Asked and Answered

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

Q. We are an 18-attorney firm based in Tucson, Arizona. Our practice is a boutique general liability defense firm. Our clients tend to be self-insured large corporations and smaller business firms. Currently all of our clients are billed by the hour. Recently, we have been discussing whether we should propose an alternative billing approach to our clients. We would be interested in your thoughts.

Still wondering what IllinoisBarDocs is and how it will help you practice more efficiently? Then follow the instructions below to view a complimentary program at your convenience and earn 1 hour of CLE credit. Presented by law practice management expert Barron Henley, the program not only explains what IllinoisBarDocs is and how it works, but also covers a number of other time-saving document drafting techniques.

And don’t forget that IllinoisBarDocs’ promotional pricing ends on March 31, 2016!

Order now and get an annual subscription for $150/year or a monthly subscription for $20/month.  On April 1, the price of an annual subscription will increase to $199/year.

To access your complimentary recording of IllinoisBarDocs: The Ultimate Efficiency Tool - Introduction to ISBA's New Document Assembly System follow the below steps:

Join us from the comfort of your home or office on April 7, 2016 for two live webcasts that were developed for general practitioners who do not ordinarily advise clients on issues involving environmental law, but who need an introductory look at these topics.

Part One - A Thumbnail Sketch of Environmental Law | 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Don’t miss Part One of the Environmental Law for the General Practitioner Series, which offers a basic overview of the general principles on the application of environmental law and the interplay between state and federal agencies.

View Illinois State Bar Associations' judicial ratings by county for Tuesday's primary election.

Chief Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for an At-Large Circuit Court vacancy in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Arnold F. Blockman on September 16, 2016. Judge Blockman has been an At-Large Circuit Judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit since 1996.

Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. The application process will lead to the final Court approval. Applicants will undergo an evaluation and screening process.

Notice of the vacancy has been posted in the courthouses throughout the Circuit. The application form and instructions may be obtained by visiting the Illinois Supreme Court’s website at www.illinoiscourts.gov and following the instructions in the “Latest News” scroller announcing the Sixth Judicial Circuit vacancy.

Deadline for submission of an application is Friday, April 1, 2016.

ISBA is excited to announce a free Resume Critique service. Job seekers have the option to request a free, confidential resume evaluation from a professional resume expert and writer from TopResume.

Job seekers can opt-in to the Resume Critique feature during the resume upload process and within the resume management section of the Job Seeker’s account. Within 48 hours of opt-in, a detailed, custom email will be sent outlining his or her resume’s specific strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions to ensure the job seeker has the best chance of getting interviewed!

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed James R. Mendillo of Belleville to serve as the Chair of the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (ARDC). The ARDC is the Supreme Court agency that investigates allegations of lawyer wrongdoing in Illinois. His appointment was effective on January 1, 2016. Mr. Mendillo will preside over the next Commission meeting, set for April 15, 2016.

Mr. Mendillo is a partner in the Belleville firm of Freeark, Harvey, and Mendillo, PC. He is licensed to practice law in both Illinois and Missouri.