2025 Articles

Become an Illinois Bar Foundation Champion By Jessica R. Durkin December 2025 At 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?

ISBA 2025 Solo and Small Firm Conference Photos October 2025 The Illinois State Bar Association hosted the 2025 Solo and Small Firm Conference: The Innovative Lawyer: Smart Strategies for Small Firms in the Age of AI on September 25–26 at the Embassy Suites in Naperville, IL.

Join Us at the ISBA & IJA Midyear Meeting—a Taste of What’s Ahead By Ted M. Niemann December 2025 The Joint Midyear Meeting, hosted by the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association, is a can't-miss event, offering CLE programs on democracy preservation and the ethical use of AI; a Member Appreciation Reception featuring Glow Bingo and prizes; the Illinois Bar Foundation for the Champions Breakfast; the IJA/ISBA Joint Midyear Meeting Luncheon; and a Holiday Reception honoring the Supreme Court of Illinois. Register today!

Non-Bargained School Employment Contracts From a Board/Management Perspective By James S. Peters & Walter J. Zukowski December 2025 A primer on the most important factors and principles that school districts must weigh and consider when drafting employment contracts for non-union employees.

Recent Changes to the Illinois School Records Act Will Help Students With Disabilities Qualify for Future Services By Teresa Parks & Taneka Hye Wol Jennings October 2025 Public Act 104-0356, signed by Governor Pritzer earlier this year, codifies creation of a Summary of Performance form for any student who receives special education services, which must be maintained in the student’s permanent record.

Seventh Circuit Decides Student Speech (And Helicopter Parenting) Issue By Roland R. Cross December 2025 A case from the Seventh Circuit, E.D. v. Noblesville School District, explores the applicability of First Amendment and Equal Access Act claims when a student's organization was disbanded after parental involvement and insubordination.

Seventh Circuit Reviews Scope of Free Speech Rights of Public Employees By Walter J. Zukowski & James S. Peters October 2025 A case summary of Hedgepeth v. Britton, a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals case, that explores the range of what's appropriate for a public employee to post on social media.

State Legislative Update: New Education Laws By Phil Milsk October 2025 Learn more about the new legislation passed in the summer of 2025 that impacts education law.

Virginia Administrator Liability for Attack by First Grader By Loraina R. Trujillo & Roland R. Cross December 2025 On November 6, 2025, a Virginia jury found that an elementary school assistant principal, Ebony Parker, acted with gross negligence when a six-year-old student shot his first-grade teacher in 2023. In the civil case, the jury awarded the injured teacher $10 million in damages, including interest back to June 1, 2024. Criminal charges against the administrator remain pending.