Don’t miss this annual event in Quincy on Friday, March 27, 2015 that helps you strengthen your professional excellence, while updating your knowledge in a number of general practice areas! Topics include: search and seizure, guardians ad litem, legal writing, elder abuse, eavesdropping, courtroom administration, employment law updates, and medical marijuana. General practice attorneys with basic to intermediate levels of experience will benefit from attending this informative seminar.

The seminar is presented by the ISBA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section and co-sponsored by the Adams County Bar Association. It qualifies for 6.0 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am the managing partner of a 17-attorney firm in San Francisco. We have a firm administrator that we hired four years ago and he manages our financial and HR matters. I haven't a clue as to what goes on financially and this is becoming more of a concern for me and my other partners. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

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 March 13 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.

The 21st Judicial Circuit, Iroquois and Kankakee Counties, Illinois, is seeking individuals interested in becoming approved mediators for non-divorce civil cases. The qualifications necessary in order to be approved as a mediator may be found at www.co.kankakee.il.us/21stJudicial/pdf/Rules.pdf

For further information and/or to request an application, interested parties may call:  Adrianne Haley 815/937-2915  or e-mail ahaley@k3county.net or send completed applications to:

• Chief Judge’s Office/ Attn: Adrianne
• Room 203 B
• 450 E. Court St.
• Kankakee, IL 60901-3917

Applications can also be found at the above internet link and sent to the same addresses listed above.

Join us from the comfort of your home or office on March 25, 2015 for this live webcast that increases your knowledge of seizures and penalties in the import/export process, as well as the changes in the law regarding the new Trek Leather decision, which expands individual liability. International and immigration attorneys, business lawyers, commercial practitioners, and those working in the import/export industry – with basic to intermediate practice – attending this online seminar will better understand: what you should know about the increase in seizures of goods and penalties by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Customs’ penalty regimes under 19 U.S.C. Section 1526, 1592(a), and 1595(a); how U.S. v. Trek Leather expanded individual liability; how to successfully mitigate Customs penalties; why you should disclose Customs violations before Customs learns of them; and how recent court decisions may alter your advice to clients.

The seminar is presented by the ISBA International & Immigration Law Section and qualifies for 1.50 hours MCLE credit.

Click here for more information and to register.

Chief Judge Kathryn E. Creswell has announced that as of March 2, 2015, the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in DuPage County has dedicated Courtroom 3005 as a full time Pro Se (self-represented) courtroom for Domestic Relations matters. Judge Elizabeth Sexton will be presiding. The Pro Se Courtroom will focus on families of married or previously married couples. The Hon. Blanche Hill Fawell, Presiding Judge of Domestic Relations states "This program fits seamlessly with the Illinois Supreme Court mandate for access to justice for self-represented litigants."

The ISBA Marketing & Communications Committee invites ISBA members to march in the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 14. Members can meet the committee at the ISBA Chicago Office, 20 S. Clark, Ste. 900 or join the committee at the parade site, Columbus and Balbo. The exact ISBA parade number will be released the week of the parade.

Contact Chris Bonjean at cbonjean@isba.org if you would like to participate.

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.