Join us in Chicago on November 7^th for a discussion that explores the scope of the lawyer’s fiduciary and ethical boundaries when representing the fiduciary! Learn to manage fiduciary risk with this comprehensive discussion on the ethical challenges facing the lawyer and financial advisor who acts as fiduciary, as well as those who represent the fiduciary. Attorneys, financial advisors, and certified public accountants who attend this seminar will gain a better understanding of: the required duties of trustees, executors, and personal representatives;  how to appoint or remove a fiduciary from office; the fiduciary duties of the trustee; the red flags and ethical challenges that may arise when representing a fiduciary; and the scope of the lawyer’s fiduciary.

The program is presented by the ISBA Trusts & Estates Section and qualifies for 2.0 hours MCLE credit, including 1.25 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Can’t attend the live program in Chicago? The join us on the web! This program will broadcast live via the Internet so that attorneys can attend remotely from the comfort of their home or office.

Click here to register for the CHICAGO program.

Click here to register for the LIVE WEBCAST.

The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has recently issued regulations to take effect on January 2, 2013 that will regulate debt collection by lawyers. The press release announcing these rules may be found here, which also includes links to other information about it such as a copy of the regulations, a factsheet explaining them, and the Bureau's examination procedures for debt collections.

Please join us at the 15th Annual Holiday Party and show your support for the IBF/ YLD Children’s Assistance Fund. Initially created to assist with the opening of children’s waiting rooms in courthouses across the State of Illinois, the IBF/YLD Children’s Assistance Fund has since grown, and now provides funding to organizations across the State of Illinois that provide legal assistance to children, maintain children’s waiting rooms in courthouses, work to reduce recidivism of juveniles, and/or work to reduce the incidents of domestic violence in families with children. The YLD has raised more than $350,000.00 for the Children’s Assistance Fund over the past 14, due, in large part, to the widespread support and participation in our annual Holiday Party. We hope that you will help us continue this worthy tradition by joining us in person or, if you cannot attend, by contributing to the cause.

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.

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

WHAT: Open Bar, Warm Appetizers, and Live Music by Rod Tuffcurls & the Bench Press!

COST: $35 per person, for tickets purchased on or before Nov. 26, 2012;  Discount rate: $30 for law students, for tickets purchased on or before November 26, 2012; $40 per person, for tickets purchased after November 26, 2012

Join your fellow antitrust practitioners in Chicago on November 2^nd to view a real-time/live webcast of the Fourth Annual Great Lakes Antitrust Institute! The program uses remote access technology to stream live via the Internet from the Ohio State Bar Association to the ISBA Regional Office in Chicago!

The program is presented by the ISBA Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section and co-sponsored by the Ohio State Bar Association and the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum. It qualifies for 6.75 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour PMCLE credit (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.

Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride and the Illinois Supreme Court announced on Wednesday new statewide standards and new and amended Supreme Court rules that will allow all courts in Illinois to begin electronic filing of court documents in civil cases.

The budget problems in Illinois can never be fixed by slashing the already modest court budget, Illinois' chief justice says. While courts must be frugal, the other branches of government have a responsibility to fund our justice system adequately. Read more in the November Illinois Bar Journal.

The ISBA Board of Governors voted to support the Special Committee on Judicial Disqualification Standards proposed rule and special commentary at its meeting on Oct. 19. The special committee was organized by ISBA President John E. Thies in response to increasing public and professional attention to campaign contributions in judicial elections and the perception that such contributions may influence judicial decision making.

“I want to compliment the special committee’s hard work. I’d also like to thank the ISBA Board of Governors for unanimously passing the recommendation,” President Thies said. “If adopted by our Supreme Court, the new rule – which would amend the Code of Judicial Conduct – would be an important step toward enhancing public confidence in the judiciary.”

Asked and Answered

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

Q. We are an 8 attorney law firm in Evansville, Indiana. We have five members and three associates. We started our firm four years ago. Each member has an equal share for both ownership and compensation purposes. We cut the pie equally. After four years some of the members feel that the equal sharing approach is no longer working and we need to consider a different approach to compensation. I would appreciate your thoughts on how we might get started on modifying our approach.