SIU Simmons Law School Increases First-Time Bar Exam Passage Rates

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Marybeth Stanziola

CARBONDALE, Ill. — With an evidence-based, individualized and comprehensive approach, Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School is enjoying significant increases in first-time passage rates for recent graduates sitting for bar exams.

In Illinois, 77% of 2025 graduates who took the Illinois State Bar Exam in July for the first time passed on the first attempt, while in Missouri, 86% of SIU graduates who took the test passed the first time. Both results are nearly 15 percentage points higher than first-time test results for 2024 graduates.

ICE has until Tuesday night to remove fence around Broadview facility to meet judge's deadline

Tuesday night is the deadline for ICE to remove a security fence from around their facility in Broadview. A federal judge ruled it must come down by 11:59 p.m.

From: 
ABC 7

Reforms prompt big money appeals in IL biometrics cases

Even as reforms seem to have edged down the number of biometric privacy lawsuits targeted at businesses in Illinois, appeals courts are being tasked with the job of unraveling yet another legal knot surrounding Illinois' controversial and stringent law, with many millions or even billions of dollars at stake.

From: 
Legal Newsline

DuPage County clerk goes to court to get two election vendors paid

Last week, the clerk’s office filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to get two bills — totaling more than $230,000 — paid so the county can plan for the 2026 election.

From: 
Daily Herald

Illinois lawmakers to tackle immigration and budget deficit in veto session

The Illinois General Assembly’s veto session gavels in Tuesday with a massive to-do list and significant questions about whether anything can pass. 

From: 
WGN 9

PPD Chief Echevarria says Illinois’ juvenile detention system is broken

Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria says a broken justice system led to three teenagers with lengthy criminal records being arrested for a shooting on Sunday in South Peoria that left a man critically injured.

From: 
WMBD

LIVE WEB - Getting the Most Out of Mediation

December 18, 2025
Presented by the ISBA Tort Law Section
Co-presented by the ISBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section

Live Webcast
Thursday, December 18, 2025
11:00 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.

1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0* hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit

Although mediation offers the path of least resistance to resolving differences between parties, it still requires thorough preparation from both you and your client. Don’t miss this in-depth look at how to help your client get the most out of mediation, including what to expect at the meeting, the best practices for preparing for the mediation (from both the plaintiff and defense perspectives), how to prepare a concise and compelling mediation package, and how to handle yourself throughout the mediation process.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Judith Conway, Cooney & Conway, Chicago

Program Chat Moderator:
Josh Rohrscheib, Onward Injury Law, Bloomington

Program Speakers:
Michael R. Hartigan, Hartigan & O’Connor, LLC, Chicago
Hon. Clare McWilliams (ret.), Resolute Systems, Chicago
Jeffrey A. Schulkin, Ankin Law, LLC, Chicago


For best practices, before attending the program using ISBA's Zoom platform, please visit our Technical Support page.

Program Information

  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member - $35
      • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
    • Non-Member - $70
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Student Members - Free
    • Special pricing is available for Legal Service Attorneys.
  • If you cannot attend the live web event, a full refund is available, if you cancel your registration up to the start of the live web event on the program page in your “My CLE Account”. 
  • Please Note: MCLE credit is available to registrants only on the day of this live event – and you must attend the entire program to earn MCLE credit. All registrants will receive access to a recording of the event a few days after the program, but credit is NOT available for the recording.