Cybersecurity & Ethical Pitfalls of Everyday Law Office Computing

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
ISBA’s Practice Toolbox Series
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association



1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­November 6, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


In this seminar, we discuss the ethical and malpractice pitfalls of artificial intelligence (AI), mobile, cloud, and general everyday law office computing. Learn about cloud options and how to safely store documents, data, and programs in the cloud, as well as what programs and features you should and must use with cloud storage options like Dropbox, Box, and OneDrive. Additional topics include: the security vulnerabilities and ethical problems related to artificial intelligence, documents, emails, and metadata associated with those files, and how to properly delete client data, assign passwords, and dispose of computer equipment while protecting client privacy.


Program Speaker:
Jeffrey Schoenberger, Affinity Consulting, Ohio

 About the Speaker: Jeff’s unique role involves business coaching for Lawyerist and overseeing Affinity’s Practice Management Advisory program. Prior to joining the Affinity family, Jeff practiced law with Legal Aid in Cincinnati, Ohio. He learned about Affinity and consulting as a career path through some of owners Paul Unger’s and Barron Henley’s CLE courses. Jeff describes his superpower as his ability to break down complex concepts into manageable pieces. His favorite part of his job is discovering new tech and techniques to help attorneys.



Pricing Information

 

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

 

You Shall Pass … Passkeys, That Is

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
ISBA’s Practice Toolbox Series
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association


1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­November 6, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


This session helps solo and small firm attorneys strengthen their computer security with practical, accessible tools like passkeys and two-factor authentication (2FA). Learn how these security measures protect client data, prevent unauthorized access, and comply with cybersecurity best practices and cyber-insurance policies. It explores step-by-step methods for implementing passkeys and 2FA across devices and accounts, ensuring seamless integration into daily workflows. Safeguard your practice with straightforward, effective strategies that enhance security without complicating your routine.


Program Speaker:
Jeffrey Schoenberger, Affinity Consulting, Ohio
About the Speaker: Jeff’s unique role involves business coaching for Lawyerist and overseeing Affinity’s Practice Management Advisory program. Prior to joining the Affinity family, Jeff practiced law with Legal Aid in Cincinnati, Ohio. He learned about Affinity and consulting as a career path through some of owners Paul Unger’s and Barron Henley’s CLE courses. Jeff describes his superpower as his ability to break down complex concepts into manageable pieces. His favorite part of his job is discovering new tech and techniques to help attorneys.


Pricing Information
  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Scams of the Heart

Posted on November 3, 2025 by Marybeth Stanziola

 In 2024, romance scams cost Americans $697 million, with those targeting people over 60 accounting for $277 million of that, according to research presented at a recent ISBA CLE program titled, “Don’t Let a Romance Scammer Steal Your Client’s Heart and Business.” The program’s presenters are featured in the Illinois Bar Journal’s November cover story, “Scams of the Heart,” which describes the nature of various scams, why they are so ensnaring, and what attorneys of elderly clients an

Guardian ad Litem Training - 2025

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA Child Law Section
Co-presented by the ISBA Bench & Bar Section and ISBA Family Law Section


10.50 hours MCLE credit, including 4.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following categories:
  • 2.0 hours Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit
  • 1.0 hour Diversity & Inclusion credit
  • 1.0 hour Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­November 6, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


This three-part program is designed to help those attorneys who represent children. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 906(c), an attorney should receive ten hours of education every two years in child developments; roles of guardians ad litem and child representatives; ethics in child custody cases; relevant substantive state, federal, and case law in custody and visitation matters; and family dynamics, including substance abuse, domestic abuse, and mental health issues. Topics for this seminar include:
  • How to become a guardian ad litem and what the work entails;
  • What is expected from the guardian ad litem;
  • How to handle your client’s issues;
  • How implicit bias impacts the way legal matters are handled;
  • The recent case law updates that may impact your next case;
  • Guardian ad litem appointments;
  • How substance abuse can impact parenting time;
  • The special needs and school-related issues you need to be aware of;
  • How to recognize domestic violence in your case;
  • Understanding child development and how to ask age-appropriate questions during the interview process;
  • What judges are looking for in guardians ad litem; and
  • Much more.
The training may qualify the attendee to be placed on their local Circuit’s guardian ad litem list and/or qualify as continuing guardian ad litem education required by the attendee’s local rules, but attendees should verify with their Circuit to ensure this training will meet the Circuit’s rules.


Program Coordinator:
Deanna Hoyt, Strauss & Hoyt, LLC, Libertyville

Program Moderators:
Deanna Hoyt, Strauss & Hoyt, LLC, Libertyville
Kelly Thames Bennett, Greenberg and Sinkovits, Chicago
Hon. Robert Anderson (Ret.), Wheaton


Part 1

Original Program Date: October 9, 2025
Program Chat Moderators:
  • Hallie M. Bezner, Bezner Law, Oak Park
  • Umberto S. Davi, Umberto S. Davi, P.C., Western Springs

Starting as a Guardian ad Litem: Appointed, Now What?
This three-part series opens with an in-depth look at the multiple things you need to know when embarking on your role as a GAL – from who to interview (and in what order), how to get protected records, the statute provisions to be aware of, the importance of taking notes, preparing to testify if called as a witness, and much more.
Christopher B. Smith, Weller Law, LLC, Belleville
Megan Gilbreth, Cooper, Gilbreth & Doyle Law Offices, Red Bud/Waterloo
Paul Ray, Ray Law LLC, Redbud
Catherine Evans, Catherine E Evans Attorney at Law P.C., Redbud

