Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am the sole owner of a six-attorney energy law practice in Houston. I have had my practice for twenty years and have enjoyed the independence of being the boss, but I am tired of being solely accountable for the success of the practice, having to do all the management, and having all the worry and stress. I believe I have reached the point where I am ready for a partner or partners and I believe that the practice can be positioned for growth if I bring in a lateral partner, make a couple of my associates partners, or merge with another firm. I welcome any suggestions that you may have.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring the shiniest savings of the season! Give gifts they will open all year with instant savings up to 60% off on Lenovo's best performing laptops, tablets, accessories, and more while supplies last.

Visit Lenovo's Illinois State Bar Association member page.
Call: 1-800-426-7235, ext. 3577 (M-F: 9am-9pm ET, Sat: 9am-6pm ET)

Be sure to check the website often – special offers change frequently.

The Hon. Jeffrey S. MacKay, associate judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, has been appointed circuit judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, at Large, by the Illinois Supreme Court. The appointment will be effective Dec. 1 following the retirement of Hon. Kathryn E. Creswell. 

Hon. MacKay is a graduate of Kent College of Law, Chicago, 1992, and was admitted to the practice of law in Illinois in 1993.  Judge MacKay is currently an associate judge in the Misdemeanor Division of the 18^th Judicial Circuit, having been appointed to the bench in April of 2013. He was in private practice for 12 years with the law firm of Ekl, Williams and Provenzale (2001-2013), and also served as an assistant DuPage County state’s attorney (1993-2001).  Judge MacKay is an active member of the DuPage County Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association. 

The Illinois Supreme Court announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on Nov. 21, 2017. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.

Book your cruise and airfare for the ISBA Mediterranean Cruise with President Russell W. Hartigan by Thursday, Nov. 30, to receive a $500 per person airline credit. 

The cruise is a nine-night voyage aboard the Amazara Quest, departing from Barcelona, Spain, on May 15 and arriving in Nice, France on May 24.

Additional details about the cruise and its itinerary are available through the Member Marketplace. To take advantage of the early booking promotion, fill out the Mediterranean Cruise Registration Form and follow the submission instructions.

If you're looking for something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, check out the wide selection of ticket discounts nationwide brought to you by Tickets At Work. From theme park admissions to Broadway musicals, Tickets at Work has a discount for you.

These offers are provided to you through the Illinois State Bar Association’s Member Marketplace.

Want to sign up? It's free and easy: 
1. Visit www.ticketsatwork.com
2. Use your company code: ISBA
3. Read and follow the easy steps on our site, and once registered you can access all tickets, events, hotels and more online for free.

The annual Distinguished Counsellors Luncheon honoring ISBA members who have been admitted to the bar for a period of 50 years was held yesterday, Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Union League Club in Chicago. Justice John B. Simon, appellate judge for the First District, spoke on behalf of the Class of 1967. In total, there were 168 honorees. 

Honorees in attendance were joined by family, friends, and ISBA leadership. One by one, the Class of 1967 was invited to the stage to be presented with a certificate of recognition by Hon. Russell W. Hartigan, ISBA president, to show our respect and admiration for those who have dedicated their lives to the profession and serve as living examples of the profession's highest ideals. James McCluskey, ISBA president-elect, and David Sosin, ISBA second vice president, joined Hartigan in presenting the awards. 

The tradition of conferring the title of "Distinguished Counsellor" dates back to 1940, when ISBA held its first ceremony at the Sangamon County Circuit Court. 

Congratulations to the 1967 Class of Distinguished Counsellors:

Mental illness in children is more common than many may think, with anxiety disorders, depression, and attention deficit disorders being among the most prevalent. Developmental and psychotic disorders are less common, but can impact the child and their families in much greater ways. Don’t miss this seminar on December 13, 2017 in Chicago or via live webcast that discusses a number of key issues that attorneys need to be aware of when handling cases involving mentally ill children, including: how the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disability Act addresses children’s rights; the confidentiality of minor’s mental health records; the communication barriers with children who are diagnosed with mental illness; and how to promote better dialogue between attorneys and mental health professionals.

The program is presented by the ISBA Mental Health Law Section and co-sponsored by the ISBA Standing Committee on Disability Law. It qualifies for 3.0 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional, Civility, or Legal Ethics PMCLE credit.

Learn more and register on the ISBA CLE page. 

Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks
United Center, Sat., Dec. 9 at 7:00 p.m.

Chicago Bulls vs. Orlando Magic
United Center, Wed., Dec. 20 at 7:00 p.m.

You're invited to experience great NBA action, non-stop entertainment, and the energy of a sellout crowd! Enjoy the excitement of the Chicago Bulls as they battle the Knicks and the Magic.

Illinois State Bar Association members, family, and friends have the opportunity to purchase Chicago Bulls tickets at a discount.