Coronavirus

ABSTRACT: The Supreme Court reversed the standard for “undue hardship” under Title VII. What that means for employers and vaccine requirements.
In a Supreme Court term with many headline-grabbing decisions, the high court’s decision in Groff v. De Joy might be the most immediately consequential for employers. In Groff, the Supreme Court changed the prevailing standard for employers responding to employees’ religious accommodation requests under Title VII. By the plain language of the statute, it is unlawful for employers to deny a religious accommodation unless the accommodation would create an “undue hardship” for the employer. Thanks to language from
Continue Reading Supreme Court Reverses Standard for "Undue Hardship" in Title VII Religious Accommodation Cases

The state of Illinois has recently passed a new employment law, known as the Illinois All Workers Act, which provides greater protections for workers across the state. The purpose of the law is to address the growing need for fair and just treatment of workers, regardless of their job classification or status as an independent contractor. The law went into effect in 2023 and provides new rights and benefits for workers in Illinois.

One of the key provisions of the Illinois All Workers Act is the requirement that employers provide all workers with a safe and healthy work environment. This
Continue Reading Illinois All Workers Act Provides Greater Protections for Workers

Our Lawyer Spotlight series highlights Illinois lawyers who are demonstrating the ideals of professionalism in their daily lives.
Bridget Duignan, Partner at Latherow & Duignan in Chicago, represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice, construction negligence, sexual abuse, and wrongful death matters.
Before joining Latherow & Duignan, she served as Assistant Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and worked as a defense attorney practicing in workers’ compensation and employment law.
Bridget attended the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and currently serves as Second-Vice President of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA).
How has your practice
Continue Reading Lawyer Spotlight: Bridget Duignan, Latherow & Duignan Ltd.

Earlier this month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began sending text messages and emails to migrants who are eligible to apply for work authorization permits. The notifications are only for certain immigrants who meet the required stipulations. The following is a brief overview of the program. If you have received a message from USCIS or are unsure if you qualify, contact an Illinois immigration lawyer for legal help.

Work Authorization Notifications
According to announcements issued by the USCIS, electronic notifications were sent to those immigrants seeking asylum, as well as a parole authority program put in place by
Continue Reading USCIS Contacting Migrants in Work Permit Push

Monday, September 4, 2023

How the Ultrawealthy Use Private Foundations to Bank Millions in Tax Deductions While Giving the Public Little in Return

The ultrawealthy can donate valuable artwork, real estate, and stocks to their charitable foundations in exchange for generous tax breaks. In doing so, they are supposed to use the assets to serve the public, such as putting the art on display or opening real estate to tours. Across the United States, such foundations hold over $1 trillion in assets.
A ProPublica investigation revealed that some foundation donors have obtained millions in tax deductions but have yet to
Continue Reading How the Ultrawealthy Use Private Foundations to Bank Millions in Tax Deductions While Giving the Public Little in Return

Illinois ranks third in the U.S. for states aspiring law students should consider, with its strong job prospects, degree affordability, and the emotional health of its working professionals, according to a recent study.
The study, conducted by re-settlement loan company Uplift Legal Funding, ranked states on a scale of 1 – 10 on factors important to aspiring law students, like average yearly salaries, financial aid and tuition, cost of living, bar exam passage percentages, and quality of life.
The rankings were based on data gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023 Princeton Review Law School Rankings, American Psychological Association,
Continue Reading Illinois Ranks High as Preferred State for Law Students

Federal Charges Continue to Show That No One Is Above the Law
Two former Chicago Police Department (CPD) Officers were charged federally for fraudulently obtaining over $2 million in money earmarked for COVID-19 relief programs. Last month, Torrey Price retired from the CPD after being a member for over 23 years and his codefendant, Aaron Price. The two former police officers, along with a third person, are alleged to have fraudulently obtained over $1.4 million in forgivable loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (more commonly referred to as “PPP Loans”), along with seeking an additional $4.2 million for which they
Continue Reading Former Chicago Officers Charged with COVID-19 Relief Fraud

Friday, August 4, 2023

For an Ailing Feinstein, a Fight Over the Family Fortune

Former mayor of San Francisco and current California Senator Dianne Feinstein has been engaged in an increasingly bitter legal conflict with three of her daughters over her late husband’s estate.
The fight began over Senator Feinstein’s desire to sell a beach house in the Stinson Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. The two factions also disagree over access to the proceeds of Richard C. Blum’s life insurance, which Senator Feinstein has previously accessed for medical expenses. 
Feinstein entered her marriage with Mr. Blum, already wealthy, and the
Continue Reading For an Ailing Feinstein, a Fight Over the Family Fortune

Last week we explored how satisfied recent law school graduates are with their jobs (they generally are). This week, we are covering where they are working.

The demand for legal services after the COVID-19 shutdowns led to a hiring boom for Class of 2021 and Class of 2022 law school graduates. The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) reports a 92.1% employment rate for the Class of 2022, just higher than its year-earlier counterpart and the highest overall employment rate in 35 years.

There has also been a shift in where graduates are working, with more opting for BigLaw and
Continue Reading Where Are Class of 2022 Law School Grads Working?

Sunday, July 30, 2023

The Measure of Our Age: Navigating Care, Safety, Money, & Meaning Later in Life

M.T. Connolly, former head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, recently released the book, The Measure of Our Age: Navigating Care, Safety, Money & Meaning Later in Life, which investigates the systems we count on to protect us as we age. Below is a review of the book:
Connolly opens with the observation that in the 20th century, Americans added 30 years to their average life spans. Technology has helped, with family connections maintained by Zoom calls, uncooperative
Continue Reading The Measure of Our Age: Navigating Care, Safety, Money, & Meaning Later in Life

Ninety-seven percent of the Class of 2019 law school graduates are employed and nearly half are “extremely satisfied” with their jobs, according to a recent survey by the National Association for Law Placement Foundation for Law Career Research and Education (NALP Foundation).
The NALP Foundation surveyed 1,927 Class of 2019 alumni from 42 U.S. law schools between November 2022 and January 2023.
The survey covered topics like employment status, compensation, job mobility and satisfaction, and how well alumni felt their legal education prepared them for practice.
Overall lawyer job satisfaction increased
Forty-seven percent of the Class of 2019 lawyers are
Continue Reading New Lawyer Job Satisfaction is Generally High, NALP Survey Says

In recent months, much has been written about the state of commercial office space in the U.S., especially in large urban centers like Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Chicago. Due to social and economic shifts that were accelerated dramatically by the Covid-19 pandemic, fewer businesses are operating in traditional office spaces. And while the prevalence of remote and hybrid work environments is being questioned by some, these arrangements are incredibly popular overall. As a result, commercial real estate investments in traditional office spaces are not what they once were.
Is This Shift a Ticking Time Bomb?
There is an increasing
Continue Reading Why the Risk of Commercial Real Estate Doom Loops Matters Now

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has a rich history that dates back to 1855 when Congress created the court. Since then, the court has undergone significant changes and growth to meet the needs of the community it serves.

Early Days of the Northern District Court

The Northern District Court began its operations in Chicago’s city hall, with the first judge appointed being Thomas Drummond. The court initially had jurisdiction over the state, but this changed in 1901 when the state was divided into three judicial districts.

It was not until 1905 that the federal
Continue Reading Federal Court Chicago

Zoom Court was first initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Court business could thus continue, while keeping everybody safe.  But even post-pandemic, Zoom Court is here to stay.  As of January 1, 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court made remote hearings permanent. Revised Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45 governs the use of Zoom going forward.
For criminal or traffic matters that do not involve the possibility of jail or prison time, you may be able to attend all court hearings on zoom, except for:

  • evidentiary hearings, other than ex parte evidentiary hearings (such as emergency order of protection hearings),
  • settlement


Continue Reading IS MY DUI OR CRIMINAL COURT HEARING ON ZOOM?

Saturday, July 1, 2023

Article: Is the Inheritance and Gift Tax a Reasonable Alternative for the Net Wealth Tax?: A Legal and Economic Analysis Across OECD Countries

Anna-Maria Anderwald (University of Graz) and Rainer Niemann (University of Graz) recently published an Article, Is the Inheritance and Gift Tax a Reasonable Alternative for the Net Wealth Tax?: A Legal and Economic Analysis Across OECD Countries, Intertax Volume 50, Issue 6 & 7, 2023. Provided below is an abstract:
Net wealth taxes are one of the most controversial topics in taxation. Strained government finances due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the
Continue Reading Article: Is the Inheritance and Gift Tax a Reasonable Alternative for the Net Wealth Tax?: A Legal and Economic Analysis Across OECD Countries

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Older Americans Robbed Of $20 Billion A Year by People They Know

The improper or illegal use of older adult’s funds, property, or assets is “elder financial exploitation.” It often goes unreported, and in 88% of cases, the victim knows the individual who is exploiting them. 
The AARP Public Policy Institute conducted a study in 2022 which concluded that the rate of financial exploitation has doubled since COVID-19 sent the world into lockdown in March 2020, fueled by the pandemic’s social isolation. Most older victims do not get their money back, which can impact the entire
Continue Reading Older Americans Robbed Of $20 Billion A Year by People They Know