Lawyers Must Build Technical Competence Before Claiming AI CompetenceBy George BellasEmployee Benefits, April 2026Artificial intelligence is becoming an inevitable component of practicing law, but before implementing AI into your practice, ensure you have the correct technological competency to satisfy your ethical obligations.
Lawyers Must Build Technical Competence Before Claiming AI CompetenceBy George BellasLegal Technology, Standing Committee on, April 2026Artificial intelligence is becoming an inevitable component of practicing law, but before implementing AI into your practice, ensure you have the correct technological competency to satisfy your ethical obligations.
Lawyers Must Build Technical Competence Before Claiming AI CompetenceBy George BellasIntellectual Property, March 2026Artificial intelligence is becoming an inevitable component of practicing law, but before implementing AI into your practice, ensure you have the correct technological competency to satisfy your ethical obligations.
Lawyers Must Build Technical Competence Before Claiming AI CompetenceBy George BellasCivil Practice and Procedure, January 2026Artificial intelligence is becoming an inevitable component of practicing law, but before implementing AI into your practice, ensure you have the correct technological competency to satisfy your ethical obligations.
Legal Representation in Unemployment Insurance HearingsBy Kevin Lovellette & Briana JacobsGovernment Lawyers, March 2026The Illinois Unemployment Insurance Actauthorizes IDES to establish a program commonly referred to as the Legal Services Program. IDES works with contracted law firms to offer free legal services in Illinois that assist individuals and businesses in navigating administrative hearings.
Legislative Proposals for January 2026—Quick SummaryCorporate Law Departments, March 2026A roundup of proposed Illinois legislation from the House and Senate, including Mental Health Warning for Social Media Act, amendment to the Equal Pay Act of 2003, Surveillance-Based Wage Discrimination Act, amendment to the Property Tax Code, the Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy Act, and more.
Legislative Proposals for January 2026—Quick SummaryCorporate Law Departments, February 2026A collection of summaries of legislation that may be of interest to members of the Corporate Law Departments Section, including adult changing stations, consumer fraud solicit loans, freedom to work relating to health care, Tarriff Transparency Act, and more.
Lessons From Child First Approach in Northern IrelandBy Kelly CassidyChild Law, March 2026The juvenile justice system of the United States could take cues from other countries to better align with the United Nations Compact on the Rights of the Child. This article offers a reflection of society after an exploration of Northern Ireland's approach to children in conflict with the law.
Lessons From Skarbek v. Woodman’s Food Market: Absence of Rule 222(b) Affidavit Not a Proper Basis for Dismissing ComplaintBy Laura CastagnaCivil Practice and Procedure, May 2026In Skarbek v. Woodman’s Food Market, the Second District held that a circuit clerk may not reject a complaint simply because it lacks an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 222(b) affidavit.This case reinforces the narrow scope of the clerk’s authority to reject filings. There are 24 permissible rejection categories under Rule 9; be familiar with those categories!
Letter From the ChairBy Jill D. LekaHuman and Civil Rights, February 2026A note from the Chair of the Human & Civil Rights Section Council, reflecting on current events.
Leveraging Generative AI: Transforming the Practice of LawBy George BellasLegal Technology, Standing Committee on, March 2026A general review of how legal practitioners can use these tools in their practice from a broad perspective.
A Little Bit, on Little Bits of MicroplasticsBy William J. AnayaEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, March 2026Microplastics have been making big waves in the headlines, but what are microplastics and how concerned should we be about the presence of microplastics in our environment? Sound science and high-quality toxicity data are essential to understanding the potential toxicity of microplastics. While the presence of microplastics may be concerning, the toxic effect of microplastics has yet to be determined.
Love, Money, and the Family Business: Considerations To Prevent Private Disagreements From Becoming Public Legal BattlesBy Meghan E. TepasTrusts and Estates, April 2026Family wealth conflicts sit at the collision point of personal history and legal obligation. Understanding the duties that govern trustees, executors, directors, and officers; acknowledging the family dynamics that so often cause disputes; and designing plans that factor in reality can keep private tensions from boiling over in court.
Mark Your Calendars…Elder Law, May 2026Don't miss the ISBA Annual Meeting and several celebratory days and holidays in the month of June!
Mark Your Calendars…Elder Law, April 2026A look ahead at May and upcoming holidays, celebratory days, and commemorative days.
