The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that Professionalism Counsel Mark C. Palmer has been elected to the Illinois State Bar Association’s (ISBA) Board of Governors. Palmer will serve a 3-year term as lead representative for the 5th, 6th and 11th Judicial Circuits beginning on June 13, 2019, the opening of the ISBA Annual Meeting. The 27-member ISBA Board of Governors oversees the operations and management of the ISBA, subject to policies set by the 203-member Assembly. Voting in the election was open to ISBA members. “Mark has dedicated his career to improving the administration…

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that Lindsay Shaw has been nominated for the Association of Legal Administrators’ (ALA) Quest Award. Shaw, CLE & Program Coordinator for the Commission on Professionalism, is one of 18 finalists from more than 720 eligible members across the U.S. The Quest Award recognizes a new member who has become quickly and effectively engaged with ALA and demonstrates support for the profession, conviction, dedication and relentless pursuit of personal and professional excellence. Chapter presidents are given the opportunity to nominate one individual from a field of the chapter’s eligible…

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that Commissioner Hon. Debra Walker will receive a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois College of Law. The Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented at the College of Law’s Annual Dinner on Thursday, April 11, in Chicago. Since 1966, the College of Law has chosen individuals annually to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of their professional achievements and leadership in their communities. Past recipients include the Hon. Barbara Crowder (Ret.), Circuit Court of Madison County, Ill., and the Hon. Anthony Black, Florida Second District Court…

The ABA Standing Committee on Professional Regulation wants lawyer regulation to be preventative. It seeks comments by April 15 on a draft resolution and report encouraging state supreme courts to study and adopt tailored Proactive Management-Based Regulation (PMBR). The Standing Committee developed the report with the ABA Young Lawyers Division Ethics and Professionalism Committee. PMBR helps lawyers develop ethical infrastructures aimed at preventing misconduct. Traditionally, much of the lawyer regulatory process has been complaint-driven and reactive. However, a majority of complaints are for what’s considered “lesser misconduct,” like a lack of communication or neglect. PMBR proponents believe that…

Early bird registration has been extended for the The Future Is Now: Legal Services 2.019. The discounted $75 registration fee is valid until Monday, April 15. The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism’s signature event will be held on Thursday, May 16, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. CDT at Venue SIX10 in Chicago. Now in its fourth year, The Future is Now conference will feature 10 TED-like talks on embracing and promoting the Rule of Law amid rapid innovation in the legal industry. Lawyers, entrepreneurs and professors from across the U.S. will present on topics like evolving alternative legal landscapes,…

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce the lineup of speaker talks for the fourth annual The Future Is Now: Legal Services 2.019 conference. The conference will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2019, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT at Venue SIX10 in Chicago. “The delivery of legal services is evolving rapidly. Technology is providing new ways to communicate, collaborate and organize our work. However, implementation is uncovering ethical challenges,” said Martin Sinclair, Chair of the Commission on Professionalism. “The Commission looks forward to bringing together lawyers and legal professionals at The Future Is…

Illinois Supreme Court’s e-filing exemption now includes attorneys and non-party filers with a disability. The Supreme Court currently requires e-filing through its eFileIL platform for all civil cases in Illinois trial courts. Previously, Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c) allowed “good cause” exemptions from the e-filing mandate for self-represented litigants (SRLs) that fell into certain categories, such as a lack of computer access, a disability or a language barrier. However, the exemption, which aims to reduce the burden on clerk staff and ensure access to the judicial process, didn’t initially account for attorneys or non-party filers with a disability. The Supreme…

Earlier this month, the Illinois Supreme Court took steps to make paying court fees more manageable. The Court announced changes to the assessment system by which fees, fines and other court costs are paid by litigants in civil and criminal cases. The goal is to address the confusion, inconsistency and financial hardship caused by the previous structure, and make the justice system more accessible. The changes were proposed by a Statutory Court Fee Task Force after a wide-ranging study that found litigant filing costs in civil cases and defendant court fees in criminal cases could lead to excessive financial burden.…

The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) is recruiting volunteers for its 2019 High School Mock Trial Invitational. The mock trials will be held Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10 at the Public Affairs Center at the University of Illinois Springfield. The volunteer registration deadline is Thursday, February 28 at 4:30 p.m. CT. This year’s mock trial will explore a criminal case involving the death of a preparatory academy student during a fire in a school dormitory. The ISBA invites judges, lawyers, law students and paralegals from across the state to volunteer as judges and jurors. The ISBA has sponsored…

As the legal community celebrates Black History Month, the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) reports mixed lawyer diversity numbers. Law firms have historically struggled with lawyer diversity. However, the industry appears to be prioritizing a diverse workforce. Seventy-five percent of Jenner & Block’s 2019 partner class identify as racially diverse or women. Drinker Biddle & Reath’s 2019 partnership announcement emphasized its commitment to promoting women. Meanwhile, Paul, Weiss’ all-white and majority male partner class generated a social media firestorm. Last month, NALP released its 2018 Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms. The data is based on its…