ISBA member John Ahern of Chicago recently posted this query to the ISBA Trusts and Estates Section discussion group: "Client has no family and few friends. Client asks her attorney to be the agent on her powers of attorney and trustee on her trust and he agrees. Attorney creates the documents and discloses that he prepared them. He is not a beneficiary. Is there any specific prohibition that anyone is aware of for the attorney?"

Timothy S. Midura of Wheaton responded, saying this in part: "[There's no] 'prohibition.' [But have] your 'eyes wide open' for 1) any estate/beneficiary disputes that [the lawyer] might become a lightning rod for and 2) even higher (or highest) standards of fiduciary conduct/capability due to [being a member of the] legal profession. Bottom line: Be ready and able to do a superb job." Find out more in the March Illinois Bar Journal.

David Clark, a legal consultant and member of the ISBA's Standing Committee on Legal Technology, shows what gadgets every attorney should have when presenting demonstrable evidence.

Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Eleventh Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Pablo A. Eves as associate judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

Mr. Eves received his undergraduate degree in 1994 from the University of Missouri, and his Juris Doctor in 1998 from the University of Illinois. Mr. Eves is currently affiliated with the McLean County State's Attorney's Office in Bloomington.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am the owner of a solo practice located in the western Boston suburbs. I have been considering selling my practice. Do you see many practitioners selling their practices?

Nominations are being accepted for ISBA awards, most will be presented on June 19, 2015, at the Annual Awards Luncheon. Additional information is available at www.isba.org/awards

Law Enforcement Award: The 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. The award is given sparingly to recognize those who truly excel in the field of law enforcement. Nominations must be received by Friday March 6, 2015.

Diversity Leadership Award: The Diversity Leadership Award recognizes long standing, continuing and exceptional commitment by an individual or an organization to the critical importance of diversity within the Illinois legal community, its judiciary and within the Illinois State Bar Association. Nominations must be received by Friday, March 6, 2015.

Human Rights Section Gertz Award: The Gertz Award recognizes long-standing, continuing and exceptional commitment by an individual or an organization to the protection or advancement of Human Rights. Nominations must be received by Friday, March 6, 2015.

John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award: The award is named in memory of Rock Island attorney John McAndrews, who chaired the ISBA Committee on Delivery of Legal Services and is awarded to individual lawyers, law firms and corporate law departments, and bar associations. Nominations must be received by Friday, March 6, 2015.

The Hon. Lloyd A. Karmeier, Illinois Supreme Court Justice, 5th District, will be honored at the 2015 Lawyers’ Assistance Program Joseph R. Bartylak Award Dinner on Friday, April 17, at the Sangamo Club in Springfield. The keynote Speaker will be the Hon. Robert J. Anderson, incoming President of the Illinois Judges Association. The reception begins at 6 p.m. and dinner is at 6:30 p.m.

If you are an attorney representing plaintiffs with discrimination claims or a human rights lawyer with basic to intermediate practice experience, then you won't want to miss this live webcast on March 19, 2015 to learn how to avoid the pitfalls that result in a lost case due to a summary judgment motion, how to appeal various orders from the Illinois Human Rights Commission, and how to preserve the record for appeal!

The seminar is presented by the ISBA Human Rights Section and qualifies for 2.0 hours MCLE credit.

Click here for more information and to register.

Evanston Township High School’s team was victorious at the recent 19th Annual Northwest Suburban Bar Association Mock Trial Invitational. The contest was held on February 18, 2015 in the courtrooms of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Third Municipal District in Rolling Meadows. Twenty-four local high school teams, comprised of over 400 students, participated in this Invitational.

Kevin Kappock, Mock Trial Team Coach at Evanston High School was thrilled with his teams’ triumph.

“The NWSBA Mock Trial is one of the premier high school competitions in Illinois. Our team has always considered it a highlight of the season and we are thrilled to have been honored with this year’s first place. The NWSBA has consistently demonstrated an unsurpassed dedication to high school mock trials and the education of our students,” said Kappock.

St. Charles North High School took second place, finishing a mere six points out of first, and Chicago Christian High School landed third. Individual honors were awarded to Elena Von Stee from Timothy Christian High School for Outstanding Attorney and Lucia Garrett from Maine West High School for Outstanding Witness. The students were judged on a point-scale of not-effective (1) to outstanding (5) on various courtroom roles, from witness performance, direct exam by attorneys and cross and recross exam by attorneys.

Join ISBA members for a group admission to the Supreme Court of the United States on Monday, June 8, 2015 in Washington D.C.

Sign up by Friday, Feb. 27 for the ISBA's biennial trip to the U.S. Supreme Court! A special group hotel room rate is available at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel for the admittee, family and guests.

To be eligible, you must be an active lawyer member of the ISBA, admitted to practice more than 3 years, and not have any adverse disciplinary action pronounced or in effect during that 3-year period.