Law Firm Marketing & Management

Burglary and home invasion are two very serious crimes in Illinois punishable with prison time and hefty fines. Although they both involve unlawful entry, they each have significant differences. It is important to understand these differences if you or someone you know is facing a burglary or home invasion charge. If you have questions about these two offenses and how charges can affect you, speak with an Illinois criminal defense attorney.
What Is Burglary?
Burglary is when a person breaks into someone else’s property with the intent to commit theft or any kind of felony. This offense contains two
Continue Reading What Is the Difference Between Burglary and Home Invasion?

Child endangerment is when a person places the life or health of a child under 18 in danger or at risk. It is a serious crime in Illinois that can be treated as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the circumstances. A child endangerment offense not only carries serious criminal penalties but can also involve legal consequences beyond prison time and fines. This article will discuss those consequences and what constitutes child endangerment. If you have any questions about a child endangerment charge or if you need assistance with a particular case, contact an Illinois criminal defense attorney today.
What
Continue Reading What Are the Consequences of Child Endangerment in Illinois?

Last month, an Illinois man pled guilty to Boating Under the Influence (BUI) regarding a 2021 fatal accident at Lake of the Ozarks. Authorities say the man had a blood alcohol level of 0.187 percent a full three hours after the accident. According to witnesses, a 21-year-old on the boat driven by the defendant was ejected as the boat jumped waves at a high speed. The young man’s body was later recovered. The judge in this case suspended the imposition of the sentence, which means that if all the terms of probation are successfully completed, the defendant will not have
Continue Reading Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Fatal Accident Caused by BUI

Being charged with consumer fraud can be a frightening experience. Not only is it a criminal charge that carries serious penalties, but it can ruin the reputation of a business. Understanding the different defenses for a consumer fraud accusation is an important start toward protecting your business and your rights. If you are facing a consumer fraud charge, hire an experienced Illinois consumer fraud defense attorney to manage your defense.
What Is Consumer Fraud?
Consumer fraud means acting deceptively or unfairly toward consumers in the course of business. The Illinois Deceptive Practices and Consumer Fraud Act forbids individuals and companies
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Question:
I am an estate planning attorney in Chicago. I am currently 72 and have been in practice and owned my own firm for 45 years. In the past I had an associate attorney in the firm and a couple of legal assistants. Currently I have one part time associate no assistants. I do all of my own paralegal and administrative work. My associate has no interest in taking over my practice. Therefore, I am considering options as what to do with my practice. I have wound down over the last few year by cutting back on my time and
Continue Reading Law Firm Succession and Exit Strategy – Referring Out Work too Soon

Question:
I am sole owner of a law firm in San Rafael, California with an estate planning practice.  I have two part-time attorneys, four paralegals and three legal assistants. I am in my late 70s and want to retire in the next three years. I have recently had several discussions with another small firm that is interested in acquiring my practice via a merger. While I will only be practicing a few more years I want to ensure that I have the other firm would be the right fit for my clients and staff. Do you have any thoughts or
Continue Reading Law Firm Succession – Using Affiliation or Of Counsel Relationships as a As a Pre-Merger Pilot Test

A little-known law in Illinois allows people to be punished for the criminal acts of another if they were present at the scene. Those who are especially vulnerable to the effects of this law are survivors of domestic violence. The story of a woman who has been in an Illinois prison since 1993 for murders committed by her boyfriend–despite a vigorous criminal defense–illustrates this point.  
The young woman met her boyfriend when she was 17 and he was 35. The boyfriend told her that he was a truck driver, but she would find out months into the relationship that
Continue Reading Theory of Accountability and Domestic Abuse Survivors

Defending against drug crime charges can be quite difficult. An Illinois lawyer can explain how mistakes can easily jeopardize a case. Learning some of the most common pitfalls in drug crime defense and actionable tips to help you navigate this challenging situation is helpful.
Failing to Understand the Charges
One of the most critical mistakes in drug crime defense is not fully comprehending the specific charges against you. Illinois law distinguishes between various drug offenses, such as possession, distribution, trafficking, and manufacturing. Each charge carries its own set of penalties and legal implications. Take the time to thoroughly review and
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Question: 
We are a group of six partners that are in the process of leaving a well established firm in Los Angeles, California and will be starting our own firm. In our early planning we have been discussing how we will structure and manage the firm. You advise and suggestions would be most welcomed.
Response: 
Most smaller to medium sized law firms choose one of three fundamental varieties of management structure. These systems may be characterized as management by:

  • Democracy
  • A managing partner
  • An executive or management committee.
  • Full Partnership – Full Partnership or All Partners –  Under a full
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    Being charged with shoplifting, otherwise known as retail theft, can have serious criminal consequences in Illinois. Beyond the actual sentencing and punishment you receive, you could be haunted by the charge for years to come. You may face challenges when applying for college, housing, and jobs and potential romantic interests might decide to stay away. If you are charged with retail theft, a skilled Cook County, IL divorce lawyer can review your case and create a defense plan to protect your legal rights.
    How is Retail Theft Penalized?
    If you are charged with retail theft, your sentence
    Continue Reading Shoplifting Accusations in Illinois

    There are many reasons why you might end up with a suspended driver’s license. Some reasons are more administrative, like failure to pay some fine, while others are related to some risk that your actions allegedly posed to other drivers. When that happens, you are not supposed to drive until you have resolved whatever the issue is to the court’s satisfaction, at which point you might get your license reinstated. If you are caught driving on a suspended license, you can face severe punishment. If your license was suspended and you are considering driving anyway, you might want
    Continue Reading Consequences of Driving with a Suspended License in Illinois

    Hiring the right attorneys to work with or partner with when starting a new law firm is one of the most important goals. Practicing with the wrong lawyers can lead to poor client reviews, a loss of clients, or even disciplinary action if another lawyer in your firm commits malpractice. Aside from a potential employee’s demonstrated legal skill and knowledgeability in your firm’s practice area, you will also want to consider the type of law firm culture you are trying to create in relation to the type of clients you plan to serve. It is also important to take steps
    Continue Reading 4 Factors to Consider When Hiring Attorneys for Your Illinois Law Firm

    Drug paraphernalia laws in Illinois regulate the possession, sale, and distribution of items used for using or selling illegal drugs. It is important to be aware of the implications of violating these laws to avoid potential legal consequences. If you are facing charges related to the possession of drug paraphernalia, hiring an attorney who understands the criminal justice system is an important first step toward fighting the charges.
    Since 2000, Luisi Legal Group has provided aggressive legal assistance to people facing criminal charges in Illinois. Mr. Luisi defends his clients in court every day and has a reputation for helping
    Continue Reading What You Need to Know About Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Laws in Illinois

    Question: 
    I am a sole owner of a three attorney firm in Chicago suburbs. I am sixty-five and have two associates in the firm. We do estate planning, elder law, and estate administration exclusively. While I want to continue working for the next five years I want to begin succession planning and gain some understanding of how to value the firm and what it might be worth, if anything. Your thoughts on this topic would be most appreciated.
    Response: 
    Prospective buyers whether they be attorneys in your firm or another firm must be willing to pay the price you are
    Continue Reading Law Practice Succession Planning for a Sole Owner – A Question of Value

    Reckless homicide is a vehicular manslaughter charge. Committing a vehicular homicide while driving under the influence will only compound the penalties a defendant may face in a court of law. Understanding what each charge entails and the penalties for both will go a long way in helping to prepare your defense. Those looking at criminal charges should enlist the help of a skillful and experienced attorney for the best possible chances of beating the charges.
    Reckless Homicide
    Reckless driving on its own is defined as driving in a way that is likely to cause great bodily harm or death. Reckless
    Continue Reading Reckless Homicide While Driving Under The Influence

    Question: 
    I am one of three founding partners in a 17 lawyer insurance defense firm in Houston. We have a total of 18 lawyers in the firm – 3 founding equity partners, 4 other equity partners, 5 non-equity partners, and 6 associates. The three of us founding partners are in our 60s and approaching requirement and are concerned about succession planning and transition. We feel that we are in good shape concerning transition of clients but not so concerning management roles and responsibilities. The firm is managed by the three of us and we have kept tight reigns on the
    Continue Reading Law Firm Succession – Transition of Senior Partners Leadership and Management Roles