Don’t miss this four-part series that explores the housing access injustices suffered by individuals and families facing economic challenges across the spectrum and how their communities are being devastated. Part 2 in this series, which takes place as a live webcast on February 22, 2017, examines a number of housing issues, including: housing rights for victims of domestic and sexual violence; “Ban the Box” laws and background checks designed to screen out undesirable tenants; how the abuse of due process rights by landlords can lead to rejection of eligible applicants and eviction of tenants; when landlords can legally exercise their rights to evict tenants; what remedies wrongfully-evicted tenants can pursue; current efforts to educate the public about the legal remedy of expungement; and how the displacement of families from housing affects the quality of life for those families. The series is designed for practitioners in local government, criminal justice, human rights law, education law, family law, real estate, and/or consumer protection law at all levels of practice experience. The seminar is presented by the ISBA Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, and co-sponsored by the ISBA Standing Committee on Disability Law, ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law, and the ISBA Diversity Leadership Council. It qualifies for 2.0 hours MCLE credit.

 Click here for more information and to register.

The Illinois State Bar Association's Lawyer Finder Service provides referrals to local lawyers Mondays through Fridays. The Service makes referrals in a number of areas of law. For the month of January 2017, there were 1003 referrals. ISBA helped people in need of legal services find lawyers in the following areas:

By John E. Brennock

It is an unfortunate fact that some people are unable to obtain legal representation because of limited financial resources or the inability to qualify for or obtain pro bono representation. Those people likely would benefit from at least some attorney involvement in their matter, but often are forced to proceed pro se, and without legal knowledge and training, struggling to successfully handle their legal problem.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. We have a 12-attorney business litigation firm in Springfield. I am part of our three-member management committee and have been charged with helping the firm find and hire our first legal administrator. While we have a bookkeeper who handles our billing and accounting, the rest of the firm's management matters are handled by the management committee. We believe we have reached a size where we need help with managing day-to-day operations. What sort of skill set and type of person should we be looking for?

Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Carbondale attorney and ISBA Board of Governors member Carey C. Gill as an at large Circuit Judge in the First Judicial Circuit. Ms. Gill was appointed to fill the vacancy created when Judge James R. Moore was elected to the Fifth District Appellate Court in the November 2016 general election.

The appointment of Ms. Gill takes effect on February 17, 2017, and will conclude on December 3, 2018, when the vacancy will be filled by the winner of the November 2018 general election.

"I am thankful to Chief Justice Karmeier and the Supreme Court for appointing me to the Circuit Court,” Ms. Gill said. “I am honored to have this opportunity and recognize the great responsibility to both the profession and the community associated with serving on the bench.”

Chief Justice Karmeier recommended the appointment to the full Court following a review of applicants by a six-person screening committee, which included the Hon. Stephen Spomer, retired Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District; Tambra Kay Cain, Esq., Johnson County State’s Attorney; the Hon. Terry Foster, retired judge and attorney at Kruger, Henry & Hunter in Metropolis; attorney Kara Lynn Jones of Feirich, Mager, Green & Ryan, Carbondale; attorney Michael Oshel of the Harrisburg law firm Oshel Law, P.C.; and attorney William F. Sherwood of Southern Illinois Healthcare.

ISBA President Vincent F. Cornelius made the following statement on behalf of the association about the executive order on immigration issued by President Trump last Friday.

This past weekend the attention of the nation was captured by the newly implemented immigration policy of President Donald J. Trump. The effects are playing out at airports around the country, including Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

The State of Illinois and the city of Chicago are international hubs of business, travel and political influence, with vibrant and successful immigrant communities. Many Illinois lawyers provide important legal advice on immigration, and they and others in the Illinois legal community will be busy in the coming weeks helping immigrants, employers and other stakeholders to assess the impact of the President's executive order and to respond appropriately within the framework of the law.

At this pivotal moment in our nation's history, the Illinois State Bar Association will diligently monitor and assess developments and look for ways to play constructive roles in educating the public and convening the legal profession. At times like these, lawyers and the rule of law take on their greatest importance in our democracy. The ISBA will do its very best to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the President's order.

Update your knowledge on a number of advanced workers’ compensation issues with this full-day seminar on February 20, 2017 in either Chicago and Fairview Heights. Labor and employment attorneys and workers’ compensation practitioners attending this seminar will better understand: how orthopedic injuries are diagnosed and treated in workers’ compensation claims; the 2016 Appellate Court decisions that have impacted workers’ compensation law; how to avoid ethical dilemmas in your practice; how to present effective arguments before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission; American Medical Association evaluations and how they’re used in court; and claims of retaliatory discharge.

The program is presented by the ISBA Workers Compensation Law Section and qualifies for 5.50 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.

Palatine lawyer Kerry Lavelle offers best practices for attorney-client relationships. For more from Kerry, see his presentation at Solo & Small Firm Practice Institute in Moline on March 31.  

Justice John J. Stamos, who served as an Illinois Supreme Court Justice from 1988 to 1990, passed away on Saturday, January 28, in Northbrook. He was 92.

“On behalf of the Illinois Supreme Court, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family, friends and former colleagues of Justice John J. Stamos," Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier said. "Justice Stamos was an outstanding lawyer and judge who distinguished himself both on the appellate court and as a member of the Supreme Court of Illinois.

"Justice Stamos is perhaps best known as the author of In re Himmel,  125 Ill.2d 531(1989).  Decided in the wake of Operation Greylord, In re Himmel affirmed that all members of the Illinois bar are under an obligation to report lawyer misconduct or the misconduct of others directly observed in the practice of law or the administration of justice. The case has been cited hundreds of times in the legal literature and has had a profound and positive impact on how lawyers conduct themselves in Illinois and throughout the United States. The people of our State owe him a debt of gratitude for his unwavering commitment to the highest principles of justice. He will be missed."

Please save the date for the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Lawyers Rock presented by Meyers & Flowers on Thursday, March 16 at the Lincoln Hall in Chicago. Enjoy live music and lots of fun as lawyers rock out for justice. The proceeds of this event help the Illinois Bar Foundation ensure access to justice and support juvenile justice causes through the Foundation’s M. Denny Hassakis Fund. General Admission is $50 per person and includes food and two beer, wine or soda tickets, and VIP tickets are $100 per person and include food and beer, wine or soda throughout the evening. A limited quantity of reduced price YLD General Admission tickets are available for current ISBA YLD members.