The basics of law firm billing are spelled out in Illinois Supreme Court Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5, which governs fees, says Charles J. Northrup, general counsel for the ISBA. But smart billing requires more than simply knowing the ins and outs of that rule.

For example, attorneys should keep in mind their clients' emotional state and put themselves in the clients' shoes, Northrup says. "I would want a lawyer to understand that for clients, receiving bills can be extremely stressful, and that the lawyer must be prepared to calmly discuss and respond to client questions or criticisms about bills - and make adjustments if necessary."

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride is seeking public comment on three attorneys who have applied to fill a resident Circuit Court vacancy in Whiteside County in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.

The vacancy will be created upon Circuit Judge John L. Hauptman's retirement, effective December 5, 2016. Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. Justice Kilbride uses an extensive application, evaluation and interview process to make recommendations to the full Court for judicial vacancies in the Third Judicial District.

The three attorneys who have applied to fill the vacancy are Colleen M. Buckwalter of Morrison, Trish A. Joyce of Sterling, and Associate Judge William S. McNeal of Morrison.

Naperville Police Officer Shaun Ferguson received a 2016 Law Enforcement Award from the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) and ISBA President Vincent F. Cornelius on September 20 during the Naperville City Council Meeting at Naperville City Hall.

The ISBA’s 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.

The first step in filing most federal employment discrimination claims is to file with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Your charge can be dismissed quickly or go through a lengthy process. Join us via Internet for a live webcast on October 6, 2016 to learn from an EEOC Investigator and an EEOC attorney as they explain the process in detail. Administrative law attorneys, labor and employment practitioners, lawyers working in corporate law, general practice attorneys, and young lawyers with basic practice experience who attend this online seminar will gain a better understanding of: how to file an EEOC charge; how to file the responsive position statement; the mediation opportunities; the investigation process; when and how legal becomes involved in a charge; the conciliation process in the event of a cause finding; and what the EEOC is looking for in cases it files.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am a relatively new attorney. I graduated three years ago from John Marshall Law School in Chicago. After law school I started with a small firm in the northern suburbs. Now with three years under my belt I am considering starting my own firm. I would appreciate your suggestions on how to get started.

The Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association are pleased to invite you to celebrate the profession and consider issues of mutual interest to the bench and bar during our annual Midyear Meeting (and joint meeting with the Illinois Judges Association). 

December 8-10, 2016

The Sheraton Grand Chicago
301 East North Water Street, Chicago, Illinois

The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier will be its next Chief Justice. Justice Karmeier was unanimously elected to the office by his fellow justices and will serve a three-year term commencing October 26, 2016. He succeeds Rita B. Garman, whose tenure as Chief Justice ends October 25, 2016. An installation ceremony honoring Justice Karmeier’s election as Chief Justice will be held at
the Supreme Court Building in Springfield on Monday, October 31. Justice Garman will
administer the oath of office.

Justice Karmeier will be this State’s 120th Chief Justice and the second person from Washington County to hold that office. Justice Byron O. House, for whom Justice Karmeier served as a law clerk, was the first.

“I appreciate the confidence shown by the other members of the court in electing me to this position,” said Justice Karmeier. “Since joining the court in 2004, I have had the privilege of serving under five different chief justices, all of whom have done an outstanding job. I will do my very best to live up to the high standard they have set.”

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed ISBA member Mauro Glorioso to be the new Chairman of the State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB).
Glorioso has been a member of the statewide five member board for eight years and was recently appointed its Chairman. Board members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Senate confirmed Glorioso’s appointment by a vote of 52-0.

“I am honored by Governor Rauner’s confidence in me to serve the Citizens of the State of Illinois as the Chairman of the PTAB," Glorioso said. "The PTAB exists to insure that the Taxpayers of the State have an avenue of relief to make certain that their real property assessments are fair and uniform.”

The PTAB provides that taxpayer service through the Administrative Law Process and does not charge to file cases at its offices. Cases are then assigned to administrative law judges (ALJ) to be heard and considered. A written decision is prepared which is reviewed by the board. The Board’s charge is to determine the correct assessed value of the property under consideration. It does not determine tax bills. Appeals can be made to the PTAB only after a board of review determination from any county in Illinois. Prior to becoming a board member, Glorioso served as an ALJ at the agency for eight years.

The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) is requesting proposals to provide general legal services to IMRF from law firms that qualify under Illinois law as businesses owned by minorities, females, or persons with a disability.

The RFP is available on the IMRF website at https://www.imrf.org/rfps

Proposals must be received no later than end of business day on October 7, 2016.