The Illinois Bar Journal’s August cover article collects best practices from experts on hiring and retaining good employees and addressing toxic elements in the workplace, such as bullying by colleagues and supervisors. Taking steps on both ends of the employee spectrum, your best performers will thank you, and most likely stay around a lot longer knowing you’re looking out for them. The article is based on several interviews with ISBA CLE program presenters addressing workplace management and culture.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced today amendments to Order M.R. 30370 concerning residential evictions. These amendments clarify the order on July 15, 2021, which announced the winding down of the eviction moratorium in Illinois.

The Will County Bar Association in collaboration with the Black Bar Association of Will County, Latino Bar Association of Will County, Will County Women’s Bar Association and Spesia & Taylor Attorneys at Law has awarded its Will County Legal Opportunity Scholarship. The Scholarship awards a $5,000 per year up to three years for Law School tuition ($15,000 over three years), a $1,000 payment for Bar preparatory course, and up to $10,000 per year for three years after law school in loan reimbursement to the recipient.

Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. announces the election of Steve Norgaard as chair of the board of directors for the organization.                  

Norgaard first became an ATG agent in 1995 and was elected to the ATG board of directors in 2011. 

One familiar face at the Illinois Press Association is retiring and another will succeed him.

IPA Board of Directors Chairman Don Bricker announced that Sam Fisher is retiring as the organization’s president and CEO, effective Sept. 1. Fisher has been the IPA’s leader since 2017.

Join us on September 8 to get the information you need to effectively advise your clients on a number of construction law issues. Real estate lawyers, general practitioners, and construction law attorneys with basic practice experience who attend this online program will better understand: construction disbursing escrows; what a construction escrow can and cannot do for you; the monthly draw process; how to determine sufficiency of funds; reliability of lien waivers; architect reviews; payment and performance bonds; compliance issues with plans and on-time schedules; and much more!

The current term of office of United States Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley at Peoria, Illinois expires on February 28, 2022. The United States District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of the magistrate judge to a new eight- year term.

Law firms are not immune from the controversies surrounding sexual misconduct in the workplace. Managing in the #MeToo environment has changed the dynamic of the employment relationship. In his July Illinois Bar Journal article, “At What Cost?” retired U.S. Equal Employee Opportunity Commission investigator William S. Hubbartt offers advice for preventing and responding to incidents of sexual harassment in the law office. Unfortunately, as Hubbartt explains, even though the spotlight of the #MeToo movement has faded from daily news and has been replaced by other issues, multiple stories continue to appear in the legal and mainstream media reporting allegations by law firm employees against employer law firms.

Save time, reduce paper, and increase the completion rate of your client questionnaires using free and inexpensive tools to electronically gather data from your clients. Learn how to create fillable PDFs and online questionnaires to gather the needed data.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced today an amendment to Order M.R. 30370 concerning residential evictions. Timed to coincide with the resumption of eviction filings effective August 1, 2021, the amended Order provides for a one-month period in which the judiciary will focus on referring newly filed cases to State programs providing financial assistance to landlords and tenants.