The right to trial by jury, though secured by our federal constitution, is meaningful only if jurors have a clear understanding of what they are to decide and which legal principles should guide their decision. Attorneys who try civil cases before juries in Federal Court need to understand the “ins and outs” of the various legal rules and issues that present themselves when drafting and using jury instructions. Join us on May 20^th for this online seminar that offers a basic understanding of the federal civil practice and local federal court rules that address jury instructions, including how to draft and when to use jury instructions, protecting against instruction error, and preserving jury issues for appeal.

The program is presented by the ISBA Federal Civil Practice Section and qualifies for 2.0 hours MCLE credit.

Click here for more information and to register.

SAVE 25% on ISBA books, Fastbooks and merchandise* in the ISBA Bookstore, good May 11-22!

ISBA books are a great resource to help save you time and money. They cover a wide range of subjects, including evidence, family law, real estate, criminal law, practice management, and many more.

The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the 2013 pension law on Friday, ruling it unconstitutional. Justice Karmeierdelivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. Chief Justice Garman and Justices Freeman, Thomas, Kilbride, Burke, and Theis concurred in the judgment and opinion, which can be found at http://illinoiscourts.gov/Opinions/SupremeCourt/2015/118585.pdf

Member Appreciation Month is the ISBA’s opportunity to make the point: Your success is ours. We’re recognizing that fact and the occasion with a gift from our sponsor ISBA Mutual Insurance Companythat we trust will advance your use of technology in managing your practice and serving your clients.

The gift is an eBook, “The Road Ahead: What Lawyers Need to Know About Technology in Their Office Today and Tomorrow,” developed by ISBA Mutual for its 2014 Risk Management Conference.

The materials are normally available exclusively to lawyers and firms insured by ISBA Mutual.

It shares how to:

• Identify and avoid ethical landmines.
• Secure information on your tablets and phones.
• Benefit from “cloud computing” with safe and secure practices.
• Avoid the professional pitfalls of websites, email and social media.
• Understand the technology implications of ABA changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct for Illinois lawyers.

ISBA Mutual shares the ISBA’s commitment that members are equipped to understand and follow legal best practices. That’s why it sponsors the ISBA’s Free Online CLE, the Solo & Small Firm Practice Institute Series, Fastcaseresearch tools and so many other ISBA programs.

The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) requests proposals from attorneys/law firms to act as hearing officer for the Board of Trustees in administrative hearings. IMRF anticipates that the contracts to be awarded will be for a two (2) year period, with a possible one (1) year extension, at IMRF’s option.

In order to be considered for selection, proposals must be received via e-mail in Adobe Acrobat or Word format no later than June 15, 2015, 4:30pm CST.

Find out more and download the full RFP at www.imrf.org/en/about-imrf/procurement/bid-schedule

You are invited to attend ISBA’s upcoming Free Live CLE Webcast as part of our Member Appreciation Month.

Seating is limited so register today!

Learn how to evaluate and address risk in your law practice with this one-hour live webcast!

Join us as legal ethics lawyer, litigator and law firm practice professor, Michael Downey, shows you 15 areas of your practice that are in need of immediate assessment, including employee engagement and compensation, client intake, client communication, handling of client funds and property, marketing your practice and developing new business, dealing with unhappy and dangerous clients – and much more!

Michael Downey of the Downey Law Group, LLC has represented lawyers on disciplinary and malpractice matters in Missouri and Illinois, and has taught legal ethics and law firm practice to thousands of lawyers, as well as to law students as an adjunct professor at both Washington University and St. Louis University.

The program closes as a representative from ISBA Mutual Insurance Company provides a brief overview of the claims process and answers your questions.

*Professional Responsibility MCLE credit subject to approval

PROGRAM SPEAKERS:

Michael P. Downey, Downey Law Group LLC, St. Louis

Representative, ISBA Mutual Insurance Company, Chicago

While licensed Illinois attorneys no longer have to worry about passing the bar exam, future exam takers will face a tougher passing score, also known as the "cut score." Fortunately for them, it isn't as tough as the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar originally intended.

The Board had not raised the bar exam's passing score since 1994, when it was increased to 264 out of a possible score of 400. After evaluating average scores across both the multiple choice and written portions of the exam, the Board found that an increase in the passing score was necessary.

Regina Kwan Peterson, the Board's director of administration, compares the recalibration of the passing score to the recentering of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which had remained unchanged since 1941. "These sorts of things don't happen often," she says.

In July 2015, the minimum passing score will be raised to 266. Instead of the next increase taking effect in 2016, the new schedule increases the score for the July 2017 exam to 268. Find out more in the May Illinois Bar Journal.

James F. McCluskey of Lisle won the race for third vice-president of the Illinois State Bar Association, and Jessica A. O’Brien of Chicago, Kent A. Gaertner of Wheaton, Rory T. Weiler of St. Charles, and Dennis J. Orsey of Granite City won contested races for seats on the ISBA Board of Governors. Sonni Choi Williams of Peoria and Charles Davis of Springfield won uncontested Board seats.

Here is the full Tellers report for the 2015 ISBA election:

CONTESTED RACES (winners in bold)

For Third Vice-President – 1 to be elected

Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court administered the attorney’s oath to 600 new attorneys on Thursday, May 7 at five separate locations across the state.

The largest group, 403, were admitted in the First Judicial District during three ceremonies at the James R. Thompson Center Assembly Hall, 100 W. Randolph St. in Chicago. The ceremonies were held at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Justice Anne M. Burke presided over the 9 a.m. ceremony in the First District. Guests of the morning ceremony included Thomas A. Clancy, of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar; Celestia L. Mays, president of the Cook County Bar Association; and Anita DeCarlo, president of the Justinian Society who moved for admission of the class.

Justice Charles Freeman and Appellate Justice Cynthia Cobbs presided over the 11:30 a.m. ceremony. Guests of the second First District ceremony included: Sheila B. Kennedy, of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar; Illinois State Bar Association President Richard D. Felice; and John Litchfield, president of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association.