The Future Shift: How Lawyers Can Thrive in the Midst of Change

Posted on May 28, 2024 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

Attorneys continue to face challenges with rapidly evolving societal and technological advances, as well as increased competition from non-lawyers. Some attorneys have embraced these changes by learning to automate with new systems and adopt progressive attitudes. Others, however, remain in denial about the significant impact these changes may have on their ability to prosper in tomorrow’s environment. Don’t miss this in-depth program in which Cynthia Sharp discusses future trends, including the rise of non-lawyers performing functions traditionally reserved for licensed attorneys and the steps that attorneys must take to flourish in an age of unparalleled innovation.

Identifying and Resolving Ethical Issues Arising in Environmental Law

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 Illinois State Bar Association Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section, The Chicago Bar Association Environmental Law Committee, and The Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Environmental Committee


1.25 hours MCLE credit, including 1.25 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­July 15, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


This lively presentation examines all new hypothetical scenarios familiar to environmental law practitioners, including those focusing on the unique issues faced by environmental lawyers in balancing client confidentiality, avoiding and managing potential conflicts while representing multiple clients, advising on clients’ legal obligations to report environmental issues, and more. Using ISBA’s polling software, attendees can respond to a set of multiple-choice questions, followed by a discussion weighing the various analyses and possible solutions.

Moderator/Speaker: Lisle A. Stalter, Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, Waukegan
William J. Anaya, UBGreensfelder, LLP, Chicago
Karen Kavanagh Mack, Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, Chicago
Scott Renfroe, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, 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 $43.75 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $87.50
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free


22nd Annual Environmental Law Conference - Part 5

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 Illinois State Bar Association Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section, The Chicago Bar Association Environmental Law Committee, and The Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Environmental Committee


3.50 hours MCLE credit, including 1.25 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024 – Friday, May 10, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­July 15, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this opportunity to better understand the quickly developing and evolving areas of environmental law with this informative program. Topics include: an overview of environmental justice and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act; a look at the important changes to the New ASTM Guidelines and how the unique Illinois requirements vary from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements; and how to identify and resolve the ethical issues that may arise in your environmental law practice.


Environmental Justice, Title VI, and Environmental Law
In 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency formed the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. These quickly developing and evolving areas of law have spurred a lot of interest from citizens, nonprofit organizations, and the regulated community. This panel presentation provides a brief overview of environmental justice and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and offers a look at the speakers’ various (and fairly different) views on and experience with this fast-developing area.
Moderator/Speaker: Ariel MacMillan-Sanchez, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region V, Chicago
Chris Pressnall, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Springfield
John Petoskey, EarthJustice, Chicago
Ellis Walton, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Chicago

Phase I/Phase II: Implementation of the New ASTM Guidelines
On December 15, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopted a Final Rule incorporating by reference the latest iteration of the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) Standard Practice for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. This new standard replaces the prior standard – and beginning February 13, 2024, only the new standard practice will satisfy the Final Rule. Don’t miss this panel presentation that focuses on the important changes and relates them to the unique Illinois requirements that still vary from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements.
Moderator/Speaker: Phillip R. VanNess, Webber & Thies P.C., Urbana
Timothy McGahey, CHMM, LEED-AP, AKT Peerless, Chicago
Eugene P. Schmittgens, Jr., Rouse Frets White Goss Gentile Rhodes P.C., Missouri

Identifying and Resolving Ethical Issues Arising in Environmental Law
(Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, and Sexual Harassment Prevention credit)
This lively presentation examines all new hypothetical scenarios familiar to environmental law practitioners, including those focusing on the unique issues faced by environmental lawyers in balancing client confidentiality, avoiding and managing potential conflicts while representing multiple clients, advising on clients’ legal obligations to report environmental issues, and more. Using ISBA’s polling software, attendees can respond to a set of multiple-choice questions, followed by a discussion weighing the various analyses and possible solutions.
Moderator/Speaker: Lisle A. Stalter, Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, Waukegan
William J. Anaya, UBGreensfelder, LLP, Chicago
Karen Kavanagh Mack, Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, Chicago
Scott Renfroe, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, 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 $122.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $245
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Notice of Public Hearing of Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

In accordance with Supreme Court Rule 3 (Rulemaking Procedures), you are hereby notified that the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m., at the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, 222 N. LaSalle Street, 13th Floor, in Chicago. Clerks of court are requested to post a hard copy of this notice in a conspicuous place.

How to Stop Hating the Law: A Lesson on Lawyer Mental Health

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

Many lawyers find the practice of law intolerable and, oftentimes, this reality sends lawyers on a downward mental health trajectory. The guidance from outsiders usually sounds like this: Why don’t you leave it? Why not find another job? What they don’t understand is that, for most lawyers, switching careers simply isn’t an option. We have bills to pay and mouths to feed. The only answer is to find some way to make it tolerable.