Illinois Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 regulates the safekeeping of client funds. In most cases, this means depositing client funds into an IOLTA account (IOLTA stands for "interest on lawyers trust accounts").If there's an overdraft on an attorney's IOLTA account, amendments to Rule 1.15 implemented in 2011 require the bank holding the account to notify the ARDC. And the investigation that often follows such a notice can expose bookkeeping lapses that result in disciplinary action.Michael P. Downey, a partner at Armstrong Teasdale in St. Louis who represents attorneys before the ARDC, says the overdraft notice and other 2011 changes to Rule 1.15 are a game changer for Illinois practitioners. The rule now requires attorneys to maintain accurate records of all funds entering and leaving their IOLTA accounts. It also requires them to retain copies of client retainer agreements, bills sent to clients, and applicable bank records, among other documents. Unsuspecting attorneys who accidentally overdraw their IOLTA accounts may be in for a more in-depth examination of their record keeping practices. Find out more from Matt Hector's article in the March Illinois Bar Journal.
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March 12, 2015
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March 12, 2015 |
Practice News
Q. I’m about to participate in a trial that may receive some publicity. Do any rules govern what I can and cannot say to the press?
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March 11, 2015 |
CLE
Don’t miss this annual event in Quincy on Friday, March 27, 2015 that helps you strengthen your professional excellence, while updating your knowledge in a number of general practice areas! Topics include: search and seizure, guardians ad litem, legal writing, elder abuse, eavesdropping, courtroom administration, employment law updates, and medical marijuana. General practice attorneys with basic to intermediate levels of experience will benefit from attending this informative seminar.The seminar is presented by the ISBA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section and co-sponsored by the Adams County Bar Association. It qualifies for 6.0 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).Click here for more information and to register.
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March 11, 2015 |
Practice News
Asked and AnsweredBy John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMCQ. I am the managing partner of a 17-attorney firm in San Francisco. We have a firm administrator that we hired four years ago and he manages our financial and HR matters. I haven't a clue as to what goes on financially and this is becoming more of a concern for me and my other partners. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
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The Illinois Bar Foundation hosted Lawyers Rock 2015 at the Double Door in Chicago on March 5.
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March 10, 2015 |
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 February 2015, ISBA helped people in need of legal services find lawyers in the following areas:Here are the results for February 2015:804 phone referrals made by Lawyer Finder staffMost requested areas of law: Family (133), Civil Disputes (121), Personal Injury (114), Employment Law (72), Real Estate (59), Estate/Probate Law (58) and Criminal Law (30).17,445 visits to IllinoisLawyerFinder.com (15,552 unique visitors)Want to be part of the ISBA Lawyer Finder Service? Call (800) 252-8908 and ask for the Legal Department, or visit www.illinoislawyerfinder.comClients should call (800) 922-8757.
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March 10, 2015 |
Events | Member Services | ISBA News
Join ISBA members for a group admission to the Supreme Court of the United States on Monday, June 8, 2015 in Washington D.C.Sign up by March 13 for the ISBA's biennial trip to the U.S. Supreme Court! A special group hotel room rate is available at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel for the admittee, family and guests.To be eligible, you must be an active lawyer member of the ISBA, admitted to practice more than 3 years, and not have any adverse disciplinary action pronounced or in effect during that 3-year period.
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March 9, 2015 |
Practice News
The 21st Judicial Circuit, Iroquois and Kankakee Counties, Illinois, is seeking individuals interested in becoming approved mediators for non-divorce civil cases. The qualifications necessary in order to be approved as a mediator may be found at www.co.kankakee.il.us/21stJudicial/pdf/Rules.pdfFor further information and/or to request an application, interested parties may call: Adrianne Haley 815/937-2915 or e-mail ahaley@k3county.net or send completed applications to:Chief Judge’s Office/ Attn: AdrianneRoom 203 B450 E. Court St.Kankakee, IL 60901-3917Applications can also be found at the above internet link and sent to the same addresses listed above.
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March 6, 2015 |
CLE
Join us from the comfort of your home or office on March 25, 2015 for this live webcast that increases your knowledge of seizures and penalties in the import/export process, as well as the changes in the law regarding the new Trek Leather decision, which expands individual liability. International and immigration attorneys, business lawyers, commercial practitioners, and those working in the import/export industry – with basic to intermediate practice – attending this online seminar will better understand: what you should know about the increase in seizures of goods and penalties by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Customs’ penalty regimes under 19 U.S.C. Section 1526, 1592(a), and 1595(a); how U.S. v. Trek Leather expanded individual liability; how to successfully mitigate Customs penalties; why you should disclose Customs violations before Customs learns of them; and how recent court decisions may alter your advice to clients.The seminar is presented by the ISBA International & Immigration Law Section and qualifies for 1.50 hours MCLE credit.Click here for more information and to register.
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March 5, 2015 |
Practice News
Chief Judge Kathryn E. Creswell has announced that as of March 2, 2015, the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in DuPage County has dedicated Courtroom 3005 as a full time Pro Se (self-represented) courtroom for Domestic Relations matters. Judge Elizabeth Sexton will be presiding. The Pro Se Courtroom will focus on families of married or previously married couples. The Hon. Blanche Hill Fawell, Presiding Judge of Domestic Relations states "This program fits seamlessly with the Illinois Supreme Court mandate for access to justice for self-represented litigants."