Writing a Report
This segment discusses what you need to include when writing your report, what to leave out, how long the report should be, and the best format for writing your report. Additional topics include: assessing statutory factors, writing recommendations, and understanding what the statute requires.
Christopher B. Smith, Weller Law, LLC, Belleville
Megan Gilbreth, Cooper, Gilbreth & Doyle Law Offices, Red Bud/Waterloo

Case Law
Don’t miss this presentation that examines relevant case law for GALs, as well as a look at the instances when court discretion and parenting rules have been overturned. A discussion on whether case law can help you throughout your investigation, testimony, and report writing is also included.
David Gotzh, Appellate Solutions, LLC, Chicago


Part 2

Original Program Date: October 16, 2025
Program Chat Moderators:
  • Kelly Thames Bennett, Greenberg and Sinkovits, Chicago
  • Josette Allen, Smart Law LLC, Rosemont

Substance Abuse*
This presentation discusses how to determine if there are substance abuse issues, what evaluations are available (and what those evaluations tell a GAL or court), and what happens after the evaluation has taken place and recommendations have been presented. A look at how substance abuse issues impact parenting time is also examined.
Elizabeth Miner-McIntyre, MSW, LCSW, LPHA, Rosecrance Health Network, Rockford
Alysia Fenton-Stackpole, MS, Rosecrance Health Network, Rockford

School Laws/Special Needs
Get the information you need on a multitude of special needs and school related issues with this informative segment. Topics include: how physical disabilities and medical needs can impact learning, when you should contact school professionals and the questions you should be asking, how the information in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) can help with making GAL recommendations, and how the IEP differs from a 504 Plan.
Thomas Dennis, Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., Peoria

We Need To Talk: Navigating Challenging Conversations about Diversity*
Learn how to investigate different cultural backgrounds and economic situations without imposing your own personal values throughout the process, as well as how to identify biases and the strategies we can use to combat them. The do’s and don’ts of difficult conversations are
also discussed.
Julia Roundtree Livingston, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, Chicago


Part 3

Original Program Date: October 23, 2025
Program Chat Moderators:
  • Deanna Hoyt, Strauss & Hoyt, LLC, Libertyville
  • Lindsay Roalfs, Roalfs Law & Mediation LLC, Waukegan

Domestic Violence in GAL Matters
Gain a better understanding of how to identify domestic violence in your GAL cases, how to check for previous and current Orders of Protection, and the resources available for the families you’ve been assigned to represent.
Kendall Hodges, Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., Ottawa

Child Development*
Get the tips you need for interviewing children, how to ask age-appropriate questions, and how to how to ask open-ended questions that avoid leading the child. Additional topics include: observation vs. interview, understanding brain development, and how parent separation may be impacting the child you are interviewing.
Carolyn Hubler, St. Clair Child Advocacy Center, Belleville

Mental Health*
This presentation explores the various mental health issues you may encounter as a GAL – from parents having mental health issues to personality disorders in children (and how that may impact parenting), to adverse childhood experiences and the trauma you may feel vicariously through you clients.
Dr. Sarah Dyer, Amethyst Neuropsychology PLLC, Swansea

Judicial Panel
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from our panel of judges as they discuss what judges are looking for from GALs, how GALs are chosen for cases, and how GALs will be notified of their appointments. A look at how to get on the county’s GAL list and whether appointments are for family law cases only or if they are for probate, juvenile, and other matters is included.
Moderator: Hon. Robert J. Anderson (Ret.), Loyola University, Chicago
Hon. Chad S. Beckett, 6th Judicial Circuit, Champaign
Hon. Amanda Byassee Gott, 1st Judicial Circuit, Marion
Hon. Leah D. Setzen, 18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage
Hon. Kenton J. Skarin, 18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage


Pricing Information

  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $200 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $400
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Lawsuit alleges ‘inhumane' conditions at Broadview ICE processing facility

Lawsuit alleges ICE blocks access to immigration attorneys; coerces detainees into signing deportation documents.

From: 
NBC 5 Chicago

‘They are literally targeting people.’ ICE comes to southern Illinois

When Jose Jeronimo Guardian showed up at a Spanish language traffic court this week, he didn’t expect to be detained and face expulsion from a country he’d lived in for more than two decades.

From: 
NPR Illinois

Lawsuits plague the DuSable Museum

Atlas BPS, a Black-owned firm operated by Paul Dejoie, filed a complaint against the DuSable Museum after waiting more than a year to collect $53,000 in unpaid fees for work that his janitorial and security company provided for the museum.

From: 
The Chicago Crusader

Border Patrol's strong-arm tactics are the new norm in Chicago as Trump moves to sideline ICE leadership

Instead of carefully targeted arrests long practiced by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, President Donald Trump's administration has deployed roving groups of masked Border Patrol agents, who work within U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

From: 
Belleville News-Democrat

Bill legalizing physician-assisted suicide heads to Pritzker's desk

A bill has passed both Illinois chambers that would allow doctors to prescribe aid-in-dying medication to people who have a terminal disease.

From: 
The State Journal-Register