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

Illinois Supreme Court To Hear Oral Arguments at Southern Illinois University

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Kelsey Jo Burge

WHAT: Oral arguments for two cases, People v. Hoffman and Hulsh v. Hulsh, will be held before the Illinois Supreme Court and an audience of over 900 students and local community members. A question-and-answer session between students and attorneys will follow the oral arguments.

WHEN: 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 18, 2025 (Media members are asked to arrive by 9 a.m.). The introduction, which includes SIU System President Dan Mahony and SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin Lane, will start at 9:45 a.m.

Allerton Conference 2025: Generative Artificial Intelligence – Fact or Fiction: Transforming the Legal Practice

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Kelsey Jo Burge

Join us in Champaign as we explore hot topic issues impacting the civil practice and procedure arena – from how generative artificial intelligence is being used in the legal practice and the issues with deepfakes, to how courts are using artificial intelligence and the issues it is creating for judges.

Administrative Director Declares Illinois Associate Judge Appointed in the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Kelsey Jo Burge

Marcia M. Meis, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Thomas E. St. Jules as an associate judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit.

Mr. St. Jules received his undergraduate degree in 2005 from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa and his Juris Doctor in 2008 from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. St. Jules is currently affiliated with Llamas St. Jules LLP in Aurora, Illinois.

Evading Trial

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Kelsey Jo Burge

When your client fails to show for trial, judges can conduct one in absentia, but they are obligated to ensure that statutory requirements are met before commencing, notes Charles Golaszewski in his March Illinois Bar Journal article, “Evading Trial.” Golaszewski states prosecutors and defense attorneys must be prepared to argue whether a trial in absentia is warranted in light of the statutory requirements and the circumstances of the case. But if the judge decides to start the trial without the defendant, both parties will need to adjust their trial strategies.