A leading appellate attorney reviews the Illinois Supreme Court opinion handed down Thursday, December 14. 

 In his third of five installments on trial technique in the Illinois Bar Journal’s December issue, Gino DiVito dissects the essential tactics of a successful direct examination. “Except possibly for adverse-witness testimony, direct examination should simulate a friendly conversation,” DiVito writes. “After introductory information based on ‘who’ the witness is and ‘when’ and ‘where’ events occurred, witness questioning shifts to an open-ended question such as ‘what happened?’” One of DiVito’s main takeaways is that proper direct examinations require relevant questions resulting in answers that create reality.

Immigration law intersects with a number of legal practices, including education law, construction law, employment law, business law, and much more. Don’t miss this online program that gives you the updates you need to better represent your immigration clients on the variety of issues they may face.

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the members of the Illinois Judicial College Committee on Pretrial Education (CPTE), the seventh Standing Committee of the Illinois Judicial College.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced significant amendments to M.R. 25307 and the Court’s Policy on Access for People with Disabilities (Policy) to improve disability access for all Illinois courts. The amended policy is effective January 1, 2024, and all Illinois courts shall report compliance with M.R. 25307 by no later than August 1, 2024.

The Office of Statewide Pretrial Services (OSPS) released the first sets of data following implementation of Public Act 101-652 (previously called the Pretrial Fairness Act) on Sept. 18, 2023. OSPS currently serves 71 of Illinois’ 102 counties.

RESCHEDULED to 1/29/24! The Women's Bar Association of Illinois, the Chicago Bar Association Alliance for Women, & the Illinois State Bar Association's Standing Committee on Women and the Law invite you to join Mentoring Circles Meetup. Experienced attorney-mentors will meet with law students and young lawyers to answer questions and network.

Both of the ISBA's offices will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 14, and Friday, Dec. 15, so that all staff can attend a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training Program.  More specifically, the Chicago Regional Office will be closed all day on Thursday, Dec. 14, and Friday, Dec. 15., and the Springfield Office will be closed beginning at noon on Thursday, Dec. 14, and will remain closed through Friday, Dec. 15. Email communications (e.g., E-Clips) will not be sent on Friday. Normal operations and communications will resume on Monday, Dec. 18.