Elder Law

Planning for & Calculating the Illinois Estate Tax

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 Trusts & Estates Section

1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: September 7, 2022
MCLE Accreditation Extension Period: ­­­­­­­March 28, 2025 - March 27, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Get the information you need on Illinois estate tax law so you can better assist your next trusts and estates client with this online program. Financial planning attorneys, elder law practitioners, and federal, state and local tax lawyers with intermediate practice experience will better understand:
  • How the Illinois estate tax is calculated;
  • How it is impacted by lifetime gifts;
  • When it applies to non-residents; and
  • How the calculation is adjusted for out-of-state property

Program Coordinator:
Daniel P. Felix, The Professional Trustee, Deerfield

Program Moderator:
Aaron D. Evans, Sorling Northrup, Springfield

Program Speaker:
Christine R.W. Quigley, ArentFox Schiff, 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 $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

Estate Planning Basics

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 Trusts & Estates Section
Co-sponsored by the ISBA Elder Law Section


1.50 hours MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 24, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Are you new to the trusts and estates practice? Want to learn more about how to help families manage their assets? Then don’t miss this seminar that offers you a basic understanding of what it means to “plan an estate.” Topics include:
  • The most common documents used in estate planning;
  • How to help your clients draft wills and power of attorneys;
  • The tax issues that you should consider when helping your clients plan their estates;
  • How to anticipate and prevent ethical pitfalls in estate planning; and
  • Much more.

Program Coordinator:
Colleen L. Sahlas, Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook

Program Chat Moderator:
Kerry R. Peck, Peck Ritchey, LLC, Chicago

Program Speakers:
Karen R. Mills, Aronberg Goldgehn, Wheaton
Sara E. Riechert, Chamberlin Riechert Law Group, P.C., Oak Brook



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 $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

Planning for Illinois Estates with Challenging Assets

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 Trusts & Estates Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­February 24, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Challenging assets can be anything from tax deferred assets, to non-Illinois situs assets, to assets not easily divisible between spousal trusts, and more. Join us for this in-depth look at the strategies you can use to address taxable estates in Illinois that have challenging assets. Trusts and estates lawyers, elder law attorneys, general practitioners, and federal tax lawyers with intermediate practice experience who attend this online program will learn:
  • How to handle estates with less-than-ideal assets to maximize utilization of estate tax exemptions, including the use of disclaimers;
  • How to balance federal planning with Illinois estate tax planning (portability vs. equalization);
  • The options for dividing and/or equalizing assets between spouses or spousal trusts for assets that are not divisible or are tax deferred vehicles; and
  • The barriers and potential workarounds for taxable estates having mostly challenging assets, such as retirement accounts, profit sharing plans, closely held businesses, or illiquid assets.

Program Coordinator:
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook

Program Chat Moderator:
Melissa Johnson, Generation Law, Elmhurst

Program Speakers:
Lauran L. Stevenson, Chapman and Cutler LLP, Chicago
Rebecca Wallenfelsz, Chapman and Cutler LLP, 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 $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

Planning Strategies & Opportunities Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Sunsets in 2025

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 Trusts & Estates Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­February 24, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is set to expire at the end of 2025 …. will your clients be ready? And, more importantly, are you equipped with the information you need to advise them? Don’t miss this informative presentation that reviews the history of the federal estate and gift tax exemption, explores the different planning strategies and opportunities available to your clients, and shows you how to assess your clients’ circumstances when deciding whether the client is a good fit for a particular recommendation. Elder law attorneys, federal tax lawyers, and trusts and estate practitioners with intermediate practice experience who attend this online program will also learn:
  • Who should consider changing their estate planning strategies in advance of the sunset;
  • How to implement these planning strategies with your client’s team, including their wealth management advisor, accounting, and valuation expert;
  • What you need to know about annual gifting options and irrevocable life insurance trusts;
  • How spousal lifetime access trusts and the reciprocal trust doctrine may help your clients; and
  • Grantor retained annuity trust and qualified personal residence trust.


Program Coordinator:
Colleen L. Sahlas , The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook

Program Chat Moderator:
Melissa Johnson , Generation Law, Elmhurst

Program Speakers:
Angela M. Iaria , Aronberg Goldgehn, Wheaton
Jennifer F. Kuzminski , Aronberg Goldgehn, 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

Advocating for Nursing Facility Residents

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 Elder Law Section
Co-sponsored by the ISBA Senior Lawyers Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 28, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Learn how to effectively advocate for your clients residing in nursing facilities with this informative online seminar. Elder law attorneys, family law practitioners, trusts and estate counsel, and senior lawyers with basic practice experience who attend this program will better understand:
  • What you need to know about nursing facility law;
  • The advocacy options you have for nursing facility residents, including administrative remedies and litigation;
  • How to identify important provisions of federal nursing facility law; and
  • How to spot issues in common nursing facility disputes.

Program Coordinator:
Dolores A. Wigman, Vulnerable Elder Rights Coordinator, Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., Chicago

Program Chat Moderator:
Karen Alice Kloppe, Legal Assistance Developer, Illinois Department on Aging, Springfield

Program Speaker:
Eric Carlson, Director, Long-Term and Supports Advocacy, Justice in Aging, California



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

Seeing Red: Transforming Anger into Healthy Skills for Healthy Living

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 Trusts & Estates Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Mental Health and Substance Abuse credit


Original Program Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 27, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Anger comes in many forms – from quiet disappointment to all-consuming rage – and springs from many sources, including perceived provocations, differences of opinion, fragile egos, and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from our speaker, Lynette Hoy, as she explores the best methods for managing anger and coping with angry clients. Attorneys with basic practice experience who attend this online seminar will better understand:
  • The nature and physiology of anger;
  • How to express anger with respect, empathy, and assertiveness using research-based skills;
  • The strategies for coping with anger in personal and professional situations; and
  • Much more.

Program Coordinators:
Kerry R. Peck, Peck Ritchey LLC, Chicago
Colleen L. Sahlas, Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook

Program Chat Moderator:
Colleen L. Sahlas, Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook

Program Speaker:
Lynette J. Hoy, President, Anger Management Institute, Oak Brook
About the Speaker: Lynette Hoy is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois and a National Certified Counselor. She is a Diplomate, Supervisor, Consultant, and Anger Management Specialist-V with the National Anger Management Association, as well as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional by Evergreen Certifications. Mrs. Hoy has authored all the What’s Good About Anger? books and expanded workbooks and is a regular pre-conference workshop presenter and track leader for the AACC international conferences. Lynette oversees, authors, and publishes all courses and training curriculum for both the Anger Management Institute and CounselCare Connection, P.C. She is a crisis counselor with the R-3 Continuum, a crisis care network providing counseling and debriefing to various individuals and companies.


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

2025: New Year, New Laws

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 Bench & Bar Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit


Original Program Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 28, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this annual hot topic program! Join us for this engaging seminar as Judge Jennifer Johnson presents a review of the new laws that will take effect throughout the new year. Topics include: an examination of the new statutory laws for 2025, a review of how the law has changed, and a look at which laws may be impacted in the future.

Program Coordinators:
Hon. Michael J. Chmiel , Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Woodstock
Edward Casmere, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Chicago
Program Moderator:
Hon. Michael J. Chmiel, Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Woodstock

Program Speaker:
Hon. Jennifer L. Johnson , Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Woodstock


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

60 Artificial Intelligence Tips in 60 Minutes

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 Standing Committee on Artificial Intelligence & the Practice of Law
Co-sponsored by ISBA Standing Committee on Legal Technology and ISBA Privacy and Information Security Section


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


Original Program Date: Friday, December 13, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 15, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Join us for this entertaining and educational session focused on the safe and efficient use of artificial intelligence in your practice. Our presenters will give you 60 rapid-fire practical tips and tricks for using several popular artificial intelligence tools and techniques in your daily workflow. Topics include: ChatGPT, privacy and security issues to be aware of, tech support, and more.

