In response to public concerns about a lack of ethics rules governing U.S. Supreme Court Justices, the U.S. Supreme Court adopted a Code of Conduct for Supreme Court Justices (Code) earlier this month.
While the Court said it codified these rules and principles to “dispel this misunderstanding” that U.S. Supreme Court Justices are not bound to ethics rules, a statement preceding the Code noted that “for the most part” the rules aren’t new. The statement went on to say that the Court has adhered to the “equivalent of common law ethics rules” for some time.
The reaction from the legal…
Continue Reading Reaction from the Legal Profession to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Code of Conduct

On November 9, 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court welcomed 1,360 new attorneys to the profession across the state, bringing the total number of licensed Illinois attorneys to approximately 98,000.
As newly admitted lawyers who have graduated from law school and passed the bar exam, you’ve already proven your legal knowledge and prowess. But you may not be well-versed in another skill that is just as important in our client-driven profession: good customer service.
As a lawyer, clients will seek your services based on your proven expertise and knowledge in the field. But if you want them to stick around, you…
Continue Reading Customer Service 101 for New Lawyers

The Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee will hold a public hearing on November 15 to hear public comment on five proposals. The hearing will include proposed amendments to Rule 8.4, which focuses on attorney misconduct, and Rule 794, which outlines the 6-hour professional responsibility MCLE requirement.
The hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (222 N. LaSalle Street, 13th Floor, Chicago) and livestreamed here.
Those wishing to comment on the proposals should submit written statements to the Rules Committee no later than Wednesday, November 8. Comments can be emailed…
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court to Hold Public Hearing on 5 Proposed Rule Amendments, Including Rules Impacting Professionalism

Legal departments attempting to control costs are moving work in-house, according to a recent survey of in-house legal professionals by the Association of Corporate Counsel and legal tech company Everlaw.
In the survey, 66% of respondents cited bringing work in-house as their top cost-cutting strategy. Respondents noted insourcing increases value by using internal expertise and improves cost predictability.
And this may be a trend, according to a report from Thomson Reuters on how legal departments are looking to control costs. The report found that 68% of legal departments are planning to bring more work in-house over the next year.
Pressure…
Continue Reading In-House Legal Departments Cut Costs with Less Outsourcing, Survey Says

The Illinois Supreme Court announced this week amendments to Rule 299 that will double compensation for an attorney appointed by a court in Illinois to represent an indigent party.
The amended Rule raises attorney compensation to $150 per hour, up from its previous minimum of $75 per hour. Attorneys will also receive $150 per hour “for time reasonably expended out of court” (up from its previous minimum of $50 per hour) and maximum compensation for representing an indigent defendant of $10,000 (up from its previous maximum of $5,000).
The amendments are effective on Jan. 1, 2024. Rule 299 was last …
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court Increases Compensation for Attorneys Representing Indigent Parties

Law firms looking to improve collection rates should consider online billing and payment options, according to new data from Clio’s 2023 Legal Trends Report. And their clients will appreciate the efficiencies.
According to 2021 data from Clio, a legal technology company, 66% of consumers said they prefer to make payments for legal services online, while roughly 60% said they are comfortable viewing and sharing documents with attorneys through email or secure client portals.
Each year, Clio summarizes trends impacting the legal profession in its Legal Trends Report. The report is based on data from legal professionals who use…
Continue Reading Clio Identifies Small Efficiencies That Can Add Up Big for Law Firm Revenue

Shouldn’t all residents in the state of Illinois, regardless of the language they speak, have access to quality legal services?
I recently came across this startling statistic: According to the U.S. Census, more than 23 percent of households in Illinois spoke a language other than English at home between 2017 and 2021. That equates to roughly 1.123 million Illinois households, according to Acutrans, a translation and interpretation service.
This diversity of language means a significant number of legal clients in Illinois may have Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Nevertheless, they deserve legal and justice systems that are accessible to them.
Continue Reading Bilingual Attorneys: An Essential Conduit Between Culture and Justice