Illinois bill could allow select group of people serving life in prison to petition for post conviction hearings

Illinois judges are required to consider a person's youth during sentencing, yet many people are serving life sentences without parole because they were sentenced before state law changed in 2012.

From: 
WAND

Skin360 app can’t escape scrutiny under Illinois biometric law

A federal district court has denied a motion by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. to dismiss a second amended complaint alleging it violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act by collecting and storing biometric information through its Neutrogena Skin 360 beauty app without consumers’ informed consent or knowledge.

From: 
The National Law Review

Law prof suspended over exam question, class discussion can sue for First Amendment retaliation, 7th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has revived a First Amendment retaliation claim by a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law who used an “expurgated racial slur” on an exam question, leading to an investigation, required diversity training, a suspension and denial of a pay raise.

From: 
ABA Journal

Two judges in mass firings cases order Trump administration to rehire probationary workers for now

Two federal judges have handed down orders requiring President Donald Trump’s administration to rehire thousands, if not tens of thousands, of probationary workers let go in mass firings across multiple agencies.

From: 
WAND

Inside the League: Key Legal Issues Shaping the Future of Pro Sports

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 Sports & Entertainment Law Section*
Co-sponsored by the ISBA Business & Securities Law Section, ISBA Intellectual Property Section, ISBA Labor & Employment Law Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 24, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


 Don’t miss this informative program that explores the most pressing legal challenges faced by major sports leagues today – from negotiating high-stakes broadcasting rights and navigating complex contract negotiations, to the critical legal issues shaping professional sports. This is a must-attend event for anyone looking to understand the evolving legal landscape of professional sports and the strategies used by leaders at the forefront of the industry. Topics include:
  • Strategies for managing legal disputes over broadcasting agreements and the impact digital streaming has had on traditional broadcasting contracts;
  • The key terms, incentives, and dispute mechanisms in sports contracts;
  • The legal frameworks for protecting a team’s intellectual property and brand;
  • The legal methods that are used to combat counterfeit merchandise and unauthorized use of team logos and brands;
  • The role that internal investigations and public relations play in managing sensitive issues involving player misconduct and disciplinary actions;
  • The legal framework behind collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) in professional sports and the key issues that arise in labor negotiations between teams and players' unions; and
  • The legal and organizational challenges in fostering diversity within sports leadership.


Program Coordinator:
Sivonnia DeBarros, SL DeBarros Law Firm LLC, Woodstock

Program Moderator:
Derrick Thompson, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Chicago

Program Speaker:
Brett Scharback, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Chicago Cubs, Chicago
*Join the NEW ISBA Sports & Entertainment Law Section for FREE through June 2025 and receive a $10 section member discount on CLE programming sponsored by the section!
www.isba.org/sections/sportsentertainment

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.
    • Non-Member Price $70
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

How To Advise Your Criminal Law Client Regarding Deportation Issues

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 Criminal Justice Section and ISBA International & Immigration Law Section


1.50 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Friday, February 28, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 24, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Get the information and updates you need to effectively advise your clients on important immigration law issues, as well as how to answer questions regarding their immigration status and the threat of deportation. Criminal law practitioners, immigration lawyers, traffic law attorneys, and human rights counsel with basic to intermediate practice experience who attend this online program will better understand:
  • Your clients’ rights with respect to deportation;
  • The collateral consequences of criminal sanctions; and
  • How to advise your clients when they encounter ICE.

Program Coordinator/Chat Moderator:
Sara Vig, Vig Law P.C., Springfield

Program Speakers:
Juliet Boyd, Boyd Kummer, Chicago
A. Ross Cassingham, Scott Pollock & Associates, Chicago



Program 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 $52.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $105
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Estate Planning Basics

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 Trusts & Estates Section
Co-sponsored by the ISBA Elder Law Section


1.50 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 24, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Are you new to the trusts and estates practice? Want to learn more about how to help families manage their assets? Then don’t miss this seminar that offers you a basic understanding of what it means to “plan an estate.” Topics include:
  • The most common documents used in estate planning;
  • How to help your clients draft wills and power of attorneys;
  • The tax issues that you should consider when helping your clients plan their estates;
  • How to anticipate and prevent ethical pitfalls in estate planning; and
  • Much more.

