Asked and Answered

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

Q. I am an attorney in Chicago. I am the sole owner of an estate planning practice consisting of 4 other attorneys, 4 paralegals, and 2 administrative support staff members. We have reached a size where I am having problems handling and balancing the demands of serving my clients and managing my firm. It seems I am working day and night and have no time for anything but work. I am frustrated and it is driving my crazy? I would appreciate any thoughts that you may have.

The Illinois Bar Foundation will honor Rudolf G. Schade, Jr. of Cassiday Schade LLP at Gala 2012 on Oct. 19. The Gala will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. This year’s leadership includes John B. Simon of Jenner & Block and Todd A. Smith of Power, Rogers & Smith as Gala Chairs, as well as Perry J. Browder, of Simmons Firm and Peter J. Flowers of Foote, Meyers, Mielke & Flowers as Board Gala Chairs.

The night includes cocktails, live and silent auctions, a raffle, dinner & dancing and music by the Ken Arlen Orchestra.  To become a sponsor or purchase tickets, please call the IBF at 312.726.6072.

Our Thanks to the following Sponsors:

Partners

• Jerome Mirza Foundation
• The Simmons Firm

Live/Silent Auction Sponsor

• Cassiday Schade, LLP

VIP Reception Sponsor

• Russell K. Scott

Raffle Sponsor

• Foote, Meyers, Mielke & Flowers

Wine Sponsor

• ISBA Mutual Insurance Company

Champagne Sponsor

• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

Martini Bar Sponsor

• Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer & Shevlin, Ltd.

Program Book Sponsor

• Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc.

Valet Sponsor

Want to be part of the ISBA Lawyer Finder Service?  Call (800) 252-8908 and ask for the Legal Department, or visit www.illinoislawyerfinder.com

Clients should call (800) 922-8757.

Illinois State Bar Association President John E. Thies debated the merits of an ethics proposal that would allow nonlawyers to be owners of and share fees of law firms before the American Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division Assembly on Friday afternoon in Chicago. The ISBA Board of Governors passed a resolution in support of retaining a previously-adopted ABA policy that disallows such arrangements.

Thies debated former ABA President Tommy Wells on the issue. ISBA members Christopher Niro and ABA YLD Chair Michael G. Bergmann also spoke on behalf of the measure. The YLD Assembly voted 89-65 in support of ISBA's resolution. The issue is scheduled for consideration by the ABA House of Delegates on Monday, Aug. 6.

The resolution reaffirms the ABA policy – adopted in 2000 – that law firms shall not be owned by non-lawyers and legal fees shall not be shared with non-lawyers. Proposals that would change this policy have been circulated in connection with the work of the ABA’s Commission on Ethics 20/20.

The Illinois MCLE Reporting Period for Illinois Attorneys whose last name begins with A through M ended June 30, 2012. Did you miss the deadline? If so, ISBA has a number of programming options available to help you complete your requirement during the grace period! For a complete listing of over 100 electronic CLE options to choose from, please visit: isba.fastcle.com One-hour teleseminars and complimentary Fastcase webinars for ISBA members can be accessed here: www.isba.org/cle/upcoming

Be Sure to Check Out These Popular Seminars:

The New World of Educator Evaluations - LIVE Webcast

2.0 hours MCLE credit

Live Webcast – August 9, 2012 / 12:00 – 2:00 p.m

ISBA Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington reviews bills in Springfield of interest to ISBA members. In this episode he covers the Open Meetings Act, Post-judgment collection procedures, Medical records of deceased family members, Power of Attorney Act and Judicial Privacy Act. More information on each bill is available below the video.