Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will be the keynote speaker at a noon luncheon on Friday, December 13, during the Midyear Meeting of the Illinois Judges Association and Illinois State Bar Association at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, 301 E. North Water Street.

The joint meeting, to be held December 12-14, will include the annual Illinois Bar Foundation Fellows Awards Breakfast on Friday at 7:30 a.m. IBF will honor Ruben Castillo, chief judge for the Northern District of Illinois, with the “Honorary Fellows Award,” and Roger G. Fein, a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, with the “Distinguished Service to Law and Society Award.”

Two joint IJA/ISBA programs will be presented on Friday morning: “The Pitfalls of Running for Judicial Office” and “The Intersection of Technology and Law: The Impact of Social Media, Mobile Devices, the Internet and More.” Additionally, the ISBA will conduct two Master Series CLE seminars featuring nationally acclaimed speaker, Steven Stark, on “Speaking to Win: Building Effective Communication Skills” and “Legal Writing in the Smartphone Age.”

The ISBA and The Chicago Bar Association will co-host a reception and dinner Friday evening for the Illinois Supreme Court, with remarks delivered by Chief Justice Rita B. Garman. The ISBA Assembly will convene on Saturday morning.

For further information or to register, visit www.isba.org/jointmeeting.

The ISBA recently issued formal opinions on legal matters involving "foreign" immigration lawyers, municipal prosecutors and adjudicators, and attorney communications with governmental officials who are represented by counsel. Find out more in the December IBJ.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am a non-equity partner in a small law firm in Washington D.C. I have been with the firm for 15 years and there is no opportunity to become an equity partner. I am thinking about going out on my own. If there were one first step that I should take what would it be?

Mediation is designed to resolve differences both in and out of the courts. It requires a very different mindset than courtroom litigation. Join us in Chicago on January 13^th for this week-long mediation training and learn how to resolve conflicts in a non-adversarial, non-confrontational manner, allowing peaceful resolutions between parties.

The program is taught by Richard Calkins and Fred Lane– two nationally recognized mediators, authors and educators. Until 20 years ago, both Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane were well-known and highly regarded litigators. Since then, however, they have successfully mediated over 5,000 cases.

Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane have developed an approach that encourages the mediator to be a peacemaker, deemphasizing the antagonism involved in formal litigation. This five-day course has considerable hands-on training and requires each participant to complete two full mediations as a mediator. Course topics include an introduction to mediation, caucus form of mediation, qualities of a peacemaker, ethical considerations, other Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, advanced mediator techniques, and arbitration.

The program qualifies for 40.0 hours MCLE credit, including 40.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.

Please join us at the 16th Annual Holiday Party and show your support for the IBF/ YLD Children's Assistance Fund. Tickets can no longer be purchased online, but will be available at the door.

WHEN: Friday, December 6, 2013, 6:00pm-10:00pm

WHERE: Cubby Bear Lounge, 1059 W. Addison, Chicago, Illinois

WHAT: Open Bar, Warm Appetizers, and Live Music by Stache!

COST: $40 per person, available for purchase at the door

Illinois State Bar Association President Paula H. Holderman presented on authentic networking for young lawyers on Nov. 14 at the John Marshall Law School. President Holderman has made issues facing new and young lawyers a key focus of her presidency.

Pictured with President Holderman is John Marshall Associate Dean Margaret Frossard (center) and event attendees.

By Emily Vock and Eric Bulman, Land of Lincoln Assistance Foundation, Champaign

As our nation takes time to reflect on the sacrifices of veterans and celebrate their heroism, the legal community would be remiss if they did not stop to consider what we can do to give back to the men and women who have selflessly served our country.

The Joint Midyear Meeting will kick off Thursday night with the opening reception and will be followed by "Pathways to the Academy: Becoming a Law Professor or Administrator." Two Master Series programs will be held on Friday and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will be the luncheon speaker. New Chief Justice Rita Garman will speak at the Annual Supreme Court Dinner. Register at isba.org/events/midyear/13/reg See you at the Midyear!

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced that, for a limited time, Illinois-based corporate counsel who failed to obtain a required limited law license will now be able to obtain that limited license without the risk of discipline. The program is effective January 1, 2014 and will expire one year later.