The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) seeks an energetic legal professional to manage the production of the Illinois Bar Journal (IBJ) and oversee the production of ISBA section newsletters, the IBJ advertising program, and the Illinois Courts Bulletin. The Illinois Bar Journal Managing Editor position will be based in the Springfield, Illinois headquarters of the ISBA.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS 

• Manage production of the monthly Illinois Bar Journal, in consultation with the IBJ Editor & Publisher; solicit, edit, and manage content-flow of articles; generate timely and high value article ideas; create content for IBJ (e.g., columns); supervise freelancers who produce lead articles and columns; manage relationship with IBJ printer; perform online indexing and subject-matter tagging.
• Oversee production of ISBA section newsletters (day-to-day management performed by newsletter managing editor).
• Oversee the IBJ advertising program (day-to-day management performed by advertising coordinator).
• Proofread and edit the Illinois Courts Bulletin.
• Author weekly blog post for Illinois Lawyer Now.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Illinois Bar Journal Editorial Board.
• Stay abreast of developments in digital information technology (e.g., apps, tablet-friendly versions) and implement as appropriate.

Leading appellate attorneys review the Illinois Supreme Court opinions handed down on Thursday, September 21. The cases are People v. Peterson, People v. Gray, People v. Holman, People ex rel. Madigan v. Wildermuth, In re Linda B., Cochran v. Securitas Security Services USA, Inc., Illinois Landowners Alliance, NFP v. Illinois Commerce Commission, Aspen American Insurance Company v. Interstate Warehousing, Inc., and Manago v. County of Cook.

Back by popular demand! Don’t miss this full-day seminar on October 9, 2017 in Chicago or Fairview Heights that arms you with the information you need to successfully handle your next workers’ compensation case! Labor and employment attorneys and workers’ compensation practitioners attending this seminar will better understand: how orthopedic physicians diagnose and treat workers’ compensation injuries; the recent rule changes at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission; the ethical issues to avoid during your next workers’ compensation case; how to prepare and present your arbitration case; how to coordinate workers’ compensation benefits with the Public Employee Disability Act; and recent case law updates that may affect your client.

The Illinois Supreme Court hosted a memorial service today in honor of the late Justice John J. Stamos at the Illinois Supreme Court in Springfield. Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier delivered the opening and closing remarks. Among those in attendance to pay tribute to Stamos was Hon. Russell Hartigan. 

Stamos passed away in January 2017 at the age of 92. He was first appointed to the bench in 1968 and served on the First District Appellate Court of Illinois for 20 years before his appointment to the Illinois Supreme Court in 1988. Read Hon. Stamos's full obituary on Illinois Lawyer Now.

It's not unusual to hear judges and lawyers - mostly judges - talk about how many pro se litigants they encounter these days. And the eye-popping statistics more than bear out the anecdotal evidence.

Data from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts ("AOIC") show that in 2015, nearly two-thirds of total civil cases outside Cook County - 65.2 percent - had at least one self-represented litigant. For certain types of cases, this figure rises as high as 80 percent. In addition, the court system is facing the facts that one out of five Illinois residents speaks a language other than English at home according to U.S. Census data, the number of Illinois residents below the poverty line has grown, and the number of pro bono attorneys has not kept pace.

"People are self-represented for a whole host of reasons," says Danielle Hirsch, assistant director of the AOIC's Civil Justice Division. "Some can't afford representation, some don't know where to find it, and some are do-it-yourselfers who want the sport of trying it on their own. It would be hard to treat them as a monolith." Hirsch adds that in practice areas like small claims or family, "the default is self-representation." And defendants overall are about two-thirds pro se, she says.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am the owner of a law practice in Belleville, Illinois. My practice focuses on real estate, estate planning and administration, and bankruptcy. I have three legal assistants. While I have been in practice for ten years, I have never hired an associate. I have a busy practice and now is the time. I have identified a candidate with six years of experience that I want to hire. He has business that he can bring with him. He has been working with a larger firm as an associate and has been paid a straight salary. My next step is to make him an offer but I am struggling with how to pay him. I would like to hear your thoughts.

Officer Michelle Wilgus of the Belvidere Police Department received the ISBA Law Enforcement Award on September 18 during a Belvidere City Council meeting. The award was presented by Julie Johnson, ISBA Board of Governors and attorney at Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa in Chicago.

The ISBA Law Enforcement Award was created to recognize 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. It recognizes those who excel in law enforcement.

Officer Wilgus, who was nominated for the award by Johnson on behalf of the ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law, was acknowledged for strengthening the relationship between the Belividere Police Department and the community by starting the ‘Badges with Books’ outreach program.

Adding a profile photo to your IllinoisLawyerFinder profile is a good first step in helping new and prospective clients get to know you. You can take this a step further by creating a photo gallery that features images of your office space, firm logo, your speaking engagements, and more. This short video provides step-by-step instructions to upload a profile photo and create a unique gallery.

The Illinois Supreme Court will host a memorial service in honor of the late Justice John J. Stamos at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, September 20, at the Illinois Supreme Court at 20 E. Capitol Avenue in Springfield.

The opening and closing remarks will be delivered by Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier. Tributes will be given by Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis; the Honorable Benjamin K. Miller, a former Supreme Court Justice; the Honorable Gino L. DiVito, a former Appellate Justice; Mr. James J. Stamos, Esquire, of Stamos & Trucco LLP, the son of Justice Stamos; and ISBA president, the Honorable Russell W. Hartigan, a former Cook County Circuit Judge.

Register now to join your peers for an afternoon of socializing and horse racing at this annual event! 

When: Saturday, September 23, 2017 1 PM – 6 PM

Tickets will be sent via ground mail upon purchase. Any tickets purchased after today, Monday, September 18, will available for pick up on-site on the day of the event. Further information will be provided upon purchasing tickets.