In early 2017, the Illinois Bar Foundation joined the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice, the Chicago Bar Foundation, and the Public Interest Law Initiative in releasing a statewide survey to hear directly from attorneys about their experiences with pro bono.

The Pro Bono Survey Project is part of a national effort spearheaded by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service to study broader pro bono trends across the country. Nearly 6,000 attorneys in every judicial circuit, county, and practice setting in the state responded to the survey. The thousands of responses reflect the diversity of both our state’s attorneys and their experiences with pro bono. 

This month, as we celebrate Pro Bono Week, we would like to share some survey highlights and helpful websites to learn more about pro bono.

Gain the momentum you need to propel your practice to prosperity with this informative full-day seminar in Chicago or via live webcast on October 27, 2017! Learn how to run your practice with maximum profitability, hire and fire employees in your firm, maintain a virtual practice, and refer clients. In addition, attendees will gain a better understanding of: practicing on a budget for a financially-sound practice; how to build your firm with the best employees possible; the pros and cons of practicing virtually; the risks and benefits of accepting referral fees; how technology and ethics intersect; and much more!

The program is presented by the Illinois State Bar Association and qualifies for 6.75 hours MCLE credit, including 6.75 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.

Ngozi C. Okorafor, policy advisor with the Office of Governor Bruce Rauner, discusses retaliation and whistleblowing in the workplace, and outlines eight steps to prevent them.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am a partner in a firm in Los Angeles. We have nine attorneys: four partners and five associates. We are a young firm in that we have only been in business for four years. The four partners started the firm together, and we are equal partners who split the profits equally. When we started the firm, we each made equal capital contributions. We do not have a partnership agreement. We are thinking about bringing in two associates as equity partners and are trying to think through the mechanics. One of our questions is whether there should be a buy-in and, if so, how should we determine it. We would appreciate your thoughts.

ISBA and DuPage Bar presidents participated in memorial ceremony for Hon. John (Jack) Darrah at a DuPage County Board meeting held Tuesday, Oct. 10, at the County Board Room in Wheaton. 

Judge Darrah passed away on March 23, 2017. He was elected to serve in the state court in 1986, assigned to the Chancery Division of the 18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage County. He served in this capacity until 2000, when he was appointed to the United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by President Bill Clinton. 

Hon. John Darrah's full obituary is available on Illinois Lawyer Now. 

Divorcing clients have a range of estate planning needs, but some issues arise for nearly everyone whose marriage is ending, notes Chicago lawyer and ISBA member Lauren Evans DeJong. So be prepared to counsel your divorcing client about the following five estate-planning tasks.

Changing beneficiary designations. These include removing the soon-to-be ex as beneficiary "of [the client's] life insurance policies, individual retirement accounts, land trusts, and annuities," DeJong writes. Also review "transfer on death or payable on death bank or brokerage accounts, land conveyed by transfer on death deeds, and employee benefits."

Controlling access to online accounts. The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, 755 ILCS 70/1 et seq., which took effect last year, "provides a priority system for individuals to specifically control disclosure of digital assets and content of electronic communications" on social media, email, and the like.

"Many clients will not want their…ex to have access to their e-mails, Facebook or Instagram accounts, financial or banking information, diaries, or other personal information," DeJong writes.

"Individuals can use online tools established by providers [e.g., Google's Inactive Account Manager and Facebook's Legacy Contact] to direct disclosure of digital assets," she writes. "[A]n online tool…takes precedence over any other method of directing disclosure." Another option is to draft a statement directing disclosure, which can be included in a client's will, trust, or POA.

Mark your calendars for the ISBA High School Mock Trial Invitational, March 24-25, 2018, at the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign-Urbana!

Help us make the 2018 invitational a success by participating! All lawyers, judges, law students, and paralegals are invited to volunteer as judges and jurors. No trial experience is necessary. Volunteer registration information will be distributed in January 2018.

The Mock Trial Handbook, Problem, and Registration Packets will be made available by November 1, 2017.

For information about the program, please visit the ISBA’s Law-Related Education for the Public’s website or email the mock trial coordinator, Katy Karayannis.

The haunt is on! Spooktacular savings up to 30% off select Lenovo devices, accessories and more. All month long take advantage of these screaming deals, well until they vanish.

Deals Include:

• Up to 30% off Lenovo Accessories
• Up to 25% off Lenovo Yoga Book
• Up to 20% off Lenovo Mobile PCs
• Up to 20% off Think Technologies

These special monthly offers are tailored specifically for you! Along with FREE shipping on all web orders, you can enjoy access to energy-efficient green technologies and award-winning service.

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 State of Illinois seeks a public service administrator at the Northern Receiving Correctional Center in Crest Hill to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the operations of the Preliminary Hearing Program Unit; serve as supervising hearing officer, traveling statewide to attend and/or conduct preliminary and complex hearings; provide technical assistance to the chief legal counsel; serve as a resource to government officials; provide legal opinions, interpretations, and advice; and serve as a full line supervisor.

To be eligible for this position, the applicant must be a graduate of a recognized law school. Requires prior experience equivalent to three years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or private legal organization, preferably in the areas of criminal justice or administrative law. Requires the ability to successfully apply learned knowledge and techniques to working environment. Requires working of the agency's program operations and policies. Requires the possession of a license to practice law in Illinois. Applicants must be in, and maintain, good standing with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. CT on Wednesday, October 11. 

On Friday, October 6, the Chicago Regional Office hosted "Pathways to Becoming Corporate General Counsel and the Issues You Will Face," a CLE program geared toward attorneys interested in learning about life as a general counsel. The half-day seminar featured seven speakers, all general counsel at major corporations, who discussed the steps and skill set needed to become a general counsel, and tips to success once you've secured a position in a corporate legal department.