illinois attorneys responsibly adopt practical Legal AI technology built specifically for transactional work. -
May 27, 2026 | Practice NewsThe Illinois Supreme Court invites applications from individuals interested in serving as an appointed member of the Illinois State Public Defender Commission (Commission). The Commission plays a vital role in overseeing and supporting the Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD), ensuring the delivery of quality legal representation to those in need throughout Illinois.
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May 27, 2026 | CLE
Beyond Compliance: Strategic Trade Advisory in 2026 Live Webcast Tuesday, June 16, 2026 11:00 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. 1.50 hour MCLE credit -
May 26, 2026 | Practice News
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession has been colored by early missteps: spectacular hallucinations, unvetted filings, and judicial sanctions. But when used prudently, AI can (and will) help lawyers deliver better work faster and at lower cost. The question is not whether Illinois lawyers may use AI, but how they can do so while honoring confidentiality, preserving work-product protection, and avoiding privilege pitfalls. In his May Illinois Bar Journal article, “What’s Said to AI May Not Stay in AI,” Jake A.