Join us from noon until 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 4 from the comfort of your home or office as we offer a comprehensive update on the executive actions, legislative changes, and caselaw developments that will impact U.S. immigration law in 2020/2021. Immigration law attorneys, general practitioners, and new lawyers with basic to intermediate practice experience who attend this online program will better understand: the immigration law changes that took place throughout 2020; how the presidential election will impact immigration law; the changes to be aware of in immigration enforcement standards, including the new executive orders on interior security and border enforcement; the issues relating to the Public Charge Rule and designation; and changes effecting refugees, asylum and special immigrant juveniles.

In Smart Oil LLC v. DW Mazel, LLC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit confirmed that lawyers are essential in real estate transactions. The Seventh Circuit recognized its role in interpreting contracts and giving effect “to the intention of the parties as expressed in the agreed terms.” Lawyers are the client’s advocate, charged with articulating the client’s precise intentions in the agreement, and then guiding the transaction with careful attention to detail through closing. According to William J. Anaya in his January 2021 Illinois Bar Journal article, “Old Wine in New Cases,” Smart Oil offers insights to environmental and real estate lawyers and a cautionary tale for those who seek to cleverly avoid or circumvent settled law in modern real estate transactions. Anaya advises lawyers who represent sellers and buyers in transactions and litigation are well served in reading this Seventh Circuit’s primer on settled law in Illinois.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners is seeking applicants for the Cook County Public Defender position.

The term of office for the current Cook County Public Defender expires on March 31, 2021.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. has announced that he will use the Alliance of Bar Associations as his committee to evaluate candidates for vacancies on the Circuit Court of Cook County and First District Appellate Court.

To be eligible for consideration for appointment to the circuit court, the candidate must be a lawyer in good standing, licensed to practice law in Illinois for 12 years, and a resident of Cook County.

The Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyer Finder Service provides referrals to local lawyers Mondays through Fridays. The Service makes referrals in a number of areas of law. For the month of December 2020 there were more than 300 referrals given.

Here are the results for December 2020:

The ISBA’s newly created Rural Practice Fellowship Program aims to address the ongoing shortage of attorneys practicing in rural Illinois.

The deadline to apply for the Rural Practice Summer Fellows and Rural Practice Associate Fellows programs is February 12.

Join us from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26 to get the legislative updates you need to advise your clients on key areas of traffic law. Criminal defense counsel, prosecutors, traffic law attorneys, general practitioners, and young lawyers with all levels of practice experience who attend this online seminar will better understand: how traffic law and criminal law are being impacted by the recreational use of marijuana; the changes due to bail reform, as well as criminal and traffic assessments and costs; the latest DUI and summary suspension case law changes; and how the recent changes might affect your clients and your practice.

The deadline to submit nominating petitions for the ISBA election is Monday, February 1.

Members of the ISBA will elect a third vice president (outside Cook County) and one seat each for the following Board of Governors seats: Area 1 (Circuit 18), Area 6 (Circuits 7, 8, and 9), and Area 8 (Circuits 3 and 20). There is also one Board of Governors seat in Cook County. There are 26 open seats for Cook County Assembly.

The ISBA is accepting nominations for committees and section councils for the 2021-2022 bar year.

The deadline for nominations is January 31.

More than 1,000 ISBA members serve on committees and section councils, which are responsible for producing newsletters and CLE programs, proposing legislation and rules, and helping the Association serve its members.

The Illinois Supreme Court will hold oral arguments via the Zoom videoconference platform when it hears cases for its first term of 2021. The Court continues to practice social distancing while still conducting court proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic.