Agricultural Law

1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: November 18, 2022
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­November 19, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Improve the culture of your office and satisfy your annually mandated sexual harassment prevention training requirement by attending this program. Consistent with the requirements established in Section 2-109(B) of the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act (Public Act 101-0220) this program will help you gain an understanding of what sexual harassment is, what remedies are available to victims of sexual harassment, and what responsibilities employers have in the prevention, investigation, and provision of corrective measures to address sexual harassment in the workplace. Topics include: reporting allegations; conditions of employment; settlement or termination agreements; and more. This program is open to both Illinois lawyers and their staff members.

Program Virtual Moderator:
Laura E. Schrick, Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd., Belleville

Program Speakers:
Michael R. Lied, Attorney at Law, Dunlap
Thalia Pacheco, Fish Potter Bolaños, P.C., Chicago

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1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­November 6, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Movies often depict lawyers behaving badly, acting unprofessionally, or blatantly violating rules of professional conduct – all for the sake of entertainment. But in real life, attorneys need to avoid these gaffes at all costs, learn from their mistake when they do occur, and understand the consequences that may arise in the aftermath. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Stuart Teicher as he examines both the obvious and subtle ethics violations being committed by lawyers in the movies and on television. Topics include:

• Ex parte conversations with a judge (Rule 3.5);
• How fictional lawyers are constantly disrupting a tribunal (Rule 3.4(d)); and
• Your responsibility to report a colleague’s misconduct (Rule 8.3 (a)).

About the Speaker:
Stuart I. Teicher , Esq. is a professional legal educator who focuses on ethics law and writing instruction. A practicing lawyer for 30 years, Stuart’s career is now dedicated to helping fellow lawyers survive the practice of law and thrive in the profession. He teaches seminars, provides in-house training to law firms and legal departments, provides CLE instruction at law firm client events, and also gives keynote speeches at conventions and association meetings. Stuart helps lawyers get better at what they do (and enjoy the process) through his entertaining and educational CLE “performances.” He speaks, teaches, and writes. His most recent book is titled, How to Stop Hating the Law: A Path to Hope for Miserable Lawyers. Mr. Teicher is a Supreme Court appointee to the New Jersey District Ethics Committee where he investigates and prosecutes grievances filed against attorneys. He is an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown Law where he teaches Professional Responsibility, and served for 15 years as an adjunct professor at Rutgers University in New Brunswick where he taught undergraduate writing courses. He also taught both Professional Responsibility and Legal Writing at St. John’s University School of Law in New York City.

Friday, December 12, 2025
JW Marriott, 151 W Adams St, Chicago
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
(during the ISBA/IJA Midyear Meeting)

1.50 hours MCLE credit, including 1.50* hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment credit



Get the information you need regarding the ethical use of artificial intelligence with this informative panel presentation. Attorneys with basic to intermediate practice experience who attend this seminar will better understand:

• What artificial intelligence really means and the differences between “old” AI and today’s LLM/Generative AI (GenAI).
• How the ARDC’s new guidance will help you to maintain compliance with ethical standards, including:
  • The ethics of (not) using AI and billing by the hour (Illinois Rule 1.5, Comment 9);
  • Preventing the unauthorized practice of law committed by relying upon GenAI answers; and
  • Other competency obligations, including duty to supervise, avoiding bias, candor to courts, and advertising implications.
• How to use, store, and protect client data within a GenAI/LLM system (and how to judge a system is sufficiently secure/appropriate for lawyers) to comply with Rule 1.6.

An in-house attorney also provides client viewpoints such as securing data when using a GenAI system and whether you should adjust your billable rates to reflect the use of GenAI.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Margo Lynn Hablutzel, Gainwell Technologies LLC

Program Speakers:
Neil Ballentine, Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, Chicago
Aaron Brooks, Brooks Law and Consulting, LLC, Chicago
Mathew Kerbis, Subscription Attorney LLC, Deerfield
Sari W. Montgomery, Robinson, Stewart, Montgomery & Doppke LLC, Chicago


*Professional Responsibility MCLE credit subject to approval

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Registration coming soon!

6.25 hours MCLE credit, including 6.25 hours approved Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025 – Friday, September 12, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 30, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Why is Illinois joining 42 other jurisdictions that have chosen to implement NextGen for their bar exam? What effect will this implementation have on the practice of law in this state? How are these changes likely to impact both law school study and the legal community as a whole? Get the answers to these questions and more with these two half-day seminars that explore the various ways Illinois law schools are preparing their students to practice law in the real world. Topics include:

• An overview of the NextGen Bar Exam;
• How law school leadership can help students succeed after law school;
• The historical efforts of the Illinois State Bar Association in helping prepare law students to practice law;
• Understanding what the NextGen Bar Exam means for the future of legal education and the practice of law; and
• A look at the new topics on the NextGen Bar Exam.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Ted A. Donner , Donner & Company Law Offices, LLC, Glen Ellyn

Overview: Illinois Adopts the NextGen Bar Exam*
Moderator: Prof. Wendy H. Vaughn, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb
Prof. Jon J. Lee , Distinguished Scholar in Residence, National Conference of Bar Examiners, Wisconsin
Susannah Pollvogt , Principal Consultant for Curriculum, Law School Admission Council, Pennsylvania
Suzanne J. Schmitz , President, Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar, Carbondale

Law School Leadership: What Do Students Need from Their Law Schools and Bar Associations?*
Moderator: Jason R. Blumenthal, Donahue & Rose, P.C., Rosemont
Moderator: Joseph A. Souligne, Webber & Thies, P.C., Urbana

Roundtable Discussion: What the NextGen Bar Exam Means for the Future of Legal Education*
Moderator: Daniel R. Thies , Webber & Thies, P.C., Urbana
Prof. Marsha Griggs , St. Louis University School of Law, Missouri
Megan Kreminski , Director of Academic Success, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago
Susannah Pollvogt , Principal Consultant for Curriculum, Law School Admission Council, Pennsylvania
Prof. Kate Waldinger, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago

Next Gen’s Emphasis on Foundational Lawyering Skills*
Moderator: H. Case Ellis, Resolute Systems, Chicago
Michael Bergmann , Executive Director, Public Interest Law Initiative, Chicago
Melissa A. Smart , Director of Education, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Chicago

Pricing Information

• Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
• ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
• Fees:
• ISBA Member Price of $150 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
• Non-Member Price $310
• New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
• Law Students – Free

Live Webcast
Thursday, December 18, 2025
11:00 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.

1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0* hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit

Although mediation offers the path of least resistance to resolving differences between parties, it still requires thorough preparation from both you and your client. Don’t miss this in-depth look at how to help your client get the most out of mediation, including what to expect at the meeting, the best practices for preparing for the mediation (from both the plaintiff and defense perspectives), how to prepare a concise and compelling mediation package, and how to handle yourself throughout the mediation process.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Judith Conway, Cooney & Conway, Chicago

Program Chat Moderator:
Josh Rohrscheib, Onward Injury Law, Bloomington

Program Speakers:
Michael R. Hartigan, Hartigan & O’Connor, LLC, Chicago
Hon. Clare McWilliams (ret.), Resolute Systems, Chicago
Jeffrey A. Schulkin, Ankin Law, LLC, Chicago


For best practices, before attending the program using ISBA's Zoom platform, please visit our Technical Support page.

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3.0 hours MCLE credit, including 3.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 8, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 9, 2025 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this two part series from ISBA’s 5^th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar, as we take an in-depth look at how inventions and advancements in science and technology create opportunities for lawyers to represent innovators, as well as those clients who are disrupted by the innovation (including the legal profession). The program takes place at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum located on the historic island that supported part of the railroad bridge subject to Lincoln’s famous case of Hurd et al v. Rock Island Bridge Company (often called the Effie Afton trial.) Ft. Armstrong has been on Rock Island since 1816. Army Dr. Emerson was stationed at Ft. Armstrong from 1834 to 1836 and took Dred Scott with him as a slave. Slavery was prohibited in Illinois and that later served as Scott’s claim for freedom in the Dred Scott case. The first rail bridge over the Mississippi used the Island to connect Illinois to Iowa and was finished in 1856 (and struck by the steamboat Effie Afton the same year!). President Lincoln signed the legislation creating the Arsenal in 1862, which became a prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Join us for this informative, historical look at how Lincoln addressed the science and technology issues of his time, and how lawyers of every generation face similar challenges. Topics include:

• The ethical issues facing lawyers regarding science and technology innovations;
• How AI and emerging technology is impacting current lawyers and law practice; and
• Much more.

Program Coordinators:
J. Steven Beckett, Beckett Law Office P.C., Urbana
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville

Contemporary Ethical Issues
Explore the ethical issues facing lawyers today – from the need to stay current with technology to problems with email, websites, cybersecurity, and more – with this informative session.
Peter L. Rotskoff, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Springfield

How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Lawyers and the Legal Profession
Get the information you need about how the evolving area of AI may impact your law practice and the legal system.
Jonathan T. Nessler, Nessler & Associates Ltd., Springfield

Block Chain, AI, Disruptive Innovations – What is a Lawyer To Do?
This panel presentation discusses what we can learn from Lincoln’s experiences with science and technology, and how lawyers and the legal profession will continue to be impacted.
Moderator: J. Steven Beckett, Beckett Law Office P.C., Urbana
Jonathan T. Nessler, Nessler & Associates Ltd., Springfield
Guy C. Fraker, Attorney and Author, Bloomington
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville



*Originally presented as part of the ISBA’s 5th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy Conference. Find more sessions in this series in the ISBA On-Demand CLE catalog.



Pricing Information

• Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
• ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
• Fees:
• ISBA Member Price of $105 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
• Non-Member Price $210
• New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
• Law Students - Free

2.75 hours MCLE credit, including 2.75 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 8, 2023
MCLE Accreditation Extension Period: ­­­­­­­October 21, 2025 - October 20, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this two part series from ISBA’s 5^th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar, as we take an in-depth look at how inventions and advancements in science and technology create opportunities for lawyers to represent innovators, as well as those clients who are disrupted by the innovation (including the legal profession). The program takes place at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum located on the historic island that supported part of the railroad bridge subject to Lincoln’s famous case of Hurd et al v. Rock Island Bridge Company (often called the Effie Afton trial.) Ft. Armstrong has been on Rock Island since 1816. Army Dr. Emerson was stationed at Ft. Armstrong from 1834 to 1836 and took Dred Scott with him as a slave. Slavery was prohibited in Illinois and that later served as Scott’s claim for freedom in the Dred Scott case. The first rail bridge over the Mississippi used the Island to connect Illinois to Iowa and was finished in 1856 (and struck by the steamboat Effie Afton the same year!). President Lincoln signed the legislation creating the Arsenal in 1862, which became a prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Join us for this informative, historical look at how Lincoln addressed the science and technology issues of his time, and how lawyers of every generation face similar challenges. Topics include:

• How Lincoln’s curiosity and self-study of other disciplines (including science and technology) enhanced his ability to represent clients from a broad range of industries;
• Lincoln’s representation in the famous Effie Afton trial where the interests of steamboats clashed with the development of railroad expansion;
• Lincoln’s role as legislator, lawyer, President, and inventor in other areas of science and technology innovations;
• Much more.

Program Coordinators:
J. Steven Beckett, Beckett Law Office P.C., Urbana
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville

Lincoln’s Interest and Commitment to Science and Technology
The program’s opening segment examines Lincoln’s evolving interest in and involvement with science and technology issues – and how it impacted his role as lawyer, legislator, and President.
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville

Lincoln and the Effie Afton Case
Don’t miss this in-depth look at how the westward expansion of railroads required a bridge over the Mississippi and how that collided, figuratively and literally, with the steamboat industry.
Guy C. Fraker, Attorney and Author, Bloomington

Lincoln’s Cases involving Railroads and Other Patents and Inventions
This segment explores some of the many cases Lincoln participated in as new inventions, methods of transportation, commerce, and industry came to Illinois.
Hon. Ronald D. Spears (ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville



*Originally presented as part of the ISBA’s 5th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy Conference. Find more sessions in this series in the ISBA On-Demand CLE catalog.



Pricing Information

• Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
• ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
• Fees:
• ISBA Member Price of $96.25 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit
• Non-Member Price $192.50
• New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
• Law Students - Free

2.75 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­October 30, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss Part 2 of the 7^th Annual Bock Food Law and Policy Conference as we examine a number of hot topic issues impacting the food and beverage industries. Environmental law attorneys, food law practitioners, agricultural lawyers, and business advise counsel with all levels of practice experience who attend this program will better understand:

• When (and when not) to use trade secrets and patents to protect your client’s recipes;
• The ins and outs of opening a food co-op;
• The policies and perceptions of childhood energy drink consumption;
• The legal issues surrounding cell-based meat;
• The various ways PFAS can enter our foods;

Program Coordinator:
Robert B. Anderson, Bahr Anderson Law Group, LLC, Wheaton

Program Moderator:
Prof. A. Bryan Endres, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana

Trade Secrets, Patents, and When to Use Them
Trade secrets and patents are powerful tools meant to protect your clients’ recipes, methods, and other food-related information … but sometimes it is better not to use them. This segment outlines what these tools are and the factors to consider when deciding whether or not to use them.
Adam D. Sussman, Crowell & Moring LLP, Chicago

Food Co-Ops, Outline, Use Cases, and Formation Steps
Do you have clients looking to form a consumer cooperative in Illinois? Do your food co-op clients need help with the security law aspect of their business? This session uses a grocery cooperative as an example to explore these issues and more, including: the legal steps in creating this type of business venture in Illinois, how to set up the appropriate entity for your client, the tax considerations your client needs to be aware of, and the legal issues to keep in mind when representing a start-up food cooperative.
Sarah Kaplan, PathLight Law, Illinois/California

What’s the Buzz? Preferences and Perceptions of Policies to Reduce Childhood Energy Drink Consumption
Just as global energy drink sales have surged, so have the public health concerns regarding children consuming these products. With limited regulatory oversight, potential adverse effects, and recent claims that these companies are targeting children through their marketing, there is a need to better understand society’s evolving relationship with the energy drink market. Listen as our speakers discuss a recent study in which 1,036 U.S. adults were studied to assess consumer preference, as well as their perceptions toward energy drink policies and marketing.
Prof. Maria Helen Kalaitzandonakes, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Champaign
Prof. Aaron J. Staples, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Champaign

Cell-Based Meat
Cell-based meat is real meat that is grown in a lab from the cells of living animals, rather than being raised (and later slaughtered) on a farm. Once grown, the tissue is processed and packaged into typical products the consumer recognizes, such as burgers and steak. This segment discusses the current regulatory landscape and legal issues surrounding this practice, as well as what you need to know before advising your clients.
Elizabeth Rumley, National Agricultural Law Center, Arkansas

PFAS: Overview and Legal Issues
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been a hot topic issue in the environmental law arena for quite some time. But attorneys need to be just as aware of how these forever chemicals can impact the food industry and the legal issues surrounding them. Don’t miss this presentation that explains what PFAS are, why they are considered “forever chemicals,” the various ways these chemicals can be introduced to our foods, and how to advise your client on the legal issues that can arise.
Blaine Bengtson, Lathrop GRM LLP, Colorado

3.25 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: October 30, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Food law is a diverse and inter-connected field of law with significant crossover between agricultural production, environmental protection, natural resource consumption, and intellectual property – to name a few. Don’t miss this in-depth look at the evolving legal issues impacting your clients in the food and beverage industry. Attorneys with all levels of practice experience who attend this program will better understand:

• How agriculture and renewable energy intersect;
• The differences between agritourism and agricultural exceptionalism;
• How the renewed Farm Bill may impact your food and agricultural clients; and
• What you need to know about opening an alcohol manufacturer (and the tasting room regulations).

Program Coordinator:
Robert B. Anderson, Bahr Anderson Law Group, LLC, Wheaton

Program Moderator:
Prof. A. Bryan Endres, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana

Agriculture and Renewable Energy
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from our expert, Jesse Richardson, as he explores the various ways agriculture intersects with renewable energy, including agrivoltaics.
Prof. Jesse Richardson, West Virginia University College of Law, West Virginia

Agritourism and Agricultural Exceptionalism
Although agritourism and agricultural exceptionalism both relate to agriculture, they differ in concept with the former being a way for farmers to diversify their income, and the latter being a legal framework that helps shape the agricultural landscape. Join us for a comprehensive look at whether the evolving concept of “agricultural exceptionalism” should apply to all agritourism operations, or whether we need a new legal model.
Prof. Peggy Kirk Hall, Ohio State University, Ohio

Federal Food and Agriculture Programs
The current administration is transforming many long-standing food and agricultural programs. The rate of change is unprecedented and occurring with the backdrop of Congressional negotiations for a renewed Farm Bill – the primary federal source of both food assistance and farm-based conservation programs. Get the updates you need on the evolving federal policy and what to expect moving forward with this informative segment.
Prof. Jonathan W. Coppess, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Law, Urbana

Opening an Alcohol Manufacturer and Sampling your Products
Wineries, distilleries, and breweries are very popular in Illinois and many new ones are cropping up in quick succession. This presentation gives you the information you need to advise your client on the different types of alcohol manufacturing, how to open an alcohol manufacturer, and the existing rules regarding sharing samples with your customers in an onsite tasting room.
Robert B. Anderson, Bahr Anderson Law Group, LLC, Wheaton