Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Twelfth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Jessica Colon-Sayre as an associate judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.Ms. Colon-Sayre received her undergraduate degree in 1996 from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, and her Juris Doctor in 2001 from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Ms. Colon-Sayre is currently affiliated with the Will County State's Attorney's Office in Joliet.
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December 1, 2014 |
Practice News
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December 1, 2014 |
ISBA News | Events
Join judges and lawyers from across the state to conduct the business of the bench and bar and celebrate professional achievements. Highlights include an Opening Reception, a luncheon presentation by Attorney General of the United States Eric H. Holder, Jr., and an evening celebration honoring the Justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois. Additional programs and business meetings will be held throughout the conference. All this camaraderie takes place at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, steps away from the holiday pageantry Chicago offers during this time of year. Advance registration ends Dec. 5. Find out more and register at www.isba.org/jointmeeting
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November 24, 2014 |
Practice News
On Nov. 21, the Illinois Supreme Court amended its Rule 138 privacy provisions to remove a ban on publication of minors' names in civil cases. The ban, which would have taken effect January 1 if not for the amendment, was opposed by the ISBA and its Family Law Section Council. The ISBA testified against the ban at a public hearing of the Supreme Court Rules Committee in 2013.Before Friday's amendments, Rule 138 was set to prohibit inclusion of "birth dates" and "names of individuals known to be minors" in court documents and exhibits. It would have allowed only minors' initials and birth years to appear.Critics' principal objection to the ban was that it "conflict[ed] with other statutes that, for example, require a child's name and birth date to be included in unified orders of child support and joint parenting agreements," wrote Adam Lasker in the November 2013 Illinois Bar Journal. (Also see Janan Hanna's article in the February 2014 IBJ for more about the ban and critics' concerns.)
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November 24, 2014 |
Practice News
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois is seeking a full time temporary Pro Se Law Clerk. This temporary position is for one year and one day and may be extended but may not exceed four years, unless it becomes permanent. The Pro Se Law Clerk provides legal advice and assistance to the court in connection with prisoner petitions and complaints. The successful candidate for this position will report to the Chief Judge.POSITION: Pro Se Law Clerk, Full Time Temporary*VACANCY NUMBER: 2014-13SALARY RANGE: JSP 11 ($57,982) to JSP 14 ($126,949), depending on qualifications**DATE POSTED: November 24, 2014CLOSING DATE: December 15, 2014, at 4 p.m.* Position may become permanent without further competition** Position is promotion eligible without further competition
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November 24, 2014 |
Practice News
Chief Judge John T. Elsner announced that the Court is accepting applications to fill a vacancy for the Office of Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage County. This vacancy is the results of the elevation of Associate Judge Liam C. Brennan to Circuit Judge.Judge Elsner added that applications to fill this vacancy will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2014. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, licensed to practice law in this state, and a resident of DuPage County. Two original applications, submitted on the prescribed application form, must be filed with:Michael J. Tardy, DirectorAdministrative Office of the Illinois Courts3101 Old Jacksonville RoadSpringfield, IL 62704-6488Applications can be obtained from the Chief Judge's Office, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts or from the Supreme Court's website: www.state.il.us/courtApplications may be be submitted electronically or via facsimile.
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November 24, 2014 |
CLE
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Carole Levitt and Mark Rosch – two internationally recognized Internet trainers and authors of seven American Bar Association Law Practice Division books – as they show you how to develop online investigative strategies to search like a private investigator. The program, which takes place in Chicago on December 12, 2014, show you how to develop effective investigative search strategies via the Internet using a variety of free and low-cost sources to help with your next case or transaction. Attendees with all levels of practice experience will learn how to: access expensive databases (for free!); retrieve background information from public records; conduct due diligence; unearth bankruptcies and other litigation history; find hard-to-locate people; learn how you can (and can’t) use social networking sites for investigative and background research; and how to overcome social media discovery and evidentiary issues and authenticate profiles. This Master Series seminar qualifies for 3.0 hours MCLE credit, including 3.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).Click here for more information and to register.
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November 20, 2014 |
Practice News
Q. My client is making unreasonable demands and I believe she cannot make rational decisions which will impact the outcome of the case. Am I allowed to withdraw from representation?A. IRPC 1.16(b)(4) states that a lawyer may withdraw from representation if “the client insists upon taking action that the lawyer considers repugnant or with which the lawyer has a fundamental disagreement.” However, when withdrawing, a lawyer should follow 1.16(c) and (d) and must follow applicable law requiring notice to or permission of a tribunal when terminating representation and take steps to protect the client’s interests, such as allowing time to find new counsel, refunding fees, and returning files.For more information, consult ISBA Advisory Opinion 12-10ISBA members can browse past ISBA Ethics Opinions, access our Ethics Hotline, and other resources on the ISBA Ethics Page.[Disclaimer. These questions are representative of calls received on the ISBA’s ethics hotline. The information provided below is meant as an educational tool to highlight potentially applicable Illinois RPC or other ethics resources that might help the lawyer answer the question posed. The information provided isn’t legal advice. Because every situation is different, often complex, and the law is constantly evolving, you shouldn’t rely upon this general information without conducting your own research.]
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November 20, 2014
Chicago solo practitioner Leila Kanani needed to find experienced attorneys to help her handle overflow work when her docket spiked, but she couldn't hire anyone full-time because she couldn't count on staying crazy-busy. So she reached out to attorneys she knew who had left BigLaw to become stay-at-home mothers but wanted to keep one foot in the legal business."Whenever I got busy, I didn't know who to turn to for work," says Kanani, who estimates her practice is 60 to 65 percent litigation and the rest transactional, including estate planning, intellectual property, and corporate, family, and environmental law. "They were just sitting at home. They loved it. I set them up with other projects, and it just grew out of that."In 2013, she founded Intermix Legal Group, a network of freelance attorneys and those who want to hire them for piece work - projects like drafting pleadings and motions, helping with discovery and depositions, and handling trial preparation - without setting up their own full-time practices. Find out more about hiring freelancers - and being one - in the December Illinois Bar Journal.1 comment (Most recent November 20, 2014)
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November 20, 2014 |
Practice News
ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews legislation in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. This week he covers the proposed Service tax on attorneys, Juvenile Court Act (Senate Bill 3075) and Condominium Property Act (House Bill 4204).More information on each bill is available below the video.
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November 20, 2014 |
ISBA News | Practice News
The Illinois State Bar Association's Task Force on the Impact of Law School Curriculum and Debt on the Future of the Profession will hold seven open hearings throughout the state. The Task Force was established by President Richard D. Felice and is chaired by Honorable Ann Jorgensen, Justice of the Second District Appellate Court. ISBA members are encouraged to attend these hearings to discuss the core skill sets that new lawyers should have and how law schools can graduate more “practice ready” lawyers.The final hearing will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, December 10 at the ISBA Chicago Regional Office, 20 S. Clark, Ste. 900.