Program Coordinator:
Colleen L. Sahlas, Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook

Program Chat Moderator:
Kerry R. Peck, Peck Ritchey, LLC, Chicago

Program Speakers:
Karen R. Mills, Aronberg Goldgehn, Wheaton
Sara E. Riechert, Chamberlin Riechert Law Group, P.C., Oak Brook



Program 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 $52.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $105
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Artificial Intelligence Advisor: Use AI To Help Manage Your Firm

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, February 25, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 24, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Many groundbreaking inventions begin with someone’s desire to eliminate a rote task or annoyance. Remember texting before touchscreens? Smartphones produced their own gripes, but the iPhone and its progeny exist partly because, as former iPhone head Scott Forstall recalls, “We all hated our phones.” And smartphones have eliminated plenty of rote tasks and a surprising number of single-use devices. Will artificial intelligence do the same? With many companies announcing AI additions to their products, what should lawyers feel comfortable delegating to general-purpose AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot? Although not trained in legal nuances, they can eliminate some of the annoyances within the business side of a law practice. Artificial intelligence is a fantastic tool to end procrastination around firm management. Rather than staring at an empty screen with a blinking cursor, have AI produce a rough draft to get you started. It will need editing, but it’s a start. Join us for an in-depth look at how to craft good AI prompts, whether direct questions, scenario-based inquiries, or [non-legal] research assistance. Learn how to use AI offerings to help with law firm management, policy creation, and other non-legal-work-product items, where getting a draft to edit helps overcome “blank screen” writer’s block.

Program Speaker:
Jeffrey Schoenberger, Affinity Consulting, Ohio
About the Speaker: Jeff’s unique role at Affinity involves managing our 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 partners Paul Unger’s and Barron Henley’s CLE courses. Jeff’s describes his superpower as his ability to “get the podcast done.” 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

Judicial Panel Discussion on Specialty Courts

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 Criminal Justice Section
Co-sponsored by the ISBA Bench & Bar Section


1.50 hours MCLE credit, including 1.50 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Mental Health & Substance Abuse


Original Program Date: Friday, February 21, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 27, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this panel presentation that offers an in-depth discussion on the role of specialty courts throughout Illinois! Criminal justice lawyers, bench and bar attorneys, mental health practitioners, and traffic law attorneys with intermediate to advanced levels of practice experience who attend this online seminar will better understand:
  • How different specialty courts operate in different parts of the state;
  • What is involved in a specialty court, including services offered, individuals accepted, and the resources that are utilized;
  • The pros and cons of specialty courts; and
  • What can be done to improve how specialty courts currently function.

Program Coordinator/Chat Moderator:
Sara Vig, Vig Law, P.C., Springfield

Program Speakers:
Hon. Jennifer M. Ascher, Seventh Judicial Circuit, Springfield
Hon. John M. Madonia, Seventh Judicial Circuit, Springfield
Hon. Daniel E. Maloney, Cook County Judicial Circuit, Chicago
Hon. Patricia S. Spratt, Cook County Judicial Circuit, Chicago


Program 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 $52.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $105
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

The High Way: Cars and Cannabis in Illinois

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 Cannabis Law Section
Co-sponsored by the ISBA Traffic Law & Courts Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 24, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this in-depth look at the Fourth Amendment and how it relates to the odor of cannabis in vehicles, as well as the latest jurisprudence from the Illinois Supreme Court regarding probable cause based on this issue. Additional topics include:
  • The current laws on the transportation of cannabis and impairment;
  • An analysis of recent decisions and potential legislative developments in this area; and
  • Predictions for future legislative movements.

Program Coordinator:
Evan Bruno, Bruno Law Offices LLC, Urbana

Program Moderator:
Kulmeet Galhotra, Galhotra Law, Chicago

Program Speakers:
Evan Bruno, Bruno Law Offices LLC, Urbana
Kulmeet Galhotra, Galhotra Law, Chicago


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.
    • Non-Member Price $70
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free