The contents of an attorney’s retainer agreement depend on more than the matter at hand. Developments in caselaw, Illinois Supreme Court Rules, legislation, and changes in society and technology—such as new payment methods and forms of communication—can affect the language attorneys use in their client agreements. The Illinois Bar Journal’s April cover story, “What’s in Your Retainer?,” explores why attorneys should look at their retainer agreements at least every year or two, with recommendations for what parts of a retainer might be worth reconsidering.

The Illinois Supreme Court entered an order allowing free remote public access to reviewing court documents effective May 1, 2025. The reviewing courts include the Illinois Supreme Court and the five appellate courts.

Voting is now underway in the 2025 ISBA Election. ISBA's election vendor, Election-America, emailed e-ballots to members with valid email addresses today, Thursday, March 27. Members—without a valid email address or who prefer to vote by mail—may request a paper ballot by contacting Election-America at Help+isba@election-america.com or (866) 384-9978 Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CT. The deadline to request a paper ballot is April 15, 2025. Due to potential spam filters, we are offering an alternative method to vote using ISBA’s website. To vote online: Go to https://www.isba.org/election. If you are not logged in, click “Login to Vote” and sign in using your ISBA member login information. If you are logged in, click the “Vote Now” button. All members of the Association (except non-lawyer members) with dues paid by March 1, 2025, are eligible to vote. The deadline for voting is Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. CT.

In his most recent Feedback Loops column, “Challenge & Recovery,” in the March Illinois Bar Journal, Patrick Barry discusses the importance of balancing one’s “challenge days,” when you have to perform at a high level and “recovery days,”  when rejuvenation is the goal. If you don’t get your own challenge-recovery balance right, Barry advises, the quality of the feedback you give other people can suffer, as can your ability to productively process the feedback that’s sent your way.