Agricultural Law

NextGen Symposium 2025: Illinois' New Bar Exam Focuses on Getting Students "Practice Ready"

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 Illinois State Bar Association
Co-sponsored by the Illinois Bar Foundation


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

5th Annual Abraham Lincoln's Legal Legacy: Lessons for Today's Lawyers: Science and Technology's Rapidly Evolving Impact on the Law - Part 2

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!

5th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy: Lessons for Today’s Lawyers –
Science and Technology’s Rapidly Evolving Impact on the Law – Part 2
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association
Co-sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Association


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 5th 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

5th Annual Abraham Lincoln's Legal Legacy: Lessons for Today's Lawyers: Science and Technology's Rapidly Evolving Impact on the Law - 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!
5th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy: Lessons for Today’s Lawyers –
Science and Technology’s Rapidly Evolving Impact on the Law – Part 1
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association
Co-sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Association


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 5th 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

7th Annual Bock Food Law and Policy Conference - Part 2

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 Food Law Section
Co-presented by the ISBA Environmental Law Section and SIU Simmons School of Law


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 7th 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

Program 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 $96.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $193
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

7th Annual Bock Food Law and Policy Conference - 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 Food Law Section
Co-presented by the ISBA Environmental Law Section and SIU Simmons School of Law


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


Program 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 $114 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $228
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

7th Annual Abraham Lincoln's Legal Legacy: Lessons for Today's Lawyers: Lincoln and Medicine - Part 2

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 Illinois State Bar Association
Co-Presented by the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission


2.75 hours MCLE credit, including 1.75 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following categories:
  • 0.75 hours Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment credit
  • 1.0 hours Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 5, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­November 4, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Part 2 of ISBA’s 7th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar examines how present-day medical malpractice differs from 170 years ago, the ethical issues you need to be aware of when handling your next medicine-related case; and how Lincoln’s personal and professional growth was impacted by his relationship with David Davis.


Program Coordinator/Moderator:
John A. Lupton, Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation, Springfield

Abraham Lincoln’s Medical Malpractice Cases*
(0.75 hour Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment credit)
This presentation explores one of Lincoln’s more famous cases – the chicken bone case – and how today’s medical malpractice field differs from Lincoln’s time period.
John A. Lupton, Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation, Springfield

Legal Ethics and Medicine*
(1.0 hour Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit)
This session examines the juxtaposition of medical issues in the legal community and legal ethics, and what you need to know when representing your clients.
Melissa A. Smart, Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Springfield

David Davis and Abraham Lincoln
The program closes with a look at the personal and professional relationship between David Davis – who was an Illinois 8th Judicial Circuit Judge, Lincoln’s campaign manager, and an U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice – and Abraham Lincoln.
Hon. Raymond J. McKoski (ret.), University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, 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 $96 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $193
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

7th Annual Abraham Lincoln's Legal Legacy: Lessons for Today's Lawyers: Lincoln and Medicine - 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 Illinois State Bar Association
Co-Presented by the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission


1.75 hours MCLE credit, including 1.75 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following categories:
  • 0.75 hours Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment credit
  • 1.0 hours Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 5, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­November 4, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss Part 1 of ISBA’s 7th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar as we discuss the medically-based cases Lincoln handled involving expert witnesses, personal injury, and insanity, as well as his own personal struggles with depression and how it impacted his career.


Program Coordinator/Moderator:
John A. Lupton, Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation, Springfield

Abraham Lincoln’s Medical-Related Cases*
(0.75 hour Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment credit)
This segment opens with a brief introduction to the Court House Square’s Lincoln sites, followed by an in-depth look at the cases Lincoln handled that dealt with the medical profession, including expert witnesses, personal injury, and insanity.
Guy Fraker, Attorney and Author, Bloomington

Abraham Lincoln’s Melancholy*
(1.0 hour Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit)
This segment focuses on Lincoln’s own personal struggles with depression and how it impacted his legal and political careers.
Samuel Wheeler, Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation, Springfield



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 $62 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $124
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and How Attorneys Can Combat Bias

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 hourProfessional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Diversity & Inclusion credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­September 15, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


In 1920s Oklahoma, Native Americans were treated as second class citizens. In the book and movie, Killers of the Flower Moon, we learn the true story about how members of the Osage Tribe were cheated out of their wealth and murdered for their oil rights. Don’t miss this interactive presentation in which our speaker, Philip Bogdanoff, uses film clips from the movie to discuss the various laws that discriminated against the Osage Tribe and how William Hale schemed to murder members of the tribe and steal their wealth. Learn how attorneys today can help prevent bias and discrimination in the legal profession by examining what the attorneys in the 1920s did to fight the racial persecution of the Osage Tribe and aided in the conviction of Mr. Hale for murder.

