Awards Reflect First Stipend Increase for PILI Interns in 10 Years

The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) has announced that it will make $257,500 in grants to 26 public interest law organizations across Illinois in fiscal year 2016. These grants will provide stipends for 55 PILI Law Student Interns during the 2015-16 academic year and the summer of 2016 through PILI’s Law Student Internship Program. Students apply from law schools across the country to compete for these funded public interest law internship opportunities. Recipients work 400 hours during the summer or 200 hours during the school year serving low-income and underrepresented individuals and families with legal needs.

Want to get paid faster? First, always walk your client through the initial bill. Second, don't omit details or use shorthand abbreviations on your bills. Third, never delay sending your bill -- especially after a favorable outcome. Fourth, make it as easy as possible for your client to pay you (e.g., via credit card). Finally, the only thing better than being paid immediately after sending a bill is being paid in advance via a security retainer or an advance payment retainer. Find out more from the Clio blog and the September Illinois Bar Journal.

Cook County Circuit Judge LeRoy K. Martin Jr. will be the next presiding judge of the Criminal Division of the Cook County Circuit Court.

Chief Cook County Circuit Judge Timothy C. Evans announced the appointment today, which takes effect immediately. Martin succeeds Paul P. Biebel Jr., who retired in July.

“For the last 13 years, I have observed Judge LeRoy Martin emerge as a rising star in the judiciary,” Chief Judge Evans said.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am the owner of an estate planning practice in Chicago's northwest suburbs. I have two associates and four staff members. I am 67 and would like to retire when I am 70 (3 years). I have no idea as to where I should start and the approach I should take. I would appreciate suggestions.

Join us on Sept. 25 in Chicago or online for "Practical Information about New Models for Health Insurance: Types of Provider/Payor Arrangements including Provider Ownership of the Plan, Employer-Sponsored Coverage, and Private Exchanges."

Don’t miss this discussion regarding how health care providers and employers are changing the way they provide and arrange for health care. Health care providers and employers are reforming the way they provide health care for their prospective patients and employees, all in an effort to improve both quality of care and their bottom lines. Integrated health care delivery systems have been getting into the insurance business – a trend that could affect the health care delivery and reimbursement system for the foreseeable future – while employers are simultaneously pushing for innovative solutions to the skyrocketing costs of providing quality health care benefits to their employees. Attorneys representing health care providers, health insurers, and employers who offer health insurance plans to employees will benefit from attending this half-day seminar that discusses: the legal and operational issues of provider/health plan arrangements; fee-splitting prohibitions; Anti-Kickback and Self-Referral laws; the advantages and disadvantages of provider owned plans; how physicians and employers have responded to provider owned plans; the innovative approaches to employer-provided health plans; and ERISA, HIPAA, and COBRA compliance issues with employer-provided plans.

The program is presented by the ISBA Health Care Law Section and qualifies for 4.0 hours MCLE credit.

Judge Michael J. Chmiel brought the "Courtroom to the Classroom" program to members of the Huntley Rotary club this week. Approximately 100 judges and 100 attorneys across the state through the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association, donate their time to present facts about our government and to answer questions to enhance civic classes in our high schools and middle schools. ISBA President Umberto S. Davi has made it a priority to expand the "Courtrooms in the Classroom" program to adult groups such as Rotary Clubs, the VFW and the Jaycees.

Pictured: Judge Chmiel gave highlights from the Civics of Illinois outline provided to Huntley Rotarians including (from left) Rudi Welvers, Judge Chmiel, Jim Uszler, Ken Black and Jim Robinson on Sept. 10.

The Illinois Bar Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Illinois State Bar Association, will hold its 16th annual black-tie Gala fundraiser on Friday evening, October 16, 2015, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel, 120 E. Delaware Place, Chicago. During the event, ISBA Past President Todd A. Smith, founding partner of the personal injury law firm of Power Rogers & Smith, will receive the foundation’s 2015 Distinguished Award for Excellence.

Included in the ticket price of $500 per person is a reception, dinner and dancing to the Ken Arlen Orchestra. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call (312) 726-6072 or visit www.illinoisbarfoundation.org/#!2015gala/c2en.

Gala Co-Chairs

• Leonard Amari (Amari & Locallo)
• John Cooney (Cooney & Conway)
• Kevin Conway (Cooney & Conway)

Gala Board Co-Chairs

• Shawn S. Kasserman, (Tomasik, Kotin, Kasserman)
• Mark L. Karno (Mark L. Karno & Associates)

Holland & Knight announced Thursday that it has established a pro bono program for lawyers in financial need facing Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) proceedings. Called the “Attorney Defense Initiative,” the new program is the first of its kind in the nation.