The Illinois Supreme Court Wants Parents To Resolve Parenting DisputesBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Family Law, April 2026Mediation is a requirement when parents are involved in a parenting allocation dispute. The sooner that you explain this requirement to clients, as well as the benefits of mediation, the less clients will feel defeated or caught off guard when a court inevitably orders the parties in a parental allocation matter to mediation.
Important Resources and Upcoming CLE OpportunitiesElder Law, March 2026A compilation of resources that may be helpful for your practice or your clients, and don't miss upcoming CLE programs sponsored by the Elder Law Section Council and the Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services.
Important: Immediate Change to the Filing of Notices of AppealBy Mark Kevin Wykoff, Sr.Cannabis Law, May 2026Familiarize yourself with the changes to Illinois Supreme Court Rules 13, 605, and 606, which brings changes to how to file a Notice of Appeal in criminal cases.
Important: Immediate Change to the Filing of Notices of AppealBy Mark Kevin Wykoff, Sr.Criminal Justice, January 2026Familiarize yourself with the changes to Illinois Supreme Court Rules 13, 605, and 606, which brings changes to how to file a Notice of Appeal in criminal cases.
Importing Food Products Into the United StatesFood Law, February 2026Under provisions of the U.S. law contained in the U.S. Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, importers of food products intended for introduction into U.S. interstate commerce are responsible for ensuring that the products are safe, sanitary, and labeled according to U.S. requirements. Imported food products are subject to FDA inspection when offered for import at U.S. ports of entry.
Income Shares Model: Progress, Not PerfectionBy Lacey K. BoulwareYoung Lawyers Division, January 2026A look at the current child support scheme in family law and suggestions for improvements to increase calculation flexibility to best serve children of all families.
Intellectual Improbabilities™By Daniel KeganIntellectual Property, March 2026A round-up of recent events in the world of intellectual property, including NIL for minors, TRAIN Act, PH Highway, AI sanctions, and more.
The Intersection of Conventional Productivity Tips and TechnologyBy Jennifer M. DanishLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, January 2026Technology can be a powerful tool in an attorney's practice, from establishing task priority, minimizing interruptions, and increasing cognitive bandwidth; however, it is important that technology is used as an enhancer and not a substitute for independent judgment.
Introduction to the Brooks InstituteBy Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy, Inc.Animal Law, April 2026The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy was born from the vision and ideals of Brooks McCormick Jr., who considered his companion animals his dearest friends and family until his death in 2015. Learn more about the Brooks Institute, animal law resources, and how you can utilize your law practice to make a difference in the lives of animals.
IPRB Releases 2025 Illinois Oil ProductionBy Craig R. HedinMineral Law, March 2026New data is available from the Illinois Petroleum Resources Board regarding the volumes of crude oil produced in the State of Illinois for 2025.
ISBA General Assembly Adopts Resolutions To Protect Noncitizens’ Constitutional RightsBy Cindy G. BuysInternational and Immigration Law, February 2026At the ISBA Midyear Meeting in December 2025, the International and Immigration Law Section Council sponsored, and the General Assembly adopted, a resolution in support of certain actions taken by the American Bar Association (ABA) to protect the constitutional rights of noncitizens in the United States.
ISBA General Assembly Adopts Resolutions To Protect Noncitizens’ Constitutional RightsBy Cindy G. BuysHuman and Civil Rights, February 2026At the ISBA Midyear Meeting in December 2025, the International and Immigration Law Section Council sponsored, and the General Assembly adopted, a resolution in support of certain actions taken by the American Bar Association (ABA) to protect the constitutional rights of noncitizens in the United States.
ISBA Midyear Meeting Highlights From the Federal Taxation SectionBy Sandra D. MertensFederal Taxation, January 2026The Federal Taxation Section Council met during the Joint Midyear Meeting to discuss business and issues relevant to the tax community, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
ISBA Rural Practice Section Council Member Profile: Casey ParkerRural Practice, April 2026Meet Casey Parker, an attorney with more than 20 years of legal experience, a member of the Rural Practice Section Council, and Director of Career Services at SIU Simmons Law School!