Program Speakers:
Aaron W. Brooks, Brooks Law and Consulting, LLC, Naperville
Bryan M. Sims, Sims Law Firm, Ltd., Naperville


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

Recent Amendments to the Illinois Power of Attorney Act: Unreasonable and Reasonable Refusal to Honor Property Powers

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 Trusts & Estates Section
Co-sponsored by the ISBA Elder Law Section


1.0 hour MCLE credit

Original Program Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 6, 2027(You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


On August 9, 2024, Governor Pritzker signed Illinois Public Act 103-0994 into law, which amended the Illinois Power of Attorney Act to provide a statutory framework for when it would be reasonable for a third-party to refuse recognition of a financial Power of Attorney, as well as when it would be unreasonable for a third-party to not honor an otherwise properly executed Power of Attorney for Property. Don’t miss this panel presentation in which our speakers discuss the legislative process, the compromises made to reach the resulting language, how financial Powers of Attorney are reviewed by bank counsel, and how this legislative amendment will affect financial institutions’ practices in reviewing financial Powers of Attorney.

Program Coordinator:
Colleen L. Sahlas, The Law Offices of Hoy & Sahlas, LLC, Oak Brook

Program Chat Moderator:
Eric R. Wilen, Attorney at Law, Naperville

Program Speakers:
Lauren Barney, Associate General Counsel, CIBC Bank USA, Chicago
Amy Delaney, DDV Law, Ltd., Chicago
Elizabeth Anne Khalil, U.S. Chief Privacy Officer, Deputy General Counsel, CIBC Bank USA, Chicago
Ben A. Neiburger, Generation Law, Elmhurst
Aaron White, Senior General Counsel, CIBC Bank USA, Chicago
Eric R. Wilen, Attorney at Law, Naperville


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

6th Annual Abraham Lincoln's Legal Legacy: Lessons for Today's Lawyers - Democracy, The Constitution, and Lincoln the Lawyer/President - 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-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, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: Friday, September 6, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­January 6, 2027 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss ISBA’s 6th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar as we study Lincoln’s actions as a lawyer and President in facing threats to democracy in America and the United States Constitution. The program takes place in Springfield, which was the center of Lincoln’s law practice and three partnerships, and where Lincoln developed his understanding of the democratic process and his interpretation of the Constitution. It was the venue for many of Lincoln’s significant trials, including the “Peachy” Quinn Harrison murder trial. Join us for this in-depth look at how Lincoln’s view of the Constitution changed over time and evolved into the use of his Presidential War Powers to advance the case of Union and emancipation. Additional topics include:
  • How the 1909 Centennial Celebration of Lincoln’s birth resulted in no minorities attending the festivities and how, at the same time in New York City, concerned citizens formed the NAACP to discuss and address racism and white supremacy in the U.S.;
  • The current ethical issues facing attorneys, including lawyer-client privilege, confidentiality concerns, and limits on lawyers and litigants’ speech during trials;
  • How future lawyers can research Lincoln’s legal career and cases;
  • What current and future lawyers can learn from Lincoln’s legal legacy; and
  • Much more.

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

Contemporary Ethical Issues*
Join us for a discussion on the ethical issues facing lawyers today, including lawyer-client confidences, confidentiality requirements, restrictions on speech by lawyers and clients during trial, and more.
Melissa A. Smart, Director of Education, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Chicago

Looking for Lawyer Lincoln? How Future Lawyers Can Access Lincoln’s Legal Cases, Papers, and Career*
John Lupton, Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, Springfield

Lincoln’s Legacy as Lawyer/President*
This panel presentation discusses what current and future generations of lawyers can learn from Abraham Lincoln as a lawyer and a President.
Moderator: Hon. Ronald D. Spears(ret.), Spears Dispute Resolution LLC, Taylorville
J. Steven Beckett, Steve Beckett Law Office LLC, Urbana
Prof. Brian Dirck, Anderson University, Indiana
Guy C. Fraker, Attorney and Author, Bloomington
John Lupton, Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, Springfield


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 $96.25 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