2025 Young Lawyer of the Year RecipientsSeptember 2025Congratulations to our 2025 Young Lawyer of the Year Recipients: Genevieve E. Miller, Cook County, and Paloma Holloman, Outside Cook County!
ABA YLD Midyear 2025 Assembly RecapBy Kari GibsonMarch 2025The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division met for the ABA Midyear Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, during the first weekend of February 2025. Here's a summary of the adopted resolutions from the ABA Assembly Meeting.
ABA’s February 2025 House Resolutions and Their Intersection with Family LawBy Olivia K. BasuApril 2025ABA’s House of Delegates held its February 2025 Midyear Conference in Phoenix. During the meeting, the ABA House of Delegates passed several key resolutions that intersect with the field of family law. The most influential resolutions are explored in this article.
Chair’s ColumnBy Jason R. BlumenthalAugust 2025A note from the Chair of the Young Lawyers Division Section Council.
A Decision from the Illinois Supreme Court Addressing Mootness in the Area of Juvenile Abuse, Neglect, and DependencyBy Lisa N. LogtermanApril 2025In January of 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court settled a split that was occurring within the First District Appellate Court of Illinois. Specifically, the Illinois Supreme Court addressed the issue of whether the challenge of one finding of abuse, neglect, or dependency of a minor at adjudication was rendered moot due to the absence of the challenge of another finding of abuse, neglect, or dependency at adjudication.
The Illinois Court of Claims—What’s That All About?By Leonard F. AmariMarch 2025The Illinois Court of Claims serves any citizen with a claim of money damages or personal injury against a state agency or state employee. The Court also awards compensation to victims of violent crimes under the Crime Victims Compensation Act and to dependents of police officers, firefighters, and National Guard members killed in the line of duty.
Illinois State Bar Association’s 2024 Annual Midyear Meeting: A Resounding Success!By Genevieve E. Miller, Esq.February 2025The ISBA's 2024 Midyear Meeting lived up to its reputation as one of the premier events on the legal community’s calendar. Held at the JW Marriott in downtown Chicago on December 12 and 13, the two-day event provided a perfect blend of professional development, networking, and celebration for attorneys, judges, and legal professionals across Illinois. Attendees engaged in a full schedule of substantive section council meetings, dynamic CLE courses, and lively social gatherings.
Inspiring Community Engagement at DePaul LawAugust 2025ISBA Young Lawyer Representative, Genevieve E. Miller, recently spoke on a panel at DePaul Law, "Engaging Your Community."
Is Social Media Worth It for Lawyers?By Rizwan M. AliOctober 2025A look into social media and how you can leverage popular apps to expand your practice.
ISBA 2025 Solo and Small Firm Conference PhotosOctober 2025The 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.
Justice Is in the DoingBy Justice Michael B. HymanFebruary 2025A discouraged lawyer receives a visit from a special ghost of presidents past.
Keeping Calm Waiting for Bar ResultsBy Violet KonopkaSeptember 2025Some tips to help you get by while you wait for the July 2025 bar exam results.
LAWPAC Needs You!February 2025The Illinois Lawyers’ Political Action Committee (LAWPAC) needs your help to fulfill its mission to support the legislative goals of the ISBA and Illinois’ legal community.
Meeting the Special Responsibilities of a Noble ProfessionBy Michael CortinaMay 2025The practice of law is a business. It matters not if a lawyer is on the bench, works in the public interest sector, is an in-house attorney, or is engaged in private practice. All of us make our living in the practice of law, and that means, by default, all of us are also engaged in the business of law. We sometimes need reminding, however, of the other obligations that we have to society.
The Most Important Thing You Can Bring to CourtBy Judge Brian WeinthalFebruary 2025An administrative law judge shares insight on how attorneys can avoid losing credibility when appearing before a finder-of-fact.
Navigating the Legal World as a Young Black Male Lawyer in Chicago: Challenges, Triumphs, and the Road AheadBy Jason A. Pica, IIApril 2025In this article, the author shares his personal perspective on what it means to be a young Black lawyer in Chicago. The author's experience is shaped by the history of his people, the stories he carries from his community, and the constant weight to represent those folks and their stories who have often been silenced.
New Workplace Laws in 2025: What Employers Need to KnowBy Lindsay DreisFebruary 2025Illinois has passed several new laws and made significant amendments to its key statutes governing employment that have gone into effect as of January 1, 2025. These modifications largely provide employees with broader protections and the ability to access documents concerning their employment as well as place more transparency requirements on employers.
Practical Tips for New Lawyers: Insights From a Young LawyerBy Taylor TylerOctober 2025Five tips that you can implement into your schedule to help ease the adjustment from law school to practice and set the foundation for long-term success.
Prioritizing Health in a Digital WorldBy Kashwal KaurMay 2025In today’s hyper-connected world, we are constantly online in an effort to be aware of trending news, viral videos, and even the latest TikTok dances. The benefits of digital accessibility are vast. However, it is crucial to take deliberate, conscious steps to prioritize our health in order to prevent digital burnout.
Re-Cap of Women and the Law’s Annual Afternoon TeaBy Jessica SparbeckApril 2025Last month, the Afternoon Tea was held to celebrate Women’s History Month. The ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law hosts this event annually. This year’s Tea took place on Friday, March 14, 2025, at Loew’s Chicago Hotel.
Recap of YLD’s CLE from January 15: Family Law 101By Genevieve E. Miller, Esq.February 2025Olivia Basu and I teamed up as co-speakers on January 15, 2025, for a one-hour virtual CLE entitled Family Law 101 that was co-sponsored by ISBA’s YLD, Family Law, and Rural Practice Sections. We provided attendees with the basics of practicing family law, which included a brief overview of important aspects to consider when handling a family law case. We discussed tools to facilitate settlements and things to be mindful of, such as how each family dynamic is unique.
Toronto ABA RecapBy Patrick M. CollinsOctober 2025A summary of the ABA Young Lawyers' Division Assembly that was held in Toronto this summer, including details about resolutions concerning public service loan forgiveness, legal resource hubs in public libraries, paid public interest legal internships, and community justice workers.
Voir Dire: Setting the Tone for Trial SuccessBy Courtney A. BerlinAugust 2025It is often said that you cannot win a case in voir dire, but you can lose one there. Make sure you're prepared for voir dire in your next jury trial!
Why I Seek Out Rooms Without Lawyers—And Why You Might TooBy Ricardo SantiagoSeptember 2025Learn about the benefits of networking outside of your usual professional circles and challenge yourself to network with non-attorneys to grow your practice.
The Work of a GAL and Lessons LearnedBy Judge Maureen SchuetteMay 2025Judge Schuette provides insight and guidance from her days as a Guardian Ad Litem.