ISBA Rural Practice Section Council Member Profile: Elizabeth M. ReynoldsRural Practice, March 2026Learn more about Elizabeth M. Reynolds, a member of the Rural Practice Section Council, who is also involved in the Workers' Compensation Section, Justinian Society of Lawyers, the LaSalle County Bar Association, the Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.
ISBA’s Women & the Law Committee Raises Funds and Donations for Special Olympics IllinoisBy Laura CastagnaWomen and the Law, April 2026Thanks to the generosity of our WATL Committee members and donors, 154 items were purchased from the Amazon Wish List for the Sycamore Killer Whales, Warren County Falcons, and the Big Muddy Crew, and $835 in monetary contributions were donated directly to Special Olympics Illinois.
Judicial Mentoring and the Future of the Illinois Bench: Building Transparent, Equitable, and Merit-Based Pathways to Judicial ServiceBy Junaid M. AfeefHuman and Civil Rights, February 2026Attorney mentoring is long recognized as a valuable resource for aspiring attorneys or young attorneys; however, judicial mentoring is often overlooked. Judicial mentoring is not a luxury; it is an institutional necessity. In an era of declining public trust and increasing complexity in adjudication, Illinois cannot rely on informal pipelines and inherited privilege to staff its courts.
Judicial Mentoring and the Future of the Illinois Bench: Building Transparent, Equitable, and Merit-Based Pathways to Judicial ServiceBy Junaid M. AfeefBench and Bar, February 2026In Illinois, as in most states, the path to becoming a judge is often opaque, informal, and heavily dependent on access to professional networks that are unevenly distributed across the legal profession. Judicial mentoring could help create more transparent pathways for highly qualified lawyers—particularly those from underrepresented communities, first‑generation professionals, and lawyers without access to elite professional circles—to become judges.
Key Issues for Attorneys Reviewing Solar Leases in IllinoisBy Ean R. AlbersRural Practice, March 2026Rural practitioners, agricultural attorneys, and those practicing real estate law should be familiar with solar leases as part of sustained development advancements across Illinois. These leases can bind property for 30-50 years (or more), and be subject to various legal and economic considerations.
Key Issues for Attorneys Reviewing Solar Leases in IllinoisBy Ean R. AlbersAgricultural Law, March 2026Rural practitioners, agricultural attorneys, and those practicing real estate law should be familiar with solar leases as part of sustained development advancements across Illinois. These leases can bind property for 30-50 years (or more), and be subject to various legal and economic considerations.
Landlord Not Entitled To Additional Insurance Proceeds for Property Damage or Lost Rental Income Resulting From Break-in and Vandalism at Three-Unit Residential BuildingBy Genevieve M. DanielsReal Estate Law, February 2026A summary of Bunjo v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., a First District case that discussed whether an owner of a three-story, three-unit residential property was covered under a homeowners insurance policy that covered losses as a result of vandalism and damages due to loss of use. Based on the facts of the case, the First District found State Farm was entitled to judgment as a matter of law and the homeowners insurance policy did not cover the alleged loss.
Law Firm Marketing—Mining and Minding Your Referral Base and NetworkBy John W. OlmsteadLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, March 2026While traditional marketing has its place for increasing revenue, don't underestimate the power of referrals from past clients, attorneys, or other professionals to generate business. It's never too late to form a referral base for your firm!
Lawyers’ Assistance Program: Mental HealthBy Nicole SartoriMental Health Law, May 2026The Lawyers' Assistance Program is a valuable resource for attorneys, judges, and law students, offering services from assessments, substance abuse to mental health treatments, support groups, and individual counseling.
Lawyers’ Assistance Program: Mental HealthBy Nicole SartoriLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, May 2026The Lawyers' Assistance Program is a valuable resource for attorneys, judges, and law students, offering services from assessments, substance abuse to mental health treatments, support groups, and individual counseling.
Lawyers’ Assistance Program: Mental HealthBy Nicole SartoriWomen and the Law, April 2026The Lawyers' Assistance Program is a valuable resource for attorneys, judges, and law students, offering services from assessments, substance abuse to mental health treatments, support groups, and individual counseling.
