Navigating the Rise of AI in ADR: Opportunities, Risks, and Ethical Considerations for AttorneysBy Hon. Mary Colleen Roberts, (ret.)Alternative Dispute Resolution, May 2026Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. Virtually every conversation these days involves AI and now this advanced technology seems to be on the cusp of transforming nearly every aspect of society. Despite all of its promise, there are significant pitfalls legal professionals, law firms, and the courts must consider as this technology becomes more pervasive. Unsurprisingly, the same issues faced by litigators are being experienced in the world of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
The Need for Immigration Attorneys in Rural CommunitiesBy Jessica VisageInternational and Immigration Law, August 2026Rural Illinois communities lack resources to address common immigration issues. Immigration attorneys can help by presenting CLEs and offering consulting services to rural communities.
NetChoice Challenges the City of Chicago’s New Social Media Amusement TaxBy Stanley KaminskiState and Local Taxation, July 2026In March of 2026, NetChoice, a District of Columbia nonprofit trade association whose members engage in electronic commerce, filed an action in Cook County, Illinois, challenging the new Social Media Amusement Tax imposed by the City of Chicago.
New Abuse/Domestic Violence LawsElder Law, October 2026Several bills have been signed in this past legislative session relating to domestic violence and abuse.
New Ethics Opinion Addresses Federal Judges’ Public EngagementBy Pamela S. MenakerBench and Bar, April 2026The U.S. Judicial Conference’s Committee on Codes of Conduct has released a new advisory opinion that explicitly provides that federal judges are now permitted to publicly defend their judicial independence and the rule of law, so long as they avoid partisan politics and preserve impartiality. For advocates of judicial independence, the opinion should come as a welcome affirmation of the judiciary’s important role in our judicial system.
New Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Requirements for Loans on Condominiums and Community Association BuildingsBy Paul PetersonReal Estate Law, May 2026Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, in March 2026, issued updates to certain standards and insurance requirements, outlined in Lender Letter LL-2026-03, which addresses expansion of waiver of project review, retirement of investor ownership limits, retirement of the limited review process, and more.
New FINCEN Reporting Starts March 1, 2026!Real Estate Law, March 2026Will you have to file the Real Estate Report? Be sure to familiarize yourself with the reporting requirements.
New Illinois Law Requires Hospitals To Adopt and Submit Law Enforcement Interaction PoliciesBy Sumaya M. NoushHealth Care Law, March 2026Illinois hospitals face significant compliance obligations under the recently enacted Illinois Health Care Sanctity and Privacy Law. Effective January 1, 2026, for general acute care hospitals and March 1, 2026, for all other hospitals, the Illinois Department of Public Health is requiring hospitals to develop and formally submit written policies governing interactions with law enforcement, including immigration enforcement personnel.
New IRS Private Letter Ruling Provides Guidance on Applying Internal Revenue Code Section 408 to Estate Beneficiaries of Retirement AccountsBy Sandra D. Mertens & Francesca M. DeBella, J.D.Federal Taxation, October 2026Section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code governs IRAs, including their tax treatment and distributions. Importantly, a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer is not treated as a distribution or rollover for these purposes. But what happens when an IRA owner dies without naming a beneficiary and the estate becomes the beneficiary? Private Letter Ruling 202631001 (July 31, 2026) has addressed this issue.
New Member Spotlight: Aggie BaumertWomen and the Law, April 2026Learn more about Aggie Baumert, who not only brings a wealth of experience in family law to the committee—she embodies grit, passion, and dedication against all odds, a true testament to everything that the committee represents.
The New Receivership Act: Claims Filing, Automatic Stays, and Receivership Sales of Real EstateBy Paul PetersonCommercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, February 2026This article higlights some of the key sections of the Receivership Act that should be considered in practice, including purpose, scope, notice, status of receiver as lien creditor, sale of real estate, contracts, injunctions, claims bar date, and discharge of the receiver.
The New Receivership Act: Claims Filing, Automatic Stays, and Receivership Sales of Real EstateBy Paul PetersonAgricultural Law, January 2026This article higlights some of the key sections of the Receivership Act that a real estate practitioner or mechanics lien claimant should consider, including purpose, scope, notice, status of receiver as lien creditor, sale of real estate, contracts, injunctions, claims bar date, and discharge of the receiver.
The New Receivership Act: Claims Filing, Automatic Stays, and Receivership Sales of Real EstateBy Paul PetersonReal Estate Law, January 2026The new Illinois Receivership Act brings a host of changes to receiverships in Illinois under certain circumstances. One of the purposes of the Act is to facilitate sales that can bring in more proceeds than would otherwise be obtained through a mortgage foreclosure, creating the necessity for all real estate practitioners to consider.
New Residential Real Estate Reporting to FinCEN Begins March 1, 2026By Sandra D. MertensFederal Taxation, March 2026Effective March 1, 2026, a new regulation promulgated by the FinCEN requires a new information report each time a qualifying residential real estate transaction or settlement closes. The new regulation is the next step under the DOT’s longstanding effort to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illicit financial activities.
News CornerElder Law, March 2026A roundup of recent news, including Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame, scam alerts, and an update for the National Strategy for Financial Literacy.
News RoundupElder Law, October 2026Various updates regarding America.gov website, Compassionate Allowances List, National Autism Missing and Endangered Person Alert Initiative, and more.
The NextGen Bar ExamBy Michael G. CortinaBench and Bar, April 2026We all likely remember taking the usual classes in law school—Torts, Contracts, Criminal Law—but very few courses focused on the practical skills of lawyering. Some schools had more courses that were skills-based, but most classes focused on teaching students legal concepts and principles. The times, they are a changin’. The next generation of attorneys may enter practice with a stronger skillset thanks to the new Bar Exam.
No Access to Justice Without Access to a Lawyer: Part IIBy Judge James A. Shapiro & James J. HerdegenBench and Bar, February 2026Part II of this two-part series explores the difficulties that self-represented litigants face in the court system, particularly as it relates to Domestic Relations cases and the inability to afford an attorney, and offers solutions to increase access to justice.
No Equitable Tolling of Missed Removal DeadlineBy Michael R. LiedFederal Civil Practice, June 2026If your defendant client really wants to be in federal court, pay close attention to the 30-day deadline for removal. If that’s a possible problem, review the various exceptions recounted in the Supreme Court’s opinion in Enbridge.
The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act: Key Provisions and Impacts for Local GovernmentsBy Megan M. OlsonLocal Government Law, February 2026On December 16, 2025, Governor Pritzker signed a new transit funding bill known as “The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act” (NITA) into law. The law replaces the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) with the newly created Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA).
Not So Exclusive Remedy: Allergic Reactions at WorkBy Dennis M. LynchTort Law, March 2026A look at Rivas v. Benny's Prime Chophouse, a First District Appellate Court case that illustrates the important interplay between workers’ compensation law and direct liability claims against an employer.
NOTEReal Estate Law, January 2026Quick summaries of new laws for 2026 that may impact the practice of real estate law.
A Note From the ChairBy Paul PetersonConstruction Law, October 2026The Chair of the Construction Law Section Council discusses utilizing the Construction Law chat line, becoming a member of the Construction Law Section, and writing an article for this newsletter.
