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2022
January Events 1/7/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 1/11/2022 (Tues.) BOG Meeting 1/14/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 1/17/2022 (Mon.) Law & Justice Center Closed 1/18/2022 (Tues.) CLE - State of the Circuit-ZOOM Noon 1/21/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 1/25/2022 (Tues.) CLE Committee Meeting 1/28/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar February Events 2/4/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 2/8/2022 (Tues.) BOG Meeting 2/11/2022 (Fri.) HS Mock Trials 2/11/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 2/15/2022 (Tues.) CLE 2/18/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 2/21/2022 (Mon.) Law & Justice Center Closed 2/22/2022 (Tues.) CLE Committee Meeting 2/25/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar March Events 3/4/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 3/8/2022 (Tues.) BOG Meeting 3/11/2022 (Fri.) HS Mock Trials 3/11/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 3/15/2022 (Tues.) CLE 3/18/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 3/25/2022 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 3/29/2022 (Tues.) BOG Meeting April Events 4/19/2022 (Tues.) CLE 4/20/2022 (Wed.) Bench/Bar Listening Session May Events 5/17/2022 (Tues.) CLE |
2022 Member application
Please click on the MCBA button above to renew. condolences
bar activity from last month
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Kristin works for State Farm in their Law Department. Kristin has helped 21 pro bono clients since she began volunteering with PSLS in 2009. She helps at the semi-annual Legal Advice Fair. She also accepts pro bono divorce cases. Kristin’s pro bono clients give her the absolute highest rating. One client said, “I received excellent advice and help in my divorce case. Kristin was very understanding. I had complete confidence in her.” When another of Kristin’s clients was asked about how she felt about Kristin, she said “awesome, great woman, greater lawyer.”
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jenna Kearns
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Jenna Kearns has worked at non-profits including Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance and Mid Central Community Action (MCCA) for her entire career. Currently, she is the Senior Program Manager of the Illinois Bar Foundation Illinois JusticeCorps Program. Her program places AmeriCorps volunteers in courthouses around Illinois to help self-represented litigants access the justice system and navigate courthouses. Jenna’s devotion to public interest law extends far beyond her work at the Illinois Bar Foundation. Since 2017, Jenna has helped 42 PSLS clients in a number of ways. She has served clients at the semi-annual Legal Advice Fair. She also represents PSLS clients in pro bono divorce cases and assists clients at PSLS’ courthouse eviction clinic in McLean County. |
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Tom McClure
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Tom began taking pro bono divorce cases from PSLS in 2011. In August of 2020, Tom launched the ISU Expungement Clinic in partnership with PSLS. Through this partnership, PSLS transfers expungement and sealing cases to Tom. Tom assigns the cases to his ISU Legal Studies students to prepare Request to Expunge or Seal pleadings and other necessary paperwork. Tom reviews the documents, makes corrections, and sends them to PSLS to file with the Circuit Clerk. With the help of 51 ISU students, Tom has helped 40 clients so far to request to seal or expunge 45 old criminal cases. In addition to helping PSLS clients, this program exposes ISU students to pro bono work and helps to build the next generation of pro bono volunteers. |
2021 scholarship announcement
christian baker
Each year, the MCBA gives a $2,500 Community Service Scholarship to a 2nd or 3rd year law student who demonstrates a commitment to legal aid work, pro bono activities, and community service.
Christian Baker is the 2021 recipient of the MCBA Community Service Scholarship. Christian is from McLean County. He graduated from Normal Community High School. Christian attended Washington University in St. Louis and received his B.A. degree cum laude. He is currently a 2nd year law student at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.
In addition to earning excellent grades, Christian prioritizes service to his community. As an undergraduate student at Washington University, Christian helped tutor low-income students from the Clinton-Peabody Housing Projects. He also won a $30,000 grant for a summer arts exposure program for 47 youth in St. Louis and helped implement the two-month-long program. Christian continues to serve as an alumni speaker for the Bloomington-Normal NAACP Act-So Program for local high school students. Christian’s community service also extends to legal settings. He interned with the McLean County Public Defender’s office in 2017 and 2018. Last summer, Christian worked as a law student intern with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, a non-profit law firm similar to Prairie State Legal Services.
After he graduates from law school in May 2023, Christian intends to use his passion, skills, and law degree to help the marginalized.
Christian Baker is the 2021 recipient of the MCBA Community Service Scholarship. Christian is from McLean County. He graduated from Normal Community High School. Christian attended Washington University in St. Louis and received his B.A. degree cum laude. He is currently a 2nd year law student at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.
In addition to earning excellent grades, Christian prioritizes service to his community. As an undergraduate student at Washington University, Christian helped tutor low-income students from the Clinton-Peabody Housing Projects. He also won a $30,000 grant for a summer arts exposure program for 47 youth in St. Louis and helped implement the two-month-long program. Christian continues to serve as an alumni speaker for the Bloomington-Normal NAACP Act-So Program for local high school students. Christian’s community service also extends to legal settings. He interned with the McLean County Public Defender’s office in 2017 and 2018. Last summer, Christian worked as a law student intern with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, a non-profit law firm similar to Prairie State Legal Services.
After he graduates from law school in May 2023, Christian intends to use his passion, skills, and law degree to help the marginalized.
state of the circuit cle
tuesday, january 18
via zoom
[one hour general cle credit approved]
Please join the McLean County Bar Association for a presentation on the state of the 11th Circuit Courts presented by the McLean County Circuit Court Judges. This annual program provides updates on the status of the 11th Circuit.
fair housing topics for your day-to-day legal practice
friday, february 4
[free - ONE HOUR GENERAL CLE CREDIT]
Join fair housing attorneys from Prairie State Legal Services as they discuss how fair housing protections and obligations could deepen your expertise as you practice landlord/tenant, real estate, and local government law. As we explore a few of the latest topics in housing discrimination cases and investigations, you'll hear something to take back to your work. This lunchtime session will provide a brief overview of fair housing law and then dive deeper into criminal records issues for tenants and housing providers, sexual harassment in housing, and lending discrimination in mortgages and appraisals. Join us for this free event, no matter whether your clients are landlords, tenants, home buyers/sellers, staff of local municipalities, or housing authorities. This program offers one hour of general MCLE credit.
we want you!
Invest in the next
generation of attorneys!
The McLean County Bar Association Mentoring Program is seeking Mentors for several new lawyers in McLean County.
A mentor must be licensed in the state of Illinois for more than five years. As a mentor you will complete eight meetings with the new lawyer. Upon completion, both the mentor and the mentee will qualify for six hours of professionalism credit CLE credit (at no cost), including the required one hour of diversity and inclusion CLE and one hour of mental health and substance abuse CLE. More information can be found at this LINK.
If you are interested in being connected with a mentee and serving as a mentor, please contact one of the MCBA Mentoring Program Co-Coordinators: Jaime Ganschow at [email protected] or Angela Skinner at [email protected]
A mentor must be licensed in the state of Illinois for more than five years. As a mentor you will complete eight meetings with the new lawyer. Upon completion, both the mentor and the mentee will qualify for six hours of professionalism credit CLE credit (at no cost), including the required one hour of diversity and inclusion CLE and one hour of mental health and substance abuse CLE. More information can be found at this LINK.
If you are interested in being connected with a mentee and serving as a mentor, please contact one of the MCBA Mentoring Program Co-Coordinators: Jaime Ganschow at [email protected] or Angela Skinner at [email protected]
friday breakfast with the bar
join us this friday
8:00 am- 9:00 am
Downtown Bloomington
mark your calendar
2021 & 2022
2022
January 18 - CLE State of the Circuit via ZOOM
February 15 - CLE Social Security
March 15 - CLE Orders of Protections [up to 2 hours of CLE will be offered]
April 19 - PR CLE Underwood Committee Professionalism Program
April 20 - Bench/Bar Listening Session 12.05 pm
May 17 - CLE Drone Law Update
January 18 - CLE State of the Circuit via ZOOM
February 15 - CLE Social Security
March 15 - CLE Orders of Protections [up to 2 hours of CLE will be offered]
April 19 - PR CLE Underwood Committee Professionalism Program
April 20 - Bench/Bar Listening Session 12.05 pm
May 17 - CLE Drone Law Update
career opportunities
office space available
ILLINOIS HOUSE BUILDING
Quality Office Space at Affordable Rents
Two Blocks Directly North of Law & Justice Center
Call or text 309-531-0445
Quality Office Space at Affordable Rents
Two Blocks Directly North of Law & Justice Center
Call or text 309-531-0445
DOWNTOWN LAW OFFICE BUILDING
FOR SALE
DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDING
FOR SALE OR LEASE
DOWNTOWN - BLOOMINGTON
FOR SALE OR LEASE
DOWNTOWN - BLOOMINGTON
bar committee activities
2021
BOG Meeting - January 11 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - Jnauary 22 noon
BOG Meeting - January 11 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - Jnauary 22 noon