Agricultural Law

Achieving Wellness, Work-Life Balance, and Long-Term Success in Your Law Practice

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Master Series presented by the Illinois State Bar Association


1.50 hours MCLE credit, including 1.50 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­May 14, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Are you feeling overwhelmed by the unrelenting demands of your legal career? If so, then you are not alone. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen as our renowned speaker, Doug Brown, addresses the unique challenges attorneys face in our modern world. Together, we'll explore transformative strategies to reduce stress, find balance, and rekindle your passion for law. Attorneys who attend this seminar will learn how to:
  • Balance high standards with realistic goals;
  • Establish firm work-life boundaries (while continuing to achieve your goals);
  • Navigate firm culture securely and confidently; and
  • Prioritize your physical and mental health.
About the Speaker:
Doug Brown, J.D., is the Chief Learning Officer at Summit Success, LLC. As an executive coach, law practice consultant, and growth strategist he shares practical strategies to promote sustainable law firm growth and lawyer well-being. An authority implementing positive change, his experience includes private and in-house legal practice and business marketing, sales, human resources, finance, and information technology. He also served as chief executive of the Connecticut Bar Association and chief operating officer for a chain of fine jewelry stores. As Program Chair and Professor in the MBA Program for The Malcolm Baldrige School of Business at Post University, he designed and delivered MBA programs in leadership, entrepreneurship, finance, and innovation specifically for experienced executives.

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 $52.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $105
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Navigating Restrictions and Transparency Requirements of Foreign Investments in U.S. Land - Part 1

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA International & Immigration Law Section
Co-Sponsored by the ISBA Agricultural Law Section and ISBA Real Estate Law Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­April 10, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


According to the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, nearly 41 million acres of land is own (partially or fully) by foreign entitles. Current federal law does not regulate this land aside from requiring foreign buyers to register with the USDA. Don’t miss this in-depth discussion on the federal and state rules regulating foreign ownership of U.S. land, including the reporting requirements of foreign investments in U.S. businesses and agriculture. Real estate lawyers, agricultural law attorneys, business advice and financial planning practitioners, and international/immigration counsel with intermediate practice experience who attend this online seminar will better understand:
  • Illinois reporting requirements for foreign-owned land;
  • The Illinois legislative proposals seeking to restrict foreign investments in land located within the state;
  • Which surrounding states currently restrict foreign investments in land; and
  • The Corporate Transparency Act reporting requirements for certain foreign entities.

Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Angela Peters, Buffalo Grove Law Offices, Arlington Heights

Program Speaker:
Harrison Pittman, Director, National Agricultural Law Center (NALC), Arkansas


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 $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $70
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Time Management Series: Get Organized! Fight the Paper - Organize Your Digital Matter File

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Master Series presented by the Illinois State Bar Association


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


Original Program Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­April 2, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


To efficiently process daily tasks & emails, you must be organized! In modern times, that means you must have a digital matter/case file that is complete and organized. In other words, to find answers to questions and to solve problems for clients, we must be able to efficiently find answers and information. Emails can’t be stuck in users’ inboxes. Some documents can’t be in one place, and other documents in another place. We also need effective and secure remote access when working from the road or home. In this seminar, learn how to centralize & securely maintain paperless files!

Program Speaker:
Paul Unger, Affinity Consulting, Ohio
About the Speaker:
Paul is a national speaker and author. He coaches lawyers how to be more efficient with time management by offering customized workshops. When he isn’t speaking or writing, he is usually performing technology assessments throughout the United States and Canada. Paul began his career working for the Governor of Ohio, and then went on to law school. He practiced law for six years, specializing in litigation and bankruptcy, before starting a legal technology consulting company with partner Barron Henley in 2000. Paul’s superpowers are cleaning up messes and turning digital chaos into well-organized machines. His favorite part of his job is helping people get organized and focused so they can find more enjoyment in their lives and jobs.

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 $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Time Management Series: Help! My Inbox is Exploding: Email Management

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Master Series presented by the Illinois State Bar Association


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


Original Program Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­April 2, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


 Legal professionals today receive between 100-150+ emails or other electronic communication (via MS Teams channel, Slack, etc.) a day, much of which contains tasks that we must act upon. In this interactive session, you will learn how to efficiently process email and get your inbox under control. We will help you process those emails & tasks in a way that those items never get lost. We will get our hands dirty and learn how to use Microsoft Outlook and other tools that your organization uses to manage emails.

Program Speaker:
Paul Unger, Affinity Consulting, Ohio
About the Speaker:
Paul is a national speaker and author. He coaches lawyers how to be more efficient with time management by offering customized workshops. When he isn’t speaking or writing, he is usually performing technology assessments throughout the United States and Canada. Paul began his career working for the Governor of Ohio, and then went on to law school. He practiced law for six years, specializing in litigation and bankruptcy, before starting a legal technology consulting company with partner Barron Henley in 2000. Paul’s superpowers are cleaning up messes and turning digital chaos into well-organized machines. His favorite part of his job is helping people get organized and focused so they can find more enjoyment in their lives and jobs.

