Are you familiar with the updated Illinois and federal estate and income tax laws? Do you know how to best represent your client before the ICC when a utility files a petition to construct a new transmission line? Do you understand the importance eminent domain has on negotiating compensation during a pipeline easement acquisition? Join us in Bloomington-Normal on February 7^th for a fuller understanding of the law and practice affecting these issues, including: whether a credit trust is still viable under the new tax bill; income tax issues, including IRS regulations and court cases as they relate to agricultural pursuits; rapidly deploying high-voltage overhead transmission line easement projects, pipeline easements, and the best ways to negotiate for farm owners’ interests; fracking issues that can arise with long-reach horizontal drilling and modern hydraulic fracturing; changes to the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act; food safety law and food labeling; and new law office technology, social media, and ethical issues to avoid when using social media as an advertising and communication tool.

The program is presented by the ISBA Agricultural Law Section and qualifies for 6.5 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.

ISBA President Paula H. Holderman discusses the Cook County Court's new Elder Law Division with Judge Patricia Banks, who was recently appointed presiding Judge of the new Elder Law and Miscellaneous Remedies Division.

The Illinois Supreme Court has issued Amended Rules 15 and 138 regarding confidential information within court filings. Among other changes, the amendments delay the effective date of key personal identity provisions in Rule 138 one year to January 1, 2015. The full text of the Amended Rules is available at www.state.il.us/court/supremecourt/rules/Amend/2013/122413.pdf

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois is seeking a part time temporary Pro Se Law Clerk (20 hours per week). This temporary position is for one year and one day and may be extended but may not exceed four years, unless it becomes permanent. The Pro Se Law Clerk provides legal advice and assistance to the court in connection with prisoner petitions and complaints. The successful candidate for this position will report to the Chief Judge in the East St. Louis courthouse and may qualify for regular, recurring, or ad hoc telework. Click here to view the full job description

POSITION: Pro Se Law Clerk, Part Time Temporary*
VACANCY NUMBER: 2013-07
SALARY RANGE: $57,408 (JSP 11/1) to $125,695 (JSP 14/10), depending on qualifications**
DATE POSTED: December 23, 2013
CLOSING DATE: January 17, 2014, at noon
* Position may become full time and/or permanent without further competition
** Salary range is divided in half for part time position

Beginning in January 2014, the Free Online CLE benefit will expand to include all 525+ hours of archived FastCLE programming from which members can choose.
All eligible ISBA members can earn up to 15 MCLE credit hours, including 6 PMCLE credit hours, per bar year; enough to meet the 30 hour MCLE requirement over a 2 year period! This is included with membership, at NO EXTRA COST.

An Illinois State Bar Association member benefit sponsored by ISBA Mutual Insurance Company

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil cases Hooker v. The Retirement Board of the Firemen’s Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago, American Access Casualty Co. v. Reyes, and The Venture-Newberg-Perini, Stone & Webster v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission and the criminal cases In re Danielle J. and People v. Brown.

CIVIL

Hooker v. Retirement Board of the Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago

By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. Reagan, Ottawa

This case resolved the issue of whether annuities paid to the widows of two Chicago firemen who suffered duty-related injuries and later died should have included “duty availability pay,” which had never been received by these decedents, in the calculation of the amounts. The calculation of an annuity is to be based on “the current annual salary attached to the classified position to which the fireman was certified at the time of his death.” The court noted that the amount of the annuity does not depend on the fireman’s actual salary during his career. “Duty availability pay” is paid on a quarterly basis to all firemen, except certain employees assigned to platoon duty.

The Illinois State Bar Association was recognized for its Lawyers Feeding Illinois program at the Assembly meeting on Dec. 14. ISBA President Paula H. Holderman received an commemorative plate from Jim Hires, board chair of Feeding Illinois and executive director of the Eastern Illinois Food Bank. ISBA Immediate Past President John Thies and his wife Terry were also on hand to receive the plate. Lawyers Feeding Illinois was an initiative during Mr. Thies’ presidency of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) in 2012-13 and Terry Thies served as the ISBA Chair of the statewide effort

During the campaign, the ISBA exceeded its goal of raising 1 million meals:  lawyer teams and more than 2,000 donors  raised more than 4.6 million meals. Attorney General Lisa Madigan supported the campaign, along with Illinois judges, who placed collection containers for non-perishable food items in courthouses in all parts of the state. Additional financial support for the project came from Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund and ISBA Mutual Insurance Company. Numerous local, ethnic and specialty bar associations also participated.

The Illinois Bar Foundation has launched a fellowship program to benefit both new law school graduates and low-income residents who need access to the civil justice system.

During this initial year, the Foundation will partner with three Illinois Law Schools and share the cost of salary and benefits with participating law schools so each can hire a recent graduate to work in that school’s civil legal aid clinic. The law school will select and employ the student and the IBF hopes to match selected graduates with mentors that can help the young attorneys develop.

ISBA President Paula H. Holderman and the ISBA leadership team would like to thank you for your loyalty to our organization and would like to wish you a wonderful holiday and a bountiful new year.

Sam's Club is offering lower prices on the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s with activation. ISBA members also receive discounts on Sam's Club memberships (see below).

ISBA members can join or renew as a Sam's Club^® member and receive up to a $25 gift card. Join or renew as a Sam's Plus Member and receive a $25 gift card; join or renew as a Sam's Savings or Sam's Business Member and receive a $10 gift card.

Join/renew at the Sam's PLUS Membership and receive several benefits such as their Instant Savings Plus where your discounts are focused on items in the fresh areas and Member's Mark or Simply Right items; early shopping hours beginning at 7:00 a.m. M-S; and discounts in both Optical and Pharmacy. Or choose a Sam's Savings or Sam's Business Membership and, in addition to a year of exceptional value, enjoy time-saving services in-club and online.

• Offer is good for anyone (ISBA member/employee) joining between now and October 2014.
• You can renew up to 90 days out.

The offer is valid for memberships issued in-club only and is not valid online. Please print the ISBA Sam's Club Certificate (login required) and bring it with you.