Mark Your Calendars…Elder Law, March 2026April brings several observatory months, including National Financial Literacy Month and National Volunteer Month; holidays, such as Easter; and celebratory days, including Denim Day and National Scrabble Day.
Mark Your Calendars…Federal Taxation, March 2026Don't miss these upcoming events!
Mark Your Calendars…Elder Law, February 2026A look ahead at March and upcoming awareness days and holidays.
Medicaid Planning ReminderElder Law, May 2026Since 2006, federal law has capped the amount of home equity that can be excluded when a person applies for Medicaid coverage of long-term services and supports (LTSS). For 2026, this home equity cap is $752,000, although states have been allowed to raise it to as high as $1,130,000 in high-cost urban areas.
Medicare Considerations for Senior Lawyers, RevisitedBy David ChroustTrusts and Estates, January 2026Learn more about your Medicare options, including the potential limitations on your ability to change between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage Plan, and then choose the best Medicare option for you by considering your personal preferences and circumstances.
Meet Hon. Kathryn Maloney Vahey, the New Deputy Presiding in the Juvenile Justice Division in Cook CountyBy Elizabeth ClarkeChild Law, March 2026The goal of the new Deputy Presiding Judge in the Juvenile Justice Division of Cook County is to create a model system with a culture rooted in positive outcomes, change policies and practices in the JTDC, speed up the processing and release of children in short-term detention stays, and address the need for new leadership.
Meet Magistrate Judge Michael IasparroBy John J. HolevasFederal Civil Practice, March 2026Michael Iasparro, the newest Magistrate Judge of the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division, offers a look into his path to becoming an attorney and rising to the bench.
Member Spotlight: Meet Eugenia Hunter, ISBA Animal Law Section Council MemberAnimal Law, May 2026Learn more about Eugenia Hunter, a member of the ISBA, chair of the Governance Committee of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America, two-time recipient of the Land of Lincoln Joseph R. Bartylak Pro Bono Award, and much more!
“Mind the Gap”: The Importance of Using Our Voices in Support of Judicial IndependenceBy Judge Chloé PedersenWomen and the Law, April 2026Judicial independence is an integral part of our legal system. There is no question, however, that we, as members of the bench and bar, have each sworn an oath to stand up for the rule of law. I implore each of you to stand strong, remain independent, and zealously serve as you have sworn to do. Judge Bloom, in addressing the Federal Bar Association's Broward County Chapter, provides compelling commentary on the past history and future ambitions of this duty.
A Model Worth Exporting: Why Safe Humane’s Court Case Dog Program Matters for Illinois (and Beyond)By Cynthia L. Bathurst, Ph.D.Animal Law, May 2026For most of the history of our anti-cruelty statutes, when dogs were involved in a cruelty or fighting case, the animals were taken in as live “evidence,” held in shelter kennels for the full run of the prosecution—often for months, even years—and then, after verdicts were returned and appeals exhausted, quietly euthanized. Safe Humane Chicago’s Court Case Dog (CCD) program offers an alternative that can be implemented in other jurisdictions.
Multi-Factor Authentication Is No Longer Optional for Legal ProfessionalsBy Brandon P. WoudenbergLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, February 2026This article emphasizes that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is essential for legal professionals, not just a 'best practice.' It highlights the increasing cyber threats in the legal industry and the need for attorneys to protect clients' data. It offers simple MFA options and discusses the risks of not using this security feature. Ultimately, the minor inconvenience of setting up MFA is worthwhile for the protection it provides against data breaches, reputational damage, malpractice claims, and disciplinary issues.
Multi-Factor Authentication Is No Longer Optional for Legal ProfessionalsBy Brandon P. WoudenbergAgricultural Law, January 2026This article emphasizes that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is essential for legal professionals, not just a 'best practice.' It highlights the increasing cyber threats in the legal industry and the need for attorneys to protect clients' data. It offers simple MFA options and discusses the risks of not using this security feature. Ultimately, the minor inconvenience of setting up MFA is worthwhile for the protection it provides against data breaches, reputational damage, malpractice claims, and disciplinary issues.
My Experience Comparing Lexis and ChatGPT Deep ResearchBy Carolyn ElefantRural Practice, February 2026As artificial intelligence develops, classic legal tools, like Westlaw and Lexis, may become less useful. In comparison to Lexis, ChatGPT Deep Research has valuable tools that could improve efficiency in your legal practice.