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 $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Time Management Series: Time and Distraction Management + Digital Detox

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Master Series presented by the Illinois State Bar Association


1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility or Legal Ethics credit
Original Program Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 2, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Professionals today are constantly distracted by technology, connectivity, and information overload. These physical and digital distractions cause very smart people to underperform and contribute to anxiety inability to focus. In this interactive session, you will learn how to build healthy boundaries with technology, how to better unplug/disconnect and take back control of technology instead of it controlling you. We will teach you distraction management techniques and a practical time management methodology that enables you regain control of your day. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and learn how Microsoft Outlook and other tools can help you achieve focus during the day.


Program Speaker:
Paul Unger, Affinity Consulting, Ohio


About the Speaker:
Paul is a national speaker and author. He coaches lawyers how to be more efficient with time management by offering customized workshops. When he isn’t speaking or writing, he is usually performing technology assessments throughout the United States and Canada. Paul began his career working for the Governor of Ohio, and then went on to law school. He practiced law for six years, specializing in litigation and bankruptcy, before starting a legal technology consulting company with partner Barron Henley in 2000. Paul’s superpowers are cleaning up messes and turning digital chaos into well-organized machines. His favorite part of his job is helping people get organized and focused so they can find more enjoyment in their lives and jobs.

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 $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Miller v. Department of Agriculture

Miller v. Department of Agriculture
Illinois Supreme Court
Civil Court
Illinois Grain Insurance Fund
Citation
Case Number: 
2024 IL 128508
Decision Date: 
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Holding: 
Appellate court judgment reversed, circuit court judgment affirmed.
Justice: 
ROCHFORD

Plaintiff, a grain producer, filed a claim with the Department of Agriculture after a licensed grain dealer failed to make payments under a price later contract it entered into with the plaintiff. The plaintiff and the department disagreed about the implementation of a delayed pricing contract as the pricing date determined whether the plaintiff was eligible for compensation from the Illinois Grain Insurance Fund. The supreme court agreed with the position of the department and concluded that because the plaintiff did not sign the contract for the sale of grain within 30 days of the completion of the grain delivery, the grain was priced on a date outside the protection window established by the Grain Code and, as a result, plaintiff was not eligible for compensation from the fund. (THEIS, NEVILLE, OVERSTREET, HOLDER WHITE, CUNNINGHAM, and O’BRIEN, concurring)

ISBA'S LAW ED FACULTY DEVELOPMENT SERIES Virtual Presentations: The Basics and Beyond

ISBA’s Law Ed Faculty Development Series
Complimentary and Exclusively for ISBA Law Ed Faculty
(and for those who want to become Law Ed Faculty)
For ISBA Members Only


1.50 hours MCLE credit, including 1.50 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category : Professionalism, Civility, and Legal Ethics


Original Program Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Febuary 1, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)
Take your virtual presentation skills to the next level with the
practical tools and insights you will gain in this program.


Enhance your online zoom presentation skills by attending this interactive training program! With 95% of ISBA CLE credit delivered online to ISBA members, it’s important that you have the tools and insight you need to reach your next online CLE audience. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from our experienced presenters as they take you through the process of planning your presentation all the way through your zoom presentation day, offering best practices, top tips, and inside advice along the way. For your next on-camera presentation, you’ll learn how to:
Structure and develop your presentation, including how to create learning objectives for your audience;
Identify best practices for written materials;
Use effective interactivity exercises;
Make the most of your available technology tools;
Maintain comfort and confidence on-camera;
  • Use the camera in a professional manner;
  • Know which Zoom (and other platform) features can enhance your delivery skills;
  • Use lighting and sound to your advantage;
  • Develop and use polls and other virtual platform features effectively;
  • And more!

Program Moderator:
Carol A. Casey, Illinois Department of Children & Family Services, Joliet

Program Speakers:
Erika N. Harold, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, Chicago
Paul Unger, Affinity Consulting, Ohio

Public Act 103-298

Topic: 
Illinois Radon Awareness Act

(Williams, D-Chicago; Ellman, D-Naperville) amends the Illinois Radon Awareness Act. It provides that the lessor shall provide the prospective tenant or tenant of a dwelling unit with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency’s “Radon Guide for Tenants” pamphlet, copies of any records or reports pertaining to radon concentrations within the dwelling unit that indicate a radon hazard to the tenant, and the new statutory Disclosure of Information on Radon Hazards to Tenants form. These must be provided at the time of a prospective tenant’s application to lease a dwelling unit, before a lease is entered into, or at any time during the leasing period upon request. Provides that at the commencement of the agreed leasing period, a tenant shall have 90 days to conduct his or her own radon test of the dwelling unit. Requires a tenant who decides to have radon mitigation performed to have the express consent of the lessor before doing so. Makes other changes. Effective Jan. 1, 2024.

View Full Text of Legislation

House Bill 2098

Topic: 
Amends the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act

(Tarver, D-Chicago; Sims, D-Chicago) provides that "seller" does not include a beneficiary who has both (1) never occupied the residential real property and (2) never had management responsibility for the residential real property. Passed both chambers. 

View Full Text of Legislation

Senate Bill 244

Topic: 
Homestead exemption

(Villa, West Chicago) Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that every individual is entitled to an estate of homestead to the extent in value of $30,000 of his or her interest in a farm or lot of land and buildings thereon, a condominium, or personal property, owned or rightly possessed by lease or otherwise and occupied by him or her as a residence, or in a cooperative that owns property that the individual uses as a residence, or $60,000 if the homestead is owned by 2 or more individuals. Scheduled for hearing Tuesday in Senate Judiciary Committee. 

View Full Text of Legislation