2025 Joint Midyear Meeting PhotosMarch 2026The Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association proudly co-hosted the 2025 Joint Midyear Meeting on December 11–12 at the JW Marriott Chicago, bringing members of the legal community together for two days of connection and collaboration.
Another Year, Another Flurry of Illinois Employment Legislation Brings Expanded Employee Rights and Employer ObligationsBy Daniel Canales & Jennifer LongApril 2026Governor J.B. Pritzer signed over 200 bills in late 2025, all of which have become effective on or by January 1, 2026. Several statutes may impact labor and employment law practice, including the Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act, Illinois Human Rights Act, Wage Payment and Collection Act, Military Leave Act, and more.
Become an Illinois Bar Foundation ChampionBy Jessica R. DurkinMarch 2026At least twice a year at ISBA Annual and Midyear Meetings, we are pitched by colleagues and the Illinois Bar Foundation to become a “Champion.” But what is a Champion really, and what’s in it for us?
FinCEN’s New Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule Effective March 1, 2026By Ryan StoddenMarch 2026FinCEN has finalized a new rule requiring the filing of Real Estate Reports for certain residential real estate transactions. The regulation represents a significant expansion of federal AML and SAR oversight into the real estate sector to combat laundering illicit funds.
President Trump’s Cannabis Rescheduling Order: Implications for Employment Law and Workplace PracticeBy Keya Denner & Tammy WoolleyApril 2026Learn more about the Administrative Order, signed by Donald Trump, on December 18, 2025, directing the Attorney General to complete the rulemaking process to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act. Although the Order focuses primarily on expanding medical marijuana and cannabidiol research, its language—and the federal findings it endorses—have potentially significant implications for employment law and workplace practices across the United States.
Responding To Work-From-Home Accommodation Requests in a Post-Covid EnvironmentBy Josh HeidelmanMarch 2026In the wake of the pandemic, it may be more difficult for employers to argue remote work is not a reasonable accommodation. Learn more about developing case law on the topic and steps employers can take to strengthen their positions in court.
