In the fourth of five installments of his series on trial advocacy, former trial Judge and Appellate Justice Gino DiVito focuses on cross-examination. The cross-examining attorney’s role is to teach the jury while never giving it an opportunity to learn from an opposing witness, Judge DiVito writes. He suggests that, to avoid turning the jury against you, carefully set up the witness during cross-examination with leading and closed questions, and questions for which you know the answers. And never provide a witness you are cross-examining with an open-ended question.

Join us in Chicago for this full-day seminar that offers you the updates you need on civil practice law.

DATE CHANGE! Due to the below zero temperatures anticipated for Jan. 16, the first Mentoring Circles Meetup will be rescheduled for the safety of all participants. Please let us know if you will be able to attend our new meetup date on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024.

by Tracy Simmons, Legal Content Manager, Illinois Legal Aid Online

If volunteering is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) can help. ILAO offers flexible, remote pro bono opportunities. As a Legal Content Volunteer (LCV), you can choose your own project and time commitment. Your work also helps increase access to justice.  

People with intellectual or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) are oftentimes capable of making many decisions on their own, but have been subjected to restrictive court-appointed guardianships simply because they have a disability. The Illinois Supported Decision-Making Act is a less-restrictive alternative to full guardianship for adults who need assistance with decisions regarding daily life. Don’t miss this in-depth look at Illinois’ new Supported Decision-Making Act, including the legislative history behind the Act, its purpose, and how to implement it in your practice.

In conjunction with the February celebration of the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, the judges of the Lake County Circuit Court will be among the many Illinois judges to deliver a program to grade school students based on the popular children’s book by Martha Brenner, Abe Lincoln’s Hat.

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed attorney David W. Neal of Springfield to serve as a member of the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (A.R.D.C.) Review Board effective on January 1, 2024, and expiring on December 31, 2026.

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed retired Cook County Circuit Court Judge Pamela Hill Veal of Chicago to serve as a member of the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (A.R.D.C.) Review Board effective on January 1, 2024, and expiring on December 31, 2026.

 During the COVID-19 pandemic, many legal professionals abandoned their brick-and-mortar offices for Zoom calls from a home office. Since then, law offices large and small have evaluated the need for a central physical workplace, questioning whether it is best for their employees and clients.