CLE: Live—7th Annual Minority Bar CLE Conference

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Rhys Saunders

Back by popular demand! Don’t miss the 7th Annual Minority Bar CLE Conference that offers you guidance and information in a number of practice areas. Enhance your knowledge on an array of key issues, including: diversity in the judiciary; thriving as a solo practitioner; advancement of minority female litigators; voting rights and recent legal developments; technology and the law; the challenges of protecting intellectual property in China; and immigration law hot topics.

What Did You Say?! The Changing Landscape of Juvenile Custodial Interrogations

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Rhys Saunders

The 2017 Illinois Juvenile Court Act calls for extra diligence by attorneys who represent juvenile delinquents and attorneys who prosecute them or represent law enforcement agencies. These changes better protect minors' constitutional rights, but also place additional burdens on law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and defense attorneys. In their June Illinois Bar Journal article, “What Did You Say?! The Changing Landscape of Juvenile Custodial Interrogations,” Emily Fitch and Brenda Mathis examine the standards that apply when attempting to interrogate juveniles charged with crimes and the nine exceptions that exist in the new Act.

Illinois Supreme Court Pretrial Practices Commission to Host Additional Public Hearing in Freeport

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Rhys Saunders

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices is hosting a series of public hearings as it works toward its final report and recommendations.

The commission would like to gather input from Illinois stakeholders regarding pretrial reform. An additional hearing has been added for Monday, June 24, at the Freeport Public Library, 100. E. Douglas Street, in Freeport from 5 until 6:30 p.m.

CLE: Arbitration v. Litigation—Thoughts on Binding Dispute Resolution Clauses in Construction Contracts

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Rhys Saunders

Discover the pros and cons, risks and rewards related to the inclusion of dispute resolution and ADR provisions in construction contracts with this live webinar on June 25. Litigation attorneys and transactional lawyers with intermediate practice experience in the construction law realm who attend this online seminar will better understand: how dispute resolution is used in the construction context; what to consider when choosing dispute resolution clauses in construction contracts; the major distinctions between litigation and arbitration in construction disputes; the commonly used language in construction contracts (and the consequences of using this language); the differences between neutrals and judges in relation to the parties analysis of who will be deciding a dispute; the concerns with multiple dispute resolution proceedings; and the interplay of contract language with real world problems.

A Better Approach to Installment Contracts

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Rhys Saunders

As interest rates rise, more sellers are financing the sale of their real estate at lower-than-market rates and with less money down. Transactional attorneys are therefore being asked with some regularity to prepare installment agreements by which the client is either purchasing property from a seller on an installment basis or selling property and self-financing the purchase over time. For more than 30 years, real estate attorney Gary Gehlbach has routinely refused to structure transactions using installment contracts. To learn why he recommends an outright sale structured on purchase-money notes and mortgages (or trust deeds), read his article, “A Better Approach to Installment Contracts,” in June’s Illinois Bar Journal.