Chair column
There has been a lot of noise over the last few weeks. There have been a lot of protests, demonstrations and calls to action. If you were waiting for your perfect call to action, my challenge to the lawyers of the Illinois State Bar Association, women and men alike, is to see this opportunity we have before us and to lead by example as we wrap up 2016 and begin 2017.
One huge way that the ISBA can show strong leadership is to stand in collective support of enacting state legislation to provide paid family leave for the residents of Illinois. The ISBA Assembly will be asked to vote on a resolution to support the currently pending First Amendment for Senate Bill 260, commonly known as the Family Leave Insurance Act.1 The bill was filed last July by Illinois Senator Daniel Biss and is currently is an early draft and will likely be substantially amended before it comes for vote. It is anticipated that action will be taken on the bill after the first of the year. The voice of the ISBA is influential in Springfield. Let’s make sure our voice is heard on this issue!
Paid family leave is a difficult issue for many Illinois attorneys. The amount of leave available for new parent attorneys, whether paid or unpaid, is completely inconsistent from firm to firm. Issues of how this bill will affect Illinois lawyers whether as firm employees, solo practitioners or owners/equity partners of law firms are important to address. Let us all send the message that Paid Family Leave is a priority for Illinois lawyers, while at the same time sending our comments and suggested revisions to Senate Bill 260.
The ISBA is not being asked to vote specifically in support of the language of the bill as it stands today, but to stand in support of Illinois passing a paid family leave act that balances the needs of new parents with the needs of employers, especially small law firms. Members of the Standing Committee on Women and the Law are available and will be visiting various Sections and Committees during the Mid-year meeting to garner support and to answer questions regarding the Assembly resolution vote. It is our sincere hope that the ISBA will stand in support of Paid Family Leave.