Legislative updateReal Estate Law, October 2009A legislative note of interest to real estate law practitioners.
Legislative updateChild Law, September 2009A summary of recent legislation of interest to child law practitioners.
Legislative updateBy Kyle RomingerEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, February 2009An overview of environmental legislation signed into law in 2008.
Legislative update: What to expect beginning January 1, 2010By Susan Dawson-TibbitsElder Law, December 2009The Illinois General Assembly recently passed two bills that will have an impact on our elderly clients. Both of these bills become law as of January 1, 2010.
Less is more: Lessons from BLINKBy J.A. SebastianBench and Bar, April 2009The book, BLINK: THE POWER OF THINKING WITHOUT THINKING, was published in 2005 and asks the questions: How valid is a first impression? What factors are considered? How often (who has time?) do we even think about how we think?
Less is more: Lessons from BLINKBy J.A. SebastianAdministrative Law, January 2009BLINK: THE POWER OF THINKING WITHOUT THINKINGis about thinking in new ways about how we think. How valid is a first impression? What factors are considered? How often (who has time?) do we even think about how we think.
Lessons from a life in the lawBy Hon. Warren D. WolfsonBench and Bar, December 2009Editor’s note: Judge Wolfson gave this talk as he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jewish Judges Association at its annual dinner on November 15, 2009. Justice Anne Burke received the Association’s Seymour Simon Justice Award.
Letter from the ChairBy E. Julia AlmeidaChild Law, September 2009A message from Section Chair E. Julia Almeida.
Letter to new admittees from the YLD ChairBy Kelley A. GandurskiYoung Lawyers Division, December 2009On behalf of the Illinois State Bar Association/Young Lawyers Division, I congratulate all of you on your admittance to the Illinois Bar.
A life in the lawBy Hon. George N. LeightonBench and Bar, December 2009Remarks given during his honorary initiation as a member of the Chicago Alumni Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity on October 21, 2009.
A life to die for: A case study on life insurance settlementsBy Stephen M. MargolinTrusts and Estates, March 2009A fictional story illustrating why life insurance policy issuers may wish to re-examine their negative outlook on the life insurance settlement business.
Lincoln … A license to practice and a legacy to rememberBy Michele M. JochnerGeneral Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, March 2009As we celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, we are reminded of his course-altering actions as President of a Civil War-ravaged nation.
Lincoln’s life lessonsBy Michele M. JochnerBench and Bar, April 2009The celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln allows us to rediscover the eloquent words and timeless wisdom of our country’s most admired president.
Loan Modification AgreementCorporate Law Departments, February 2009The following sample Loan Modification Agreement has been prepared for educational and information purposes only.
Maintain ethical corporate governance during the economic downturnBy R. Stephen ScottCorporate Law Departments, January 2009The current economic downturn poses many new challenges to corporations. Failure to maintain ethical corporate governance, to save costs or to avoid delayed actions, may only complicate or derail the corporate objectives, as the automakers and Bank of America have learned. Failure to meet important stakeholder expectations will surely lead to loss of the public’s support, while exceeding those expectations should lead to greater support and achievement of the corporate objectives.
Maintenance: ‘Til death do us partBy Matthew G. ShawFamily Law, January 2009Illinois trial courts have routinely imposed life insurance provisions on maintenance obligors, in order to secure maintenance payments.
Making business sense of building green in the MidwestBy Christina SpicerBusiness Advice and Financial Planning, December 2009Over the past couple of years, there has been a lot of talk about green buildings and the high costs associated with building to green standards.
Making evidence meaningfulBy Hon. Barbara CrowderCivil Practice and Procedure, May 2009Some suggestions and observations to make evidence more meaningful.
Making pro bono your ownBy Jasmine V. HernandezBench and Bar, October 2009Practitioners throughout Illinois must file their annual registration forms with the Supreme Court of Illinois’ Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (hereinafter “ARDC”) on the first of January every year. To stay on the master roll of attorneys and comply with Rule 756(f), we must report whether we provided pro bono legal services or made monetary contributions to organizations that provide pro bono legal services in the previous year.
Malpractice waiting to happenBy James MosterBusiness Advice and Financial Planning, December 2009There is a great deal of regulation in everything we do and in every business we start. Consider the fact that in one day in June 2009, the Illinois State legislature passed 800 new bills (this is not a misprint; it is 800).
Management of urban soils as “Clean construction and demolition debris”By Joseph R. Podlewski, Jr.Environmental and Natural Resources Law, February 2009For several years those engaged in redevelopment of urban sites in Illinois have advocated the classification of soils containing contaminants (particularly lead and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, or PNAs) within area background concentrations as “Clean Construction and Demotion Debris,” or “CCDD.”
Mandatory disclosure and expanded ethics requirements for government contractorsBy John E. JensenCorporate Law Departments, January 2009Starting on December 12, 2008, new rules require all federal contractors to disclose to the government violations of many federal criminal laws and any false claims made to the government. These changes are likely to cause contractors to reassess their ethics and compliance programs. The changes will present contractors with challenging questions, such as whether a disclosable violation has occurred.
Matt Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award nominationsBy Michael K. GoldbergGeneral Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, December 2009Matt Maloney was an attorney’s attorney. Those of us who knew him were amused by his quick wit, challenged by his sharp legal mind and humbled by his dedication to practicing the law as a profession and not just a business.
May 22, 2009 Deadline for Comment on Proposed NDIL Patent RulesIntellectual Property, May 2009The judges of the Northern District of Illinois have issued for public comment proposed local rules to guide the pretrial procedures in patent cases. The public comment period will run for sixty days until Friday, May 22, 2009. Following the public comment period, the judges will consider the proposed new local patent rules in light of the comments received.
Mediation and Domestic Violence: A practical guide for mediators and attorneysBy E. Nicole CarrionWomen and the Law, May 2009While most judges and attorneys agree that mediation is generally a good thing for most custody and visitation cases, there may be certain cases, such as cases that involve domestic violence, that may require special considerations during mediation or perhaps a waiver of mediation altogether.
