Do you want to help clients navigate emotionally complex situations while making a meaningful impact in their lives? Are you interested in being the voice for children in a divided family? If so, family law may be the ideal practice area for you, as it offers a unique opportunity to combine a compassionate approach while still being a zealous advocate for your client during what are often very challenging times. Don’t miss this comprehensive introduction regarding the fundamentals of the family law practice!

Justice P. Scott Neville and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Linda Sackey as an At-Large Circuit Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County. 

Ms. Sackey is being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge William H. Hooks on July 5, 2024. Ms. Sackey’s appointment is effective January 24, 2025, and will conclude on December 7, 2026. 

The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of a full-time United States magistrate judge for the Central District of Illinois at Springfield. The annual salary is $223,836. The eight-year term begins upon appointment. A court’s essential function is to dispense justice. A community’s belief that a court dispenses justice is heightened when the court reflects the community’s racial, ethnic, and gender diversity.

 Artificial intelligence (AI) looms large, echoing the ancient Greek metallic behemoth Talos, guardian of Crete. Talos’s tragic flaw was his inability to discern friend from foe, causing him to attack Jason and the Argonauts as they sought refuge on the island. Jason’s intimate knowledge of Talos’s inner workings ultimately spared their lives. AI, too, wields immense strength and power yet grapples with distinguishing between reality and fabrication, fact and opinion, writes Illinios Appellate Court Justice Michael B.

Don’t miss this nuts-and-bolts discussion regarding the state and local taxation practice. Topics include: the current state of the tax law practice; a review of Illinois taxes; how to represent your client in a tax forum; an overview of the Illinois Department of Revenue; how to contest a property tax dispute before the Cook County Assessor’s Office or the Cook County Board of Review; and how virtual hearings can help the tax appeal process.

By Andrew Sharp, Esq.

"You've always had the power, my dear. You've had it all along" - Glinda, the Good Witch (Wizard of Oz)

"The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know."  - Albert Einstein

“Yeah, Al, but you know more than me!” - Apocryphal

Many attorneys shy away from pro bono work, not because they lack interest, but because they feel they don't have enough expertise (or time to gain the requisite knowledge) to truly make a difference. 

A leading appellate attorney reviews the Illinois Supreme Court opinion handed down Thursday, December 5.