Chicago Police Commander Thomas Lemmer received a Law Enforcement Award from the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) on September 28 at the Chicago Police Department Headquarters. ISBA President James McCluskey 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. 

While attorneys and law firms need to be focused on, and aware of, cybersecurity, they often must turn to specialists to ensure their devices, storage, and communication tools are adequately locked down.

Read the Illinois Bar Journal’s October 2018 cover story to learn how tech-savvy Illinois attorneys are setting up their devices, servers, cloud storage services, email, and other client communication tools to ensure they’re cyber-secure and safe from hackers. Several technology experts also provide lots of recommendations and advice.

Campaign season for the 2019 Illinois State Bar Association election begins today, October 1, for open leadership seats of third vice president and one seat each for the following Board of Governors seats: Area 2 (Circuits 17, 19 and 22), Area 4 (Circuits 10, 14 and 15), Area 5 (Circuits 5, 6 and 11), Area 7 (Circuits 1, 2 and 4), Under Age 37 – Cook County, and Under Age 37 Outside Cook County (Circuits 1-23). There are also 45 open seat

Every litigator should understand the basic principles of appellate practice. Join us on Oct. 18 in Chicago or via live webcast for a full-day seminar that focuses on the key points in the appellate process, where making the right decisions can mean the difference between winning and losing an appeal.

The seminar is presented by justices of the Illinois Supreme Court and the Illinois Appellate Court, along with leading Illinois appellate practitioners.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced today the approval of amendments to Supreme Court Rule 41, which in 1971 established an Illinois Judicial Conference (IJC) "to consider the work of the courts, to suggest improvements in the administration of justice, and to make recommendations for the improvement of the courts.” 

The amendments are designed to create a smaller, more active and engaged IJC, which will be tasked with creating and implementing a long-term statewide strategic agenda for the judicial branch.

Join us online Oct. 11 to learn how to develop the theory of your case, the Illinois Supreme Court Rules that pertain to depositions, and how to prepare your next witness with this informative online seminar that’s designed for litigators with basic practice experience. Topics include appreciating your witness’ story and the rules that apply, knowing the mechanics of a deposition, and maxims for witness preparation. 

The ISBA hosted a cocktail reception honoring Appellate Justice Bogdan Jedrys of Poland on September 25 in the Chicago Regional Office. 

Asked and Answered 

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

Q. I am the owner of a six-attorney firm in the western suburbs of Chicago. There are five full-time associate attorneys working with the firm. Two have been with the firm for more than 15 years, two over 10 years, and one for seven years. All are being paid salaries in excess of $100,000 per year and none are even close to generating $300,000 or more in working attorney fee collections per year. Their billable hours are dismal as well. While I have an expectation of 1,200 annual billable hours, none are meeting that expectation. My income is suffering as a result. In addition to salaries, they sometimes receive a discretionary bonus. I am at my wit’s end. What are your thoughts?

Sonni Choi Williams, a former member of the ISBA Board of Governors, was sworn in as a member of the Korean American Bar Association of Chicago’s Board on Sept. 21.

Hosting a business dinner is a great way to make a good impression and build rapport with clients. Thinking through the details in advance will go a long way toward a good evening and a good impression of the host – you. In September’s Illinois Bar Journal, Karen Erger, vice president at Lockton Companies, breaks down do’s and don’ts of hosting a business dinner.