Complimentary Program for ISBA Members in the first 5 years of practice!

New attorneys....did you know that your first year of membership with ISBA is free and automatic? Jump start your new Illinois legal career by attending this outstanding Basic Skills professional responsibility course in Chicago on January 20, 2017 that’s designed to equip you with the information you need as a new Illinois attorney, as well as help you begin to fulfill your Illinois Supreme Court Newly Admitted Attorney requirement (S. Ct. Rule 793). Our faculty of high-profile attorneys and judges offers insights, tips, and advice on the issues you face in your practice. The program closes with an in-depth look at the questions you need answered and issues you need help with as a new attorney. Attire is business casual.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke has begun an application process for a judicial vacancy in the Second Subcircuit of Cook County.

The vacancy was created by the resignation of Circuit Judge James L. Rhodes. Judge Rhodes had served as a judge since 1996. His resignation took effect December 6, 2016.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride has announced an application process for appointment to an at large circuit judge vacancy in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.

The vacancy will be created by Circuit Judge Daniel J. Rozak's retirement, effective at noon on January 16, 2017. The term of office is until December 3, 2018, when the position will be filled by the November 2018 election.

The ISBA Springfield and Chicago offices will be closed for the holidays beginning Thursday, December 22 at 3 p.m. The offices will reopen on January 3, 2017.

On behalf of the ISBA staff, we wish you all happy holidays and best wishes in the new year.

Full-time opportunities exist to pursue a career as a Marine Corps Judge Advocate. Marine Corps Judge Advocates are immediately given the responsibilities of maintaining their own caseloads and advising Marines on legal issues. Additionally, they are trained as Marine officers.

Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a Resident Circuit Court vacancy in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Chief Judge Dan L. Flannell on January 13, 2017. Judge Flannell has been a Resident Circuit Judge since 1988.

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursdays's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the criminal case People v. McDonald and the civil cases Schweihs v. Chase Home Finance, LLC and In re M.I. 

CRIMINAL

People v. McDonald

By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender

Defendant Stanley McDonald stabbed his partner, Larry Gladney, resulting in Gladney’s death.  A paramedic who had responded to the scene testified that Gladney was very combative as they tried to treat him.  Gladney smelled of alcohol and had needle track marks indicative of drug use.  Later testing showed a BAC of .19 and cocaine in Gladney’s system.  Gladney died two days later, with the cause being a stroke resulting from a stab wound to his right cheek which had damaged his carotid artery and caused a blood clot.

At its December 10 meeting, the ISBA Assembly approved the recommendations of the ISBA Task Force on the Future of Legal Services, voted to support adoption of the Uniform Bar Exam in Illinois, and endorsed legislation and an ethics rule change to expressly authorize collaborative process. The Assembly also voted to oppose adoption of ABA Model Rule 8.4(g), an anti-discrimination provision that critics regard as too subjective.

Futures report. The futures task force grew out of concern about the creation of court-licensed nonlawyer legal service providers, also know as LLLTs, in Washington state (for more, see the September 2015 Illinois Bar Journal cover story). The task force recommends against the adoption of an LLLT program in Illinois.

The group also studied broader challenges to the profession, including the rise of internet-based legal service providers, the impact of technology on legal practice, and the increasing number of self-represented litigants. The task force recommends that the ISBA create a consumer-oriented lawyer directory, provide technology and practice-management education and resources to members, and establish a standing committee on the future of legal services, among other measures. The report and recommendations will be the subject of the January 2017 Illinois Bar Journal cover story.

Ian Sharping of the City Colleges of Chicago discusses the benefits and challenges of pro bono work.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. Our firm is a 14-attorney general practice firm located in Dayton, Ohio. Two of our attorneys focus their practice on personal injury defense and the others are transactional attorneys. While the practice is doing well overall, our litigation work is dropping off. I would appreciate any ideas that you have pertaining to marketing a litigation defense practice.