2025 High School Mock Trial Invitational ResultsMay 2025The 42nd Annual ISBA High School Mock Trial Invitational took place on March 15-16, 2025, at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. Fifty high schools throughout Illinois participated.
2025 in Review: A Year of Key Federal Law Anniversaries Benefitting Older AmericansBy Karen Alice KloppeNovember 2025Several legal developments, from the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and much more, are highlighted in this article. Learn more about the changes experiencing milestone anniversaries in 2025 that have shaped our legal system over the past 160 years.
Become an Illinois Bar Foundation ChampionBy Jessica R. DurkinDecember 2025At least twice a year at ISBA Annual and Midyear Meetings, we are pitched by colleagues and the Illinois Bar Foundation to become a “Champion.” But what is a Champion really, and what’s in it for us?
Behind the BenchBy Adeyemi KasaliMay 2025A member of the Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School Mock Trial Team shares her experience touring the Illinois Supreme Court while in Springfield for the 2025 Illinois State Bar Association High School Mock Trial Invitational.
Chair’s ColumnBy Raquel G. MartinezDecember 2025In her Chair’s Column, Rocky Martinez outlines how the LRE is organized to accomplish its goals, identifies programs and resources that are available to the public, and details the LRE’s plans for 2025-26.
Externships Provide Real-Law ExperienceBy Judge Michael J. ChmielNovember 2025The value of externships is immeasurable. Through externships, we can impart good practices and get help when resources are scant. In our digital age, technology allows students to Zoom into a courtroom from miles away, access court files, and engage prompt communications through telephone, email, and text.
Is Access to Literacy a Right?By Madonna T. LechnerDecember 2025In 2016, a group of students enrolled in elementary and secondary schools filed suit against officials of the State of Michigan, alleging violation of equal protection under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution by denying them access to literacy. Subsequently, four years later, the Eastern District of Michigan confirmed that students had a fundamental right to a basic minimum education.
Is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Obsolete?By Madonna T. LechnerMay 2025On January 31, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14173, banning race- and sex-based preferences in DEI programs across federal agencies and other major sectors. The Order claims DEI violates civil rights laws and undermines merit. Opponents—including universities, nonprofits, and the City of Baltimore—sued, arguing it restricts free speech and harms historically underserved groups. A district court initially blocked parts of the Order, but a federal appeals court later allowed enforcement while the case proceeds. The lawsuit questions whether DEI programs violate anti-discrimination laws.
ISBA 2025 Solo and Small Firm Conference PhotosNovember 2025The Illinois State Bar Association hosted the 2025 Solo and Small Firm Conference: The Innovative Lawyer: Smart Strategies for Small Firms in the Age of AI on September 25–26 at the Embassy Suites in Naperville, IL.
Join Us at the ISBA & IJA Midyear Meeting—a Taste of What’s AheadBy Ted M. NiemannNovember 2025The Joint Midyear Meeting, hosted by the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association, is a can't-miss event, offering CLE programs on democracy preservation and the ethical use of AI; a Member Appreciation Reception featuring Glow Bingo and prizes; the Illinois Bar Foundation for the Champions Breakfast; the IJA/ISBA Joint Midyear Meeting Luncheon; and a Holiday Reception honoring the Supreme Court of Illinois. Register today!
LAWPAC Needs You!May 2025The Illinois Lawyers’ Political Action Committee (LAWPAC) needs your help to fulfill its mission to support the legislative goals of the ISBA and Illinois’ legal community.
We Lost a Great Man, Fortunately We Have His Memoir: A Review of Compassion in the CourtBy Hon. John J. O’GaraNovember 2025A book review of Compassion in the Court, a memoir by Hon. Frank Caprio, details Judge Caprio's life, his rise to the bench, and his journey to reimagine justice not only as a set of rules, but as a process shaped by understanding, fairness, and compassion.
