In its August issue, the Illinois Bar Journal provides an extensive sneak preview of the ISBA's upcoming Solo & Small Firm Conference by providing lots of easy-to-apply tips on improving your digital marketing efforts. Read the article, “Extending Your Reach,” for getting more out of your website, social media, blogs, and overall internet presence.
Teresa Molina has been appointed as an at-large Cook County circuit judge.
The appointment is effective July 24 and will conclude on Dec. 7, 2020, following the November 2020 general election.
The ISBA has created a new section council to address food law, an increasingly specialized practice area that shows signs of surging.
The practice of food law includes legal issues affecting agriculture and farmers, health and the environment, sustainability, intellectual property and licensing, the regulation of food trends and innovation, and laws and regulations protecting consumers, says Molly Wiltshire, a Chicago-based attorney who was instrumental in drafting a proposal to create the new section.
By Sandra Crawford, JD
In 2018, Illinois formally recognized the collaborative law model of dispute resolution with the enactment of legislation and the adoption of Supreme Court Rule – 750 ILSC 5/90 and Rule 294, respectively. The history of this model of limited scope representation or unbundled legal services starts back in 1990 in Minnesota.
In 1990, a Minnesota litigator, Stu Webb, the “godfather” of the collaborative model, wrote in his journal, “what if I just announce on January 1, 1990, I will no longer take any cases to court?
The ISBA Mutual Insurance Company has partnered with the Illinois Bar Foundation to create the ISBA Mutual Giving Circle. This program allows ISBA Mutual policyholders to donate all or part of their dividend to support the mission of the IBF. For more information on joining the ISBA Mutual Giving Circle, contact the Illinois Bar Foundation at (312) 726-6072 or visit the IBF online.
Aurora Police Officer Douglas Rashkow received a Law Enforcement Award from the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) on July 23 during an Aurora City Council meeting. ISBA 3rd Vice President Rory Weiler presented the award.
The Law Enforcement Award recognizes sworn law enforcement officers for conduct that promotes justice and to distinguish those individuals whose service to the public brings honor and respect to the entire criminal justice system.
The Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF) has announced the recipients of its “Access to Justice” grants, which will be distributed to nonprofit legal aid organizations statewide.
The 2019 Illinois Bar Foundation grant recipients are as follows:
Ashley Brandt, a partner with Goldstein & McClintock LLLP and a member of the Illinois Bar Journal Editorial Board, provides an overview of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (HB 1438-SFA 2), which made Illinois the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis and the first to do so without a public referendum. The Act provides for the state’s oversight and control of cannabis production, sale, regulation, testing, decriminalization, and taxation. It also includes social equity and criminal justice reforms.
The Illinois Supreme Court on July 19 entered an order amending Rule 280.2, which updates the requirements for complaints in credit card or debt buyer collection actions.
The amendment is effective immediately. Additionally, the court amended the accompanying affidavit form for actions under the Rule.
The ISBA Board of Governors met on Friday, July 19. At the meeting, the Board filled the Area III (Circuits 12, 13, 16, and 21) and Area IV (Circuits 10, 14, and 15) seats on the Board of Governors. The results of the elections to fill these leadership positions are below.
Board of Governors