Please join Paula H. Holderman, your 2013-14 ISBA President and her husband, for a weekend in Sonoma - Oct. 11-14, 2013. We will be there at the peak of the Harvest so every winery will be humming with activity and tastings!

She has chosen to stay at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in the heart of Sonoma, enabling you entree into Sonoma County's plethora of wineries. To insure an intimate weekend with friends and colleagues she has reserved only a few deluxe rooms at a special rate – and since this is over their Harvest, the rooms are much sought after. In addition to the finest hotel in the area, Paula has set aside Sunday night for a private tour and tasting at the Benziger Family winery followed by a sumptuous dinner in their wine cave. The trip includes all this and more for $1,582.00 per person, plus round trip air from your home city.

Note: this special rate at the Fairmont disappears on February 27, 2013.

Asked and Answered

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

Q. Our firm is a 14 attorney firm in central Iowa. We have one office in Des Moines and have been considering opening an office in another city. We represent business organizations and very few individual clients. I would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

Stay in touch with the recent statutory, regulatory, and case law changes concerning Illinois state and local taxes! State and local tax issues are regularly updated, and it is important that Illinois attorneys are aware of these changes. Join us in Chicago or via live webcast on February 21^st to get the information you need regarding advancements in statutory, regulatory and case law concerning Illinois state and local taxes with this informative half-day seminar. State and local tax attorneys – or any attorney with an interest in state tax practicing in law firms, industry or governmental agencies – with intermediate to advanced practice levels who attend this program will better understand: the Illinois Department of Revenue’s regulatory changes in Illinois income and sales tax; how recent modifications may affect property tax law; the recent developments and changes in local taxing bodies, including rules/regulations and operations; legislative developments in income, sales and other Illinois taxes; and the Illinois Department of Revenue’s policy position concerning statutory and regulatory changes.

The program is presented by the ISBA State and Local Tax Section and qualifies for 3.25 hours MCLE credit.

Click here for more information and to register for the CHICAGO program.

Click here for more information and to register for the LIVE WEBCAST.

ISBA members have accessed 1,084 downloads from the new free CLE program since it debuted on Jan. 1. The following programs have been the most popular:

• Admitting Facebook Information into Evidence
• Professional Responsibility, Professionalism and Technology Update
• New Medicaid Rules in Illinois

Here is what one member had to say about the new Free CLE member benefit:

“I have taken two of the free CLEs so far and I love them. You can sit there in a sweat suit and have a cup of coffee while you watch. Both topics were very well done and I love the convenience. This is a wonderful bonus to membership and it is very much appreciated,”

Sandra Thompson, Bloomington

Find out more about Free CLE at www.isba.org/freecle

ISBA President John E. Thies urges members interested in becoming an association leader to attend the upcoming Bar Leadership Conference May 3-4 at the ISBA's Chicago Regional Office. This conference is open to all members, but is targeted for up and coming leaders within our nearly 100 affiliated bar associations.

"It is not often we devote an entire issue to a single topic," editor John Phipps writes in the latest ISBA General Practice section newsletter. "This article by Katherine Chamberlain on the Illinois Transfer on Death Instrument for residential real estate provides us that opportunity." The article includes a helpful checklist and -- best of all -- much sought-after sample TODI forms. Read it here.

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 Grafton on February 18^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.

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

Click here for more information and to register.

The Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County has posted a notice that there are five vacancies in the office of associate judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Applications are being accepted for these vacancies, as well as additional vacancies which may occur during the nomination process, the will be filled by vote of the Circuit Judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Any attorney who is a U.S. citizen, a resident of Cook County and licensed to practice law in Illinois may apply by completing two signed originals of the application prescribed by the Director of the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts to the address below:

• Michael J. Tardy, Director
• Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
• 222 N. LaSalle Street, 13th Floor
• Chicago, Illinois 60601

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2013. An application can be obtained from the Offices of the Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, 50 W. Washington, Room 2600, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago, IL 60602. Applications may also be obtained from the Illinois Supreme Court's website at http://www.state.il.us/court/Administrative/Forms/Assoc_Judge/default.asp.

Applications may not be submitted electronically or via facsimile. At the close of the application process, the Director shall certify to the Chief Judge a list of those applications who have timely filed and provide a copy of those applications.

Twenty local and specialty bar associations have made contributions and/or created teams to participate in the Lawyers Feeding Illinois program. This program aims to raise a million meals for needy Illinois families. Many bar associations are also matching contributions. Sign up your team or bar association today at www.lawyersfeedingil.org.