Rural Practice

The newsletter of the Rural Practice Section

September 2026 • Volume 3 • Number 3 •

September 2026 Rural Practice Newsletter

The 2027-28 ISBA Rural Practice Fellowship Program Deadline Is This Friday
The Rural Practice Fellowship Program connects rural and small town law firms with candidates to hire as law clerks and associate attorneys. The deadline for applications is September 18, 2026. Learn more and apply.

Solo & Small Firm Conference 2026 Is Approaching!
Please join us from September 17-18 in Peoria, IL, for the ISBA Solo & Small Firm Conference 2026: From Log Cabin to Legacy: Growing and Sustaining a Solo or Small Firm in Illinois. Take advantage of the opportunity to earn CLE credits, expand your knowledge, and connect with colleagues. Advance registration for this event has closed. Walk-in registration will be open on site.

ISBA Launches Two New Free Member Directories
Get found by the people looking to hire a lawyer in our revamped public-facing Illinois Lawyer Finder Directory. Find members and make or receive referrals with our new Member-to-Member Directory. Both directories are completely free member benefits.

In This Issue

Chair’s Column

By Sarah J. Taylor

Learn more about the recent collaborative CLE with the Rural Practice Section, ISBA Mutual Insurance Company, and the Fayette County Bar Association; and don't forget to apply for the Rural Practice Fellowship Program before September 18, 2026!

Legislative Committee Update for Rural Practitioners

By Kaylan Huber

Amendments to the Illinois Supreme Court Rules would require courts to create and maintain a record of all proceedings under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act; strengthen qualification and education requirements for attorneys appointed to represent children in child-related proceedings; and clarify and expand procedures for citations to discover assets.

Illinois New “Junk Fees” Alert for Residential Leases

By Nicky Vogel

Illinois has enacted House Bill 3564 which bans “junk fees” charged by landlords and adds new layers of transparency to residential lease agreements.

Rural Law Practice in the News—September 2026

By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker

LSAC continues rural access-to-justice webinar series; State Justice Institute report remains a national reference point for legal deserts; NCSC highlights mapping tools for rural legal deserts; and more.

Spotlight on a Rural Courthouse: What’s New at the Jackson County Courthouse?

By Patti Clark

Introducing Spotlight on a Rural Courthouse, a new series that explores a selected rural courthouse each edition. This edition features Jackson County Courthouse and the measures Jackson County has taken to improve the court experience and offer additional resources for citizens.

CLE

When the Subject Has Four Legs and a Tail: Illinois Replevin Statute Amendment
September 29 | Online
8 MORE Movie-Lawyers Who Would Be Disciplined in Real Life
October 14 | Online

Full CLE Calendar…

Featured Free On-Demand CLE

32nd Annual Agricultural Law Seminar - Part 1
2.75 hours MCLE credit

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for subscribers’ personal use only; redistribution is prohibited. Copyright Illinois State Bar Association. Statements or expressions of opinion appearing herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Association or Editors, and likewise the publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or service offered unless it is specifically stated in the ad that there is such approval or endorsement.

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