The ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law will host a Celebrating the Power of Laughter in the Law Luncheon on March 8 at Maggiano’s Little Italy, 516 N. Clark. The Luncheon will feature Special Speaker Dr. Gail Stern, co-owner and chief academic officer of Catharsis Productions

Stern is an educator and curriculum developer with over 20 years of experience in violence prevention education and advocacy. She is the co-author of the non-stranger rape prevention program, SEX SIGNALS, which is presented over a thousand times at universities and military installations each year. She is also the author of the programs, The Canary in the Mine Shaft; Beat the Blame Game; Why They Fight the Facts; and, Moral Development: Sexual Assault Prevention in a Military Context. Dr. Stern earned her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, examining the role of humor in reducing the emotional and cognitive resistance to the subject of rape.

For more information, please visit www.isba.org/lol or contact Melissa Burkholder at MBurkholder@isba.org.

The deadline to register is Tuesday, March 3.

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for a Personal and Professional 2016

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

As 2015 comes to an end we begin with a clean slate for 2016. As with anything new - the uncertain future can be scary and exciting at the same time. Year-end provides an opportune time for reflection on the past year and setting goals for the next year - both personal and professional. Goal setting can improve your personal life and your practice.

Setting and achieving goals is one of the best ways to measure your life's and practice's progress and to create unusual clarity. The alternative is drifting along aimlessly with hope and a prayer.

I am a strong believer in the power of goals. This year I finished writing my book, The Lawyers Guide to Succession Planning published by the ABA which is scheduled to be released in January. I never would have even started, alone completed, such a project without very specific goals and timelines.

I strongly suggest that you established a few SMART goals for both your personal life and your practice for 2015 where each goal is: 

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the creation of a judicial college to provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary educational programs and professional development training to the state's judges and Judicial Branch employees.

Under the authority and governance of the Supreme Court, the Illinois Judicial College will consist of a seven-member Board of Trustees and six standing Committees. The formation of the Judicial College will take effect January 1, 2016.

The City of Chicago Independent Police Review Authority has a job posting for a licensed attorney. All applications must be made at the City of Chicago job website. The posting is due to come down January 4, 2016.

Justice Thomas L. Kilbride and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Moline attorney Joseph F. Fackel as a Circuit Judge in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.

Mr. Fackel was appointed by the Court to fill the vacancy created by Circuit Judge F. Michael Meersman, who retired at close of business on November 30, 2015. His appointment takes effect January 4, 2016 and will terminate on December 5, 2016, when the position is filled by the 2016 General Election.

Did you miss ISBA's live program on December 4, 2015? ISBA will be rebroadcasting individual segments from the seminar via the Internet throughout January and February so you can get the information you need on the upcoming changes to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act! Family law attorneys, child law practitioners, and general practice lawyers who attend this full-day seminar will better understand: how the revisions to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act and Parentage Act may affect your practice; the ethical considerations you need to be aware of based on the recent changes; the legislative changes that will impact custody and visitation, property and maintenance, continued support for children entering post-high school education, and attorney's fees; the civil procedure concerns for temporary relief, drafting complaints, and discovery issues; and much more. Each live webcast replay will be moderated by one of the speakers from the original seminar. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions in the Q&A panel throughout the program, which will be answered in real-time by the moderator.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am a partner in an eight attorney firm in downtown Chicago. Last week you participated in a discussion at an Illinois State Bar Association meeting where you indicated that four out of 10 of your law firm clients have had an employee embezzlement at some time or another. I would appreciate any thoughts you may have on how we can protect ourselves.

Fourth Circuit Judge Ronald Spears (left) was honored at a retirement party Dec. 18 in Taylorville. Judge Spears retired after 22 years of service in Christian County. ISBA Past President J. Timothy Eaton (right), Judge Spears' law school roommate, spoke in his honor.

Cook County Associate Judge William Edward Gomolinski ruled Monday that the switch from 12-person juries to six-person juries in civil trials is unconstitutional. Gomolinski wrote that language in the 1970 state constitution means the status quo from that period must remain barring a constitutional amendment.

Former Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill last December cutting the 12-person jury in half. The bill took effect in June.

The case is James Kakos, et. al. v. Jesse Butler, et al., 15 L 6691.

The First District Appellate Court has an opening for Assistant Legal Research Director. More information is available below and at http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Employment/Appellate/2015/Legal_Research_Asst_Dir_1st.asp