2026 Articles

2025 Joint Midyear Meeting Photos February 2026 The 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.

The Ethical and Practical Realities of Maintaining Authorized Contacts for Clients By Matthew Benson February 2026 A law firm policy regarding communications with a client's designated contact may raise ethical obligations. Creating a form and a policy by which to deal with this issue is a simple endeavor; dealing with the consequences of an ethical violation is not. Proceed accordingly.

ISBA Rural Practice Fellowship Program Class of 2026 January 2026 Congratulations to the Fellows selected to participate in the 2026 Rural Practice Fellowship Program!

ISBA Rural Practice Section Council Attorney Profile: Joseph Souligne January 2026 A spotlight article series, highlighting a member of the Rural Practice Section Council.

ISBA Rural Practice Section Council Member Profile: Duane A. Deters February 2026 Learn more about Duane A. Deters, a Rural Practice Section Council Member, who currently serves as the Chief Public Defender in Coles County.

My Experience Comparing Lexis and ChatGPT Deep Research By Carolyn Elefant February 2026 As 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.

My Rural Ag Law Practice: So What’s in My Tech Stack? By Cari Brett Rincker February 2026 An in-depth review of different technology that can make your law practice run smoother, from office management to AI, and everything in between.

Phone Calls Ignored, Emails Unanswered: Fixing the First Impression Problem for Law Firms By Mark C. Palmer February 2026 The legal technology company Clio played “secret shopper” for its 2024 Clio Legal Trends Report. Clio reported dismal results on how law firms are doing on first impressions. The purpose was to test how easy it is for prospective clients to get in touch with law firms through phone or email, and how effectively law firms answered their questions. See how Clio's research can help you and your firm make a positive first impression on prospective clients.

Turn On Your Video! By Judge James A. Shapiro & Thomas DeMouy January 2026 Few things are more annoying to a judge than when we can't see the litigant or lawyer we are addressing (or who is addressing us). During the height of the pandemic, there were judges who were not turning on their video as well. Without naming names, my former presiding judge once had to remind everyone in the division to turn on their videos. For judges, attorneys, and litigants, the lesson is clear: Zoom court requires the same decorum as a physical courtroom.