In the employer-sponsored health plan environment, implementing the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) creates unique challenges. While HIPAA’s multitude of provisions may seem intuitive for health care providers, health plans may need to invoke a bit of creativity to account for realities like the storage of protected health information in an office environment and employees who perform roles for both the plan and the employer sponsor. However, with 2016 marking an all-time high for HIPAA enforcement cases and 2017 shaping up to be more of the same, it may be more important now than ever to address HIPAA compliance. Join us via the Internet on September 27, 2017 for a brief look at how HIPAA regulations apply to employer-sponsored health plans, and what these entities may consider when creating or updating their HIPAA compliance programs. Topics include: an in-depth look at the Privacy and Security Rules; best practices for implementing HIPAA in a health plan environment; breach reporting obligations under the Breach Notification Rule; an overview of the HIPAA enforcement landscape; and lessons learned from recent HIPAA enforcement cases.

The program is presented by the ISBA Employee Benefits Section and qualifies for 1.0 hour MCLE credit.

Click here for more information and to register.

Improve your trial skills in this “learn-by-doing” program that covers all phases of trial work from both a plaintiff/prosecutor and defendant’s viewpoint, in both civil and criminal cases. Through this course, you will learn and practice new trial techniques that are most effective and consistent with the Illinois Rules of Evidence and the Federal Rules of Evidence. Each session is audio-video taped so you can see and hear the improvements in your voice, manner, and trial technique.

This fall, you can expect to learn about topics including:

• The principles of communication, argument, and persuasion on behalf of the plaintiff/prosecutor and defendant
• Jury selection
• What makes a winning opening statement/closing argument 

The Trial Technique Institute consists of two semesters that run approximately four months each. Classes take place on Tuesday evenings from 5:15-6:45 p.m. at the Chicago Regional Office.

The program qualifies for a total of 54 hours MCLE credit, including 54* hours PMCLE credit (27 hours MCLE/27 hours PMCLE credit per semester). 

Click here to register and learn more

Detective Carl Walker of the O’Fallon Police Department was awarded the ISBA Law Enforcement Award on August 21 during an O’Fallon City Council meeting at City Hall. Third Vice President Dennis Orsey presented the award.

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.

Detective Walker, who was nominated for the award by Captain Kirk Brueggeman of the O’Fallon Police Department, will be acknowledged for his efforts to automate the information sharing process for the St. Clair County Investigative Professional Group using information technology.

This is your last chance to save over 40 percent on Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's show, Soul2Soul: The World Tour, in Chicago, taking place on September 1 in Rosemont! Ticket prices start as low as $24.

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.

Justin C. Strane, partner at Ansari & Shapiro, LLC, provides three tips for handling residential real estate contracts and representing home purchasers.

When the Trump Administration published its executive orders regarding immigrants and refugees in January, attorneys became first responders, fanning out to the nation's airports to triage the legal needs of those ensnared in the travel ban. Shortly thereafter, the American Bar Association set up the website www.immigrationjustice.us to help coordinate pro bono service offers from the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Enterprising attorneys built www.airportlawyer.org, a site that tracks and registers immigrants' travel information and connects them with volunteer attorneys at their local airport if need be.

"These types of efforts are great examples of what lawyers can do with technology," said Chase Hertel, director of business development & partnerships at Chicago-based Road to Status (www.roadtostatus.com), a website that provides document-assembly-style federal forms and attorney referrals for immigrants. "Technology can be used to triage the legal needs of clients, connect with clients where they are - at the airport, or on the internet - deliver services in unique ways, and, most importantly, bridge the legal services gap."

ISBA joined Chicago-based lawyer organizations to condemn acts of racism, anti-Semitism, and discrimination yesterday, August 22, at a press conference held at the Chicago Loop Synagogue.

The press conference was held in response to recent violent events throughout the United States targeting racial and ethnic minorities. Recognizing that acts of hatred existed long before last week's protests in Charlottesville and present an ongoing challenge as the country moves forward, yesterday's press conference was an effort to unite the Illinois legal community and encouraged others to stand together against acts of violence and intimidation. 

Bar leaders took to the stage to speak about historical and present-day systematic racism, and the need to confront this problem together as a society. They spoke to the role lawyers and professional associations play in upholding the rule of law and ensuring all individuals receive the right to protection under the law, and called upon national, state, and local leaders to take decisive action against all such acts of hatred and racism.

President Hon. Russell Hartigan represented the ISBA at the event.

The press conference was hosted by the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, the Cook County Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Black Women Lawyers Association. ISBA was a co-sponsor, along with several other bar groups. 

With the 2017-18 season quickly approaching, we would like to offer you an exclusive opportunity to purchase preseason tickets.

Purchase four or more preseason tickets in the 100 or 200 Level to receive a framed commemorative print autographed by Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane!*

Note: Purchase 8 or more tickets to receive BOTH frames. (Ex. 4 tickets to 2 games, 8 tickets to 1 game etc.)

To purchase tickets, click here and enter the promo code ISBA.

Blackhawks Home Preseason Games Offered:

• Thursday, Sept. 21 vs. Detroit at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 23 vs. Columbus at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 30 vs. Boston at 7:30 p.m.

Please contact Kevin Kowynia with the Chicago Blackhawks ticket office at 312-455-7191 with any questions

*Details regarding print pick-up will be communicated the week leading up to your game date. Prints are distributed at random. Autographed print giveaways are exclusive to this offer. Prints must be picked up at the preseason game purchased. 300 Level seats do not apply to the autographed print offer. Offer available while supplies last. 

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am a partner in a 12-attorney firm in Houston. The firm has five partners and seven associates. We are a first-generation firm and we, the partners, have never practiced in other law firms. Currently, the partners have equal ownership interests and are compensated equally. We are experiencing issues with the present method of partner compensation and we are giving some thought to considering other approaches. One of the issues that we are trying to wrap our heads around is how to measure each partner's performance, value, and overall contribution to the firm. Do you have any suggestions? 

Discover the importance of and best practice in construction escrow, lien waivers, and sworn statements with this one-hour online presentation on September 20, 2017. Construction law attorneys and real estate practitioners with intermediate practice experience who attend this seminar will learn: the proper payment system of the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act (know and follow it or pay twice for the same work); what to look for from a sworn contractor’s statement; and lien waivers and their accompanying statutory affidavits.

The seminar is presented by the ISBA Construction Law Section and qualifies for 1.0 hour MCLE credit.

Click here for more information and to register.