Administrative

Blogs RSS Link
AI Innovation and Governance, Future Is Now 2026
Lawyers are under pressure to modernize the way they deliver legal services without sacrificing the trust, judgment, and professionalism that define the profession. Clients expect clearer communication, more transparency around costs, and a smoother experience at every step of the matter. At the same time, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are reshaping how legal work gets done.
At the Commission’s annual Future Is Now: Legal Services conference, two sessions will help lawyers meet this moment with creativity and care. Have you registered yet?
Legal technology company Clio’s Lawyer-in-Residence, Joshua Lenon, and April Dawson, Associate Dean of

…
Continue Reading Smarter, Not Riskier: How Lawyers Can Modernize and Govern AI in Their Practice

Natalie Lamphier, President of the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers
Natalie Lamphier, President of the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers (Photo Credit: Natalie Lamphier)

Women’s History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women today and throughout U.S. history.
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Julia Roundtree Livingston recently spoke to Natalie Lamphier, president of the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers, one of the many bar associations across Illinois that supports female attorneys, who make up 41% of the state’s lawyers.
In addition to her role with the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers, Lamphier is a partner at Dussais Wittenberg Koenigsberger, LLP, in Chicago, where she

…
Continue Reading 3 Pieces of Advice for Women Attorneys from DuPage Association of Women Lawyers President Natalie Lamphier

Katherine A. Twardak, President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) (Photo Credit: Katie Twardek)
Katherine A. Twardak, President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) (Photo Credit: Katie Twardek)

Women’s History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women today and throughout U.S. history.
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Julia Roundtree Livingston recently spoke to Katherine A. Twardak, president of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI), which was founded in 1914 to promote the interests and welfare of women lawyers.
In addition to her role with the WBAI, Twardak is a partner at Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC, in Chicago, where she practices in all areas of personal injury.
Why are women’s bar

…
Continue Reading Empowering Women in the Legal Profession: Reflections from Katie Twardak, President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

People signing documents for a wedding
Romain Dancre, Unsplash

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that the Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Cook County Circuit Court Associate Judge Joseph D. Panarese to serve as a Commissioner on the Commission on Professionalism.

“I am happy to welcome Judge Panarese to serve as a Commissioner with the Commission on Professionalism,” said John Kim, Chair of the Commission on Professionalism. “His judicial career and experience as an attorney in the public and private sectors will provide valuable insight as the Commission works to advance legal excellence in lawyers and judges across the state.”

Judge Joseph D. Panarese
Photo credit: Judge Joseph

…
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Cook County Circuit Court Judge Joseph D. Panarese to Commission on Professionalism

Amrith Kaur Aakre
Photo credit: Amrith Kaur Aakre

Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Amrith Kaur Aakre, Chief Civil Rights Enforcer for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the Midwest region. Amrith oversees all federal employment discrimination investigations and prosecutions across Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Prior to her current role, Amrith served as the National Legal Director for The Sikh Coalition, a civil rights organization where she represented victims of racial and religious discrimination across the country.
Amrith has also

…
Continue Reading Professionalism Spotlight: Amrith Kaur Aakre, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Vector illustration teamwork business concept. Group of employees play tug of war, Vector illustration in a flat style. Lawyers conflict
Photo credit: iStock.com

You don’t have to look hard to find conflict in the world. It’s everywhere. Add to this the conflict that is inherent to the practice of law, and it’s no wonder that lawyers are stressed.
Spend a day in a courthouse, and you are likely to see litigants arguing, opposing counsel raising their voices at each other, and clients expressing frustration with their attorneys.
As lawyers, we inevitably live and breathe these types of conflicts. I do have good news for you, though. Not all conflict is bad, and it’s possible to manage conflict in a way

…
Continue Reading How Lawyers Can Turn High Conflict into Healthy Conflict

Learn whether a speeding ticket can be removed from your record in Illinois, the limits of expungement and sealing, and how court supervision may affect your driving record. | O’Flaherty Law – Learn About Law Legal Articles, Videos & Podcasts with O’Flaherty Law
Continue Reading Can a Speeding Ticket Be Removed from Your Record in Illinois After Several Years? | O'Flaherty Law

USCIS backlogs are delaying family-based immigration cases across the U.S. Learn why petitions are taking longer, who is most affected, and what steps families can take to keep their cases moving. | O’Flaherty Law – Learn About Law Legal Articles, Videos & Podcasts with O’Flaherty Law
Continue Reading How USCIS Backlogs Impact Family-Based Immigration Cases | O'Flaherty Law

Pageants, Professionalism, and Power
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is joining The Chicago Bar Association (CBA) and the CBA Alliance for Women to stage a unique Women’s History Month CLE, spotlighting the relationship between pageantry and lawyering.
“Pageants, Professionalism, and Power: Unexpected Lessons for Lawyers from Pageantry ” will take attendees behind the scenes, as a panel of Illinois lawyers and judges discusses how the skills they developed through pageantry have shaped their success in legal and judicial careers.
The in-person CLE will be held on Thursday, March 19, from 3:30 – 5 p.m. at the CBA, 321 S. Plymouth Ct.,

…
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism to Co-host ‘Pageants, Professionalism, and Power’ CLE with Chicago Bar Association, CBA Alliance for Women

Can a guardian limit family visits in Illinois? Learn how probate courts handle visitation disputes, what relatives must prove, and how to request court-ordered access that serves the ward’s best interests. | O’Flaherty Law – Learn About Law Legal Articles, Videos & Podcasts with O’Flaherty Law
Continue Reading How to Request Visitation with a Parent Under Guardianship | O'Flaherty Law