About the Speaker: Philip Bogdanoff is a nationally recognized continuing legal education speaker. Previously, he served as an assistant prosecutor in Akron, Ohio for nearly thirty years. He worked closely with the police and often made charging decisions on long term investigations. Mr. Bogdanoff also argued cases before the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court before retiring as a senior assistant prosecutor. He still works as a special prosecutor and in 2022 argued three criminal cases before the Ohio Supreme Court. He has done over fifty presentations for prosecutor groups including the National District Attorneys Association. Attendees describe his presentations as informative, engaging, entertaining and dynamic. More information about Mr. Bogdanoff is available on his website at http://www.philipbogdanoff.com/.



Program 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 $35is 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

Foolproof Generative Artificial Intelligence for Illinois Lawyers: Generating a Smarter, More Efficient 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: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention


Original Program Date: June 25, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: August 14, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


As generative artificial intelligence reshapes the legal landscape, attorneys must understand its benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations to stay competitive and compliant. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from our speaker, Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, as he demystifies the role of AI in modern legal practice and offers strategic insights on its integration into research, drafting and client communications. Attorneys with intermediate practice experience who attend this online program will learn:
  • How artificial intelligence enhances efficiency by streamlining legal research, automating document drafting, and supporting data-driven decision-making;
  • How to address fabricated citations and misleading outputs;
  • Why human oversight and rigorous verification is so important (especially in light of the cases where attorneys were sanctioned for AI-related errors);
  • The latest ethical guidelines (including the ABA’s Formal Opinion 512 and the Illinois Supreme Court’s AI policy) that outlines the best practices for confidentiality, transparency, and responsible artificial intelligence use;
  • How to ensure accuracy and compliance when using artificial intelligence tools; and
  • Much more!
For those who wish to receive the presenter’s resources after the presentation, such as in-depth case studies with guidance on how to adopt Generative AI in a law firm and his book on Generative AI strategies, please visit: https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/event
About the Speaker: Dr. Gleb Tspiursky was named “Office Whisperer” by The New York Times for helping leaders overcome frustrations with Generative AI. He serves as the CEO of the future-of-work consultancy, Disaster Avoidance Experts. Dr. Gleb wrote seven bestselling books, including ChatGPT for Leaders and Content Creators: Unlocking the Potential of Generative AI . His cutting-edge thought leadership was featured in over 650 articles and 550 interview, including USA Today, CBS News, Fox News, Time, Business Insider, Fortune, and The New York Times. His writing was translated into Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Korean, French, Vietnamese, German, and more. His expertise comes from over 20 years of consulting, coaching, and speaking for Fortune 500 companies from Aflac to Xerox. It also comes from over 15 years in academia as a behavioral scientist, with 8 years as a lecturer at UNC-Chapel Hill, and 7 years as a professor at Ohio State.


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

It's Just a Plant, Man: Regulating Cannabis, Intoxicating Hemp, and CBD

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 Local Government Law Section
Co-presented by ISBA’s Standing Committee on Government Lawyers


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­August 25, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Due to Farm Bill loopholes, Illinois has seen a rise in intoxicating hemp products. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the history behind the legislative attempts to regulate cannabis and industrial hemp at both the state and federal levels. Government lawyers, civil practice attorneys, agricultural law practitioners, and environmental law counsel with all levels of practice experience who attend this program will better understand:
  • The state and local regulatory responses to intoxicating hemp;
  • How the 2018 Federal Farm Bill created legal gray areas for the sale of industrial hemp;
  • The botanical, chemical, and legal differences between regulated substances;
  • The authority of local municipalities to impose regulations on intoxicating hemp products; and
  • The efforts that have been made to create clarifying regulations that cover both cannabis and intoxicating hemp.

Program Coordinator:
Patrick J. Collins, Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Aurora, Aurora

Program Moderator:
Deborah Lang, Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Aurora, Aurora

Program Chat Moderator:
Patrick J. Collins, Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Aurora, Aurora

Program Speaker:
Stewart J. Weiss, Elrod Friedman, LLP, Chicago



Program 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