2018 Articles

2018 Spring Legislative Roundup

By Jim Covington
August
2018
Column
, Page 20
The state legislature sent significant measures to the governor's desk this spring concerning court fees and fines, domestic violence and orders of protection, voting rights for inmates, the raising of the legal age limit for buying tobacco products, and more.
1 comment (Most recent December 27, 2018)

5 Technologies That Can Transform Your Practice

By Ed Finkel
April
2018
Cover Story
, Page 20
Five key law practice technologies can reduce the time you spend on nonbillable management chores and lower your risk of malpractice and disciplinary trouble. Find out what they are and how to decide which are right for your firm.

An Abe for Every Courthouse

By Pete Sherman
October
2018
Column
, Page 54
ISBA sponsors effort to install high-quality reproductions of a famous Lincoln photograph in courthouses throughout Illinois.

Actual notice insufficient to exercise lease option without strict compliance with method of notice

May
2018
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
On February 28, 2018, the Appellate Court of Illinois for the First District concluded that actual notice is not sufficient to exercise a lease option where a party has failed to provide timely written notice in compliance with the terms of the lease agreement.

Admit It

By Rhys Saunders
November
2018
LawPulse
, Page 12
Illinois Supreme Court updates Illinois Rules of Evidence to accommodate more types of records, documents, and electronically stored information.

Ads for Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices must contain disclosures

December
2018
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Secretary of State added a section to the part on Procedures and Standards requiring sellers of Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices (BAIID) to disclose to their customers in advertisements and mailers that they are not agents of the state (92 Ill. Adm. Code 1001 (effective Sept. 5, 2018)).

Adult Protective Services Program and Registry provisions clarified

August
2018
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
Amendments were adopted to the Adult Protective Services Program (89 Ill. Adm. Code 270 (effective July 1, 2018)) adding references to "self-neglect," clarifying the Adult Protective Services Registry, and establishing administrative procedures for appeals related to inclusion in the registry.

The Algorithm Behind the Curtain

By Jesse Bowman
July
2018
Column
, Page 52
A new feature in Fastcase reveals how its search engine responds to your queries.

All Over the Map

By Molshree Sharma
September
2018
Article
, Page 28
The Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of Child Custody provides for an expeditious return of children wrongfully taken from their habitual residence. This article discusses the seventh circuit's recent efforts to reconcile different interpretations of the Convention.

Allerton Conference 2017: The Changing Landscape of Civil Practice - Technology, Ethics, and Economics

By Jeffery A. Parness
April
2018
Article
, Page 46
The 2017 Allerton Conference focused on the impact of technology on the legal system, new ADR options, alternative business structures such as nonlawyer ownership of law firms, and other emerging issues.

Alternative route to high school diploma for adult learners

June
2018
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
An extensive provision has been added to the School Code, providing an alternate route to a high school diploma for adult learners.

Amendment revamps Angel Investment Credit Program

November
2018
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity adopted amendments to the Angel Investment Credit Program (42 Ill. Adm. Code 5832 (effective Aug. 21, 2018)).

Amendments allow Department of Healthcare and Family Services to recoup improper payments

July
2018
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
To help protect federal healthcare revenue, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is now better equipped to recoup inappropriate payments.

Amendments impacting public assistance claims for funerals and burials

July
2018
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Department of Human Services (DHS) adopted an amendment to Related Program Provisions clarifying that public-assistance claims for funerals and burials are subject to appropriations and may be denied.

Amendments to state expungement procedures

February
2018
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Department of State Police updated procedures for court-ordered expungements or the sealing of records received by the Department of State Police's Bureau of Identification by amending the Expungement Procedures (20 IAC 1205; 41 Ill. Reg. 9916 (eff. Nov. 2, 2017)).

Amendments to the licensure criteria of the freestanding emergency center code

July
2018
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
Licensure criteria for freestanding emergency centers have been loosened by recent amendments from the Department of Public Health (77 Ill. Adm. Code 518) (eff. April 10, 2018)

Amendments to weaken BIPA effectively dead

By Matthew Hector
June
2018
LawPulse
, Page 10
Amendments adding exemptions to the incidental collection of biometric data stall in state Senate.

America’s #MeToo Moment

By Hon. Russell W. Hartigan
March
2018
Column
, Page 10
Victims of sexual harassment are speaking out as never before.

Appellate court overturns provision authorizing warrantless blood draws

By Matthew Hector
March
2018
LawPulse
, Page 18
The Illinois Appellate Court overturned a statutory provision allowing warrantless forced blood draws of any driver who causes death or injury, mandating a case-by-case analysis instead.

ARDC reports positive early reaction to lawyer self-assessment

By Matthew Hector
April
2018
LawPulse
, Page 10
Initial users of the ARDC's self-assessment program for lawyers who don't carry malpractice insurance are giving the program high marks, the commission reports.

Attention, Part-Time Lawyer: Are You Covered by Your Firm’s Policy?

By Jeff Strand
April
2018
Column
, Page 50
If you work part-time for a firm and part-time on your own, both you and your firm need to consider where your coverage under the firm's policy begins and ends.

Aviation safety certificate fees increased and definitions updated

July
2018
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
Amendments have been adopted updating the Department of Transportation's aviation safety contact information, definitions, and statutory fees, and also clarifying that unmanned aircrafts are not subject to this part (92 Ill. Adm. Code 14) (eff. Mar. 30, 2018).

Avoid Contracting the Muddled-Speech Bug

By Karen Erger
May
2018
Column
, Page 44
Lawyers - we who understand the power of precise language - should lead the effort to speak confidently and clearly and avoid waffling words and phrases.

Ban on firearms within 1,000 feet of a public park unconstitutional

April
2018
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Illinois Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of sections 24-1(a)(4) and (c)(1.5) of the unlawful use of a weapon statute ("UUW"), which prohibits an individual from carrying or possessing a firearm within 1,000 feet of a public park.

Begin Now

By James F. McCluskey
September
2018
Column
, Page 8
A succession plan requires targeted priorities and realistic goals. But no matter what, you have to start somewhere.

Better left unsaid?

By Matthew Hector
June
2018
LawPulse
, Page 10
Social media and blogging habits can test attorneys' confidentiality obligations.

A Better You

By James F. McCluskey
October
2018
Column
, Page 10
Seeking help is within your grasp. All you need to do is ask.

Bios of candidates for third vice-president and the board of governors

March
2018
Column
, Page 12
Learn about 2017 candidates for ISBA third vice-president, board of governors, and assembly.

Blood-Alcohol Evidence and ‘Driving While Impaired’ in Illinois Civil Cases

By Patrick C. Dowd & Seth Howard
May
2018
Article
, Page 38
Suppose you have evidence of a driver's high BAC but no corroborating evidence of impairment. Does the BAC evidence alone authorize an expert to testify that the driver was probably impaired? This article reviews the confusing state of Illinois law.

Breaking Up Is Harder to Do

By Nancy Chausow Shafer & Margaret A. Bennett
December
2018
Article
, Page 28
A new maintenance formula, the repeal of the alimony deduction, and other changes that divorcing couples and their attorneys need to know.