ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews bills in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers Body attachments and child support (House Bill 2473), Juvenile Court Act (House Bill 3172), Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act (Senate Bill 2306), Medical cannabis (House Bill 1), Juvenile court jurisdiction (House Bill 2404) and Real estate documents and thumbprints (House Bill 2269). More information on each bill is available below the video.

Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko (middle) received the 2013 Law Enforcement Award from the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) at a luncheon and awards presentation held during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, on April 23, at the Gurnee Park District, Viking Park Hall, in Gurnee. ISBA Executive Director Robert Craghead (left) presented the award.The event was sponsored by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association.

The ISBA’s 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. It is given sparingly to recognize those who truly excel in the field of law enforcement. 

In addition to fulfilling his professional duties, Chief Filenko has made numerous other contributions to the community where he works and lives. As the Commander of Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, he has fostered an extraordinary level of cooperation between task force members and the 35 communities it serves. He is a past president of the Lake County Chiefs of Police and chair of its Police Gang Committee.

Clerk of the Circuit Court Keith S. Brin is proud to announce the Public Access System developed by his office has gone live today. They Public Access System can be accessed through the Clerk of the Circuit Court's Website www.lakecountyil.gov/CircuitClerk/Pages/default.aspx or directly at circuitclerk.lakecountyil.gov/publicAccess/jsp/common/index.jsf 

Part-one of a two-part initiative developed by Brin who just marked his first hundred days in office, the Public Access System provides a secure way for individuals to obtain basic information on any court case in Lake County -- from checking on a future court date and amounts due, to parties involved in a case. The second of Brin's two-pronged initiative, Electronic Filing, will be launched for public use this fall.

"It's not an 8:30 to 5:00 world anymore, we live in an age of technology and information." said Brin. "In the private sector companies implement technology to remove barriers and make doing business easier, less expensive and more efficient for the customer -- this is exactly what my office has done with the implementation of the Public Access System," the Circuit Clerk explained.

More than 600 new attorneys were admitted to practice in Illinois on Thursday with Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court presiding and administering the attorney’s oath at five separate locations.

All of the candidates have passed the Illinois state bar examination, an ethics examination, and have been certified by the Committee on Character and Fitness.

The largest group (467) was admitted in the First Judicial District at the Arie Crown Theatre. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Freeman presided, with Justices Anne M. Burke and Mary Jane Theis participating.

Appellate Court Justice Maureen E. Connors from the First Judicial District made the motion to admit the class.

The 668 men and women certified as candidates were sworn in as Illinois attorneys at ceremonies in the five Supreme Court judicial districts.

The other ceremonies included:

In 2008, if a person wanted to study at the John Marshall Law School, she'd have to navigate her way to downtown Chicago, lugging heavy books and wearing something a little more formal than pajamas, to attend live lectures in a classroom setting.

Five years later, JMLS offers more online LL.M. degrees than any other accredited U.S. law school, allowing lawyers anywhere in the world to expand their legal educations from the comfort of their own homes, day or night, wearing whatever clothing feels best.

Loyola University Chicago School of Law also offers an online LL.M. degree and, according to National Jurist, Loyola is the only school in the country with an online degree in health law. Find out more in the May IBJ.