Live Webcast
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
11:00 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.

1.0 hour MCLE credit

Get the estate tax tips you need to start the year off right with this informative online presentation. Commercial banking attorneys, trusts and estate lawyers, and general practitioners with intermediate practice experience who attend this program will learn how (and where) to file an estate tax return, the information you need to submit when filing the return, where to pay the tax, and the common mistakes to avoid throughout the process.

Program Coordinator:
Samuel H. Levine, Downey & Lenkov, Chicago

Program Moderator:
Julia Jensen Smolka, Robbins DiMonte, Park Ridge

11:00 – 11:30 a.m. How and Where to File an Estate Tax Return
Get the practical advice you need on filing an estate tax return, including where to file the return, the forms you need to use, the required information and attachments when filing the return, how to compute the tax before filing, and when/where to pay the tax.
Joan E. Smuda, Illinois Attorney General, Chicago

11:30 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
This segment explores the common errors that are easily avoided to save you time and your client’s money.
Kathy Bojczuk, Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Chicago


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

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3.0 hours MCLE credit, including 3.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 8, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 9, 2025 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this two part series from ISBA’s 5^th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar, as we take an in-depth look at how inventions and advancements in science and technology create opportunities for lawyers to represent innovators, as well as those clients who are disrupted by the innovation (including the legal profession). The program takes place at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum located on the historic island that supported part of the railroad bridge subject to Lincoln’s famous case of Hurd et al v. Rock Island Bridge Company (often called the Effie Afton trial.) Ft. Armstrong has been on Rock Island since 1816. Army Dr. Emerson was stationed at Ft. Armstrong from 1834 to 1836 and took Dred Scott with him as a slave. Slavery was prohibited in Illinois and that later served as Scott’s claim for freedom in the Dred Scott case. The first rail bridge over the Mississippi used the Island to connect Illinois to Iowa and was finished in 1856 (and struck by the steamboat Effie Afton the same year!). President Lincoln signed the legislation creating the Arsenal in 1862, which became a prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Join us for this informative, historical look at how Lincoln addressed the science and technology issues of his time, and how lawyers of every generation face similar challenges. Topics include:

• The ethical issues facing lawyers regarding science and technology innovations;
• How AI and emerging technology is impacting current lawyers and law practice; and
• Much more.

Program Coordinators:
J. Steven Beckett, Beckett Law Office P.C., Urbana
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville

Contemporary Ethical Issues
Explore the ethical issues facing lawyers today – from the need to stay current with technology to problems with email, websites, cybersecurity, and more – with this informative session.
Peter L. Rotskoff, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Springfield

How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Lawyers and the Legal Profession
Get the information you need about how the evolving area of AI may impact your law practice and the legal system.
Jonathan T. Nessler, Nessler & Associates Ltd., Springfield

Block Chain, AI, Disruptive Innovations – What is a Lawyer To Do?
This panel presentation discusses what we can learn from Lincoln’s experiences with science and technology, and how lawyers and the legal profession will continue to be impacted.
Moderator: J. Steven Beckett, Beckett Law Office P.C., Urbana
Jonathan T. Nessler, Nessler & Associates Ltd., Springfield
Guy C. Fraker, Attorney and Author, Bloomington
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville



*Originally presented as part of the ISBA’s 5th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy Conference. Find more sessions in this series in the ISBA On-Demand CLE catalog.



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 $105 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
• Non-Member Price $210
• New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
• Law Students - Free

2.75 hours MCLE credit, including 2.75 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 8, 2023
MCLE Accreditation Extension Period: ­­­­­­­October 21, 2025 - October 20, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this two part series from ISBA’s 5^th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar, as we take an in-depth look at how inventions and advancements in science and technology create opportunities for lawyers to represent innovators, as well as those clients who are disrupted by the innovation (including the legal profession). The program takes place at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum located on the historic island that supported part of the railroad bridge subject to Lincoln’s famous case of Hurd et al v. Rock Island Bridge Company (often called the Effie Afton trial.) Ft. Armstrong has been on Rock Island since 1816. Army Dr. Emerson was stationed at Ft. Armstrong from 1834 to 1836 and took Dred Scott with him as a slave. Slavery was prohibited in Illinois and that later served as Scott’s claim for freedom in the Dred Scott case. The first rail bridge over the Mississippi used the Island to connect Illinois to Iowa and was finished in 1856 (and struck by the steamboat Effie Afton the same year!). President Lincoln signed the legislation creating the Arsenal in 1862, which became a prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Join us for this informative, historical look at how Lincoln addressed the science and technology issues of his time, and how lawyers of every generation face similar challenges. Topics include:

• How Lincoln’s curiosity and self-study of other disciplines (including science and technology) enhanced his ability to represent clients from a broad range of industries;
• Lincoln’s representation in the famous Effie Afton trial where the interests of steamboats clashed with the development of railroad expansion;
• Lincoln’s role as legislator, lawyer, President, and inventor in other areas of science and technology innovations;
• Much more.

Program Coordinators:
J. Steven Beckett, Beckett Law Office P.C., Urbana
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville

Lincoln’s Interest and Commitment to Science and Technology
The program’s opening segment examines Lincoln’s evolving interest in and involvement with science and technology issues – and how it impacted his role as lawyer, legislator, and President.
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville

Lincoln and the Effie Afton Case
Don’t miss this in-depth look at how the westward expansion of railroads required a bridge over the Mississippi and how that collided, figuratively and literally, with the steamboat industry.
Guy C. Fraker, Attorney and Author, Bloomington

Lincoln’s Cases involving Railroads and Other Patents and Inventions
This segment explores some of the many cases Lincoln participated in as new inventions, methods of transportation, commerce, and industry came to Illinois.
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville



*Originally presented as part of the ISBA’s 5th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy Conference. Find more sessions in this series in the ISBA On-Demand CLE catalog.



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 $96.25 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
• Non-Member Price $192.50
• New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
• Law Students - Free

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


Original Program Date: Thursday, June 3, 2021
MCLE Accreditation Extension Period: ­­­­­­­October 21, 2025 - October 20, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this online seminar that explores the professional excellence of one of Illinois’ greatest attorneys, Abraham Lincoln. The presentation offers engaging vignettes about Lincoln’s legal career that gives you an idea of what Lincoln’s law practice consisted of, as well as, how other attorneys viewed him (including a few pre-presidency opinions for a better idea of what his contemporaries thought of Lincoln). The program also explores Lincoln’s personal viewpoints about the legal profession.

Program Coordinator:
Edward Mogul, Illinois Academy of Criminology, Chicago

Welcome and Introductions
Hon. Anne M. Burke, Chief Justice, Illinois Supreme Court, Chicago

Program Speaker:
John Lupton, Executive Director, Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, Springfield


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 $44 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
• Non-Member Price $88
• New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
• Law Students - Free

2.0 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Thursday, October 5, 2023
MCLE Accreditation Extension Period: October 17, 2025 - October 16, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that U.S. citizens have no constitutional right to abortion and overturned Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). This decision ultimately returned power to each individual state to regulate the legality of abortions. Join us for a comprehensive look at how the country has responded since the Supreme Court Dobbs decision, the historical and legal insight surrounding this topic, what to expect in a post- Roe society, and Illinois’ legal and legislative posture since this decision. To support this scholarly discussion of the Dobbs decision, a complimentary viewing of HBO’s 2022 documentary titled, The Janes, will be provided.


Program Coordinators/Moderators:
Bridget L. Schott, Lee County Assistant State’s Attorney, Dixon
Erin M. Wilson, The Law Office of Erin M. Wilson LLC, Chicago

When Laws Change: The Dobbs Decision
Professors Roberta Rosenthal Kwall and David Franklin will provide background on the history, legal theories and cultural discourse surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) opinion, which overruled both Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992).
Prof. Roberta Rosenthal Kwall,DePaul University College of Law, Chicago
Prof. David Franklin, DePaul University College of Law, Chicago

Complimentary Viewing: The Janes Documentary

Where Does Illinois Stand?
Don’t miss this closing topic as we explore the legal and legislative posture within Illinois following the Dobbs decision.
Dina M. Ninfo, Illinois Department of Central Management System, 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 $70 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
• Non-Member Price $140
• New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
• Law Students - Free

1.75 hours MCLE credit, including 1.75 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics credit or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, October 19, 2021
MCLE Accreditation Extension Period: October 21, 2025 - October 20, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Join us for Part 3 of this three-part series in which we explore the nuts and bolts of the newly enacted Electronic Wills and Remote Witnesses Act. Trust and estate attorneys, family law lawyers, general practitioners, and elder law counsel with all levels of practice experience who attend this online program will better understand:

• The ethics of electronic wills and remote signings, including competence and confidentiality issues;
• How to use technology during the signing;
• Storing and maintaining documents after the signing;
• Determining a testator’s capacity;
• Electronic notarization and witnessing;
• Much more!

Program Coordinator:
Oana L. Militaru, DiMonte & Lizak LLC, Park Ridge

Program Moderators:
Oana L. Militaru, DiMonte & Lizak LLC, Park Ridge
Raymond W. Prather, Prather Ebner LLP, Chicago

Program Speakers:
Dale Hardy, Notarize, Massachusetts
Andrew Macdougall, Notarize, Massachusetts
Patrick D. Owens, DiMonte & Lizak LLC, Park Ridge
Karin C. Prangley, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., Chicago

2.0 hours MCLE credit, including 2.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics credit or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 24, 2021
MCLE Accreditation Extension Period: ­­­­­­­October 21, 2025 - October 20, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Join us for Part 2 of this three-part series in which we explore the nuts and bolts of the newly enacted Electronic Wills and Remote Witnesses Act. Trust and estate attorneys, family law lawyers, general practitioners, and elder law counsel with all levels of practice experience who attend this online program will better understand:

• Obtaining access to the decedent’s cloud storage;
• How to probate copies of electronic wills;
• How to admit electronic wills to probate;
• The jurisdictional issues that can arise, including Illinois electronic wills by non-resident decedents and out-of-state electronic wills;
• How to handle undue influence and lack of capacity claims; and
• Much more!

Program Coordinator:
Oana L. Militaru, DiMonte & Lizak LLC, Park Ridge

Program Moderator:
Raymond W. Prather, Prather Ebner LLP, Chicago

Program Speakers:
Daniel S. Ebner, Prather Ebner LLP, Chicago
Sarah M. LeRose, Leonard J. LeRose, Jr., Ltd., Chicago
Hon. James G. Riley (ret.), FMS Law Group, LLC, Chicago

2.0 hours MCLE credit, including 2.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics credit, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 17, 2021
MCLE Accreditation Extension Period: October 21, 2025 - October 20, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Join us for Part 1 of this three-part series in which we explore the nuts and bolts of the newly enacted Electronic Wills and Remote Witnesses Act. Trust and estate attorneys, family law lawyers, general practitioners, and elder law counsel with all levels of practice experience who attend this online program will better understand:

• The execution and admission of wills prior to amendments;
• Electronic wills in other jurisdictions;
• Remote signings and how to create certified paper copies;
• Changes introduced by the Electronic Wills and Remote Witnesses Act;
• Self-proving attestation clauses;
• Using the Electronic Wills and Remote Witnesses Act for Powers of Attorney and other documents;
• Remote notarizations; and
• Much more!

Program Coordinator:
Oana L. Militaru, DiMonte & Lizak LLC, Park Ridge

Program Moderator:
Oana L. Militaru, DiMonte & Lizak LLC, Park Ridge
Raymond W. Prather, Prather Ebner LLP, Chicago

Program Speakers:
Neil T. Goltermann, Momkus LLC, Lisle
Oana L. Militaru, DiMonte & Lizak LLC, Park Ridge
Kerry R. Peck, Peck Ritchey LLC, Chicago
Raymond W. Prather, Prather Ebner LLP, Chicago

2.75 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 30, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss Part 2 of the 7^th Annual Bock Food Law and Policy Conference as we examine a number of hot topic issues impacting the food and beverage industries. Environmental law attorneys, food law practitioners, agricultural lawyers, and business advise counsel with all levels of practice experience who attend this program will better understand:

• When (and when not) to use trade secrets and patents to protect your client’s recipes;
• The ins and outs of opening a food co-op;
• The policies and perceptions of childhood energy drink consumption;
• The legal issues surrounding cell-based meat;
• The various ways PFAS can enter our foods;

Program Coordinator:
Robert B. Anderson, Bahr Anderson Law Group, LLC, Wheaton

Program Moderator:
Prof. A. Bryan Endres, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana

Trade Secrets, Patents, and When to Use Them
Trade secrets and patents are powerful tools meant to protect your clients’ recipes, methods, and other food-related information … but sometimes it is better not to use them. This segment outlines what these tools are and the factors to consider when deciding whether or not to use them.
Adam D. Sussman, Crowell & Moring LLP, Chicago

Food Co-Ops, Outline, Use Cases, and Formation Steps
Do you have clients looking to form a consumer cooperative in Illinois? Do your food co-op clients need help with the security law aspect of their business? This session uses a grocery cooperative as an example to explore these issues and more, including: the legal steps in creating this type of business venture in Illinois, how to set up the appropriate entity for your client, the tax considerations your client needs to be aware of, and the legal issues to keep in mind when representing a start-up food cooperative.
Sarah Kaplan, PathLight Law, Illinois/California

What’s the Buzz? Preferences and Perceptions of Policies to Reduce Childhood Energy Drink Consumption
Just as global energy drink sales have surged, so have the public health concerns regarding children consuming these products. With limited regulatory oversight, potential adverse effects, and recent claims that these companies are targeting children through their marketing, there is a need to better understand society’s evolving relationship with the energy drink market. Listen as our speakers discuss a recent study in which 1,036 U.S. adults were studied to assess consumer preference, as well as their perceptions toward energy drink policies and marketing.
Prof. Maria Helen Kalaitzandonakes, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Champaign
Prof. Aaron J. Staples, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Champaign

Cell-Based Meat
Cell-based meat is real meat that is grown in a lab from the cells of living animals, rather than being raised (and later slaughtered) on a farm. Once grown, the tissue is processed and packaged into typical products the consumer recognizes, such as burgers and steak. This segment discusses the current regulatory landscape and legal issues surrounding this practice, as well as what you need to know before advising your clients.
Elizabeth Rumley, National Agricultural Law Center, Arkansas

PFAS: Overview and Legal Issues
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been a hot topic issue in the environmental law arena for quite some time. But attorneys need to be just as aware of how these forever chemicals can impact the food industry and the legal issues surrounding them. Don’t miss this presentation that explains what PFAS are, why they are considered “forever chemicals,” the various ways these chemicals can be introduced to our foods, and how to advise your client on the legal issues that can arise.
Blaine Bengtson, Lathrop GRM LLP, Colorado

3.25 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: October 30, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Food law is a diverse and inter-connected field of law with significant crossover between agricultural production, environmental protection, natural resource consumption, and intellectual property – to name a few. Don’t miss this in-depth look at the evolving legal issues impacting your clients in the food and beverage industry. Attorneys with all levels of practice experience who attend this program will better understand:

• How agriculture and renewable energy intersect;
• The differences between agritourism and agricultural exceptionalism;
• How the renewed Farm Bill may impact your food and agricultural clients; and
• What you need to know about opening an alcohol manufacturer (and the tasting room regulations).

Program Coordinator:
Robert B. Anderson, Bahr Anderson Law Group, LLC, Wheaton

Program Moderator:
Prof. A. Bryan Endres, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana

Agriculture and Renewable Energy
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from our expert, Jesse Richardson, as he explores the various ways agriculture intersects with renewable energy, including agrivoltaics.
Prof. Jesse Richardson, West Virginia University College of Law, West Virginia

Agritourism and Agricultural Exceptionalism
Although agritourism and agricultural exceptionalism both relate to agriculture, they differ in concept with the former being a way for farmers to diversify their income, and the latter being a legal framework that helps shape the agricultural landscape. Join us for a comprehensive look at whether the evolving concept of “agricultural exceptionalism” should apply to all agritourism operations, or whether we need a new legal model.
Prof. Peggy Kirk Hall, Ohio State University, Ohio

Federal Food and Agriculture Programs
The current administration is transforming many long-standing food and agricultural programs. The rate of change is unprecedented and occurring with the backdrop of Congressional negotiations for a renewed Farm Bill – the primary federal source of both food assistance and farm-based conservation programs. Get the updates you need on the evolving federal policy and what to expect moving forward with this informative segment.
Prof. Jonathan W. Coppess, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Law, Urbana

Opening an Alcohol Manufacturer and Sampling your Products
Wineries, distilleries, and breweries are very popular in Illinois and many new ones are cropping up in quick succession. This presentation gives you the information you need to advise your client on the different types of alcohol manufacturing, how to open an alcohol manufacturer, and the existing rules regarding sharing samples with your customers in an onsite tasting room.
Robert B. Anderson, Bahr Anderson Law Group, LLC, Wheaton