We've partnered with ISBA Mutual Insurance Company to bring back pro photographer Kari Bedford for one day of free business portrait sittings for 84 lucky members.

Anna Krolikowska won the race for third vice-president of the Illinois State Bar Association. Ava George Stewart  won the Cook County seat on the Board of Governors and Perry J. Browder won the Board of Governors seat for Area 8. 

Third Vice-President - 1 to be elected

• Stephen M. Komie, 933
• Anna Krolikowska, 2,196
• John Nisivaco, 864

For Member Appreciation Month, we're giving five lucky members a Sonos One Smart Speaker or a Visa gift card of equivalent value – winner's choice! All you need to do to enter is renew your ISBA membership by May 31, 3018. 

You can renew online or by phone at (800) 252-8908. All major credit cards accepted. Invoices will be mailed at the end of May.

Important Disclosures: This drawing is sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Bar Center, 424 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701. Only ISBA members are eligible to participate in this drawing. Prize may be taxable to the extent provided by law. The estimated odds of winning this prize depends on the number of entries. Entries must be submitted prior to May 31, 2018. Winner will be chosen by a random drawing within 24 hours of the close of the giveaway. Winner will be notified via email within 5 business days after the drawing. Prize may not be exchanged or transferred. If you are unable or unwilling to accept your prize, ISBA reserves the right to select another winner for that prize. No purchase is necessary to be entered into this drawing, and a purchase will not increase the chances of winning the prize.

Visit our Member Appreciation Month page to stay on top of this month's activities.

The United States Attorney's Office (USAO), Central District of Illinois is seeking an experienced attorney to serve in the Civil Division. The USAO is responsible for representing the federal government in litigation involving the United States in the Central District of Illinois, which includes criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the federal government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Civil Division handles a variety of cases including affirmative litigation to recover public funds which have been wrongfully obtained by fraud, civil rights enforcement, defensive matters involving government agencies and employees, asset forfeiture, and collections.

This position is located in Springfield, Illinois.

Some federal protections are changing….are you ready to advise your LGBT clients? LGBT issues cross many legal practice areas, including family law, anti-discrimination, real estate, and estate planning – to name a few. Don’t miss this full-day seminar in Chicago or via live webcast on June 7, 2018 that explores the emerging issues in each of these areas and how you can best advise your LGBT client.

This May, we're celebrating you during Member Appreciation Month. Want some time alone with an expert to get their advice on what you could be doing to improve the management of your practice in the areas you most need help? 

Two Chicago-based law firms recently settled an unusual trademark dispute. The firms have a name in common — O'Keefe. O'Keefe Lyons & Hynes, LLC ("OLH") filed a complaint against O'Keefe Law Firm, LTD ("OLF") in the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on July 21, 2017. The complaint alleged that OLF was violating OLH's federal and state trademark rights, in addition to violating federal and state unfair competition laws.

Asked and Answered

By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

Q. I am an attorney in New Orleans who has been in practice for ten years. I practiced with a small firm for eight years as an associate and then opened my own firm two years ago. I primarily work from home supplemented with a virtual pay-as-you-go office. I do not have any staff employees. I have been approached by a 14-attorney firm that would like me to join their firm as a partner. Their offer includes a salary that I feel is low and a bonus based upon a percentage after covering my salary, other direct costs, and indirect firm overhead. The overhead allocations seem extremely high to me. In my practice, I am bringing in around $100,000 in gross fees and my overhead averages $10,000-$15,000 per year. My profit margin is around 90 percent. I feel like I am better off building up my practice rather than accepting their offer. What are typical overhead and profit margins for law firms?

This May, we're celebrating you during Member Appreciation Month. To help you meet your MCLE requirements, we're offering a free live CLE webcast for the first 700 member registrants next Thursday, May 10, from noon to 1:00 p.m.