​​MCBA NEWSLETTER

​​​​  ​october 25, 2021   
October Events
10/27 (Wed.)
Happy Hour
​
10/27 & 28 (Wed.&Thurs.)
GAL Seminar

10/29/21 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

November Events
11/5 - 11/7  (Fri. - Sat.)
ISU Mock Trials

11/11/21 (Thurs.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

11/25/21 (Thurs.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

11/26/21 (Fri.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

December Events
12/21/21 (Tues.)
Holiday Luncheon

12/24/21 (Fri.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

12/27/21 (Mon.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

12/31/21 (Fri.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

​2022 MCBA membership renewal is now open

Thank you for your continued support!

Please click on the MCBA button to the left to renew your MCBA membership. 

more photos from last weeks happy hour

MCLEAN COUNTY NURSING HOME RESIDENT
​​ADOPTIONS ARE OPEN!
​Ice cream is a coveted treat for the residents. This year, they decided to place this item onto a wish list for Santa to consider. They would be very happy with a used or new soft serve ice cream machine for the residents. 

honoring one of our own

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT: MIKE MCELVAIN
Mike McElvain is being honored for his exemplary service to the community and his longtime support of pro bono. Mike has served on the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee since its inception and for many years, also served as its chair. He has also served on the McLean County Bar Association’s Pro Bono Committee and for many years coordinated the referral of pro bono cases through the bar association that had been referred by Prairie State due to a conflict of interest. Mike’s legal career has exemplified the ideals expressed in the Preamble of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. Mike often reminds his fellow lawyers of some of those words, especially that “It is the responsibility of those licensed as officers of the court to use their training, experience, and skills to provide services in the public interest for which compensation may not be available.” Mike graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1972, after receiving  a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1969.

wednesday - october 27

Congratulations
2021 Women of Distinction!

Judge McFarland has spent 21 years promoting dignity and justice. After receiving her bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University, she attended the University of Denver College of Law before returning to Illinois to practice. During her career, Judge McFarland offered her legal services to the community first as a respected family law attorney and mediator and continues today as a Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. In addition to her legal practice, Judge McFarland has served numerous community organizations, such as McLean County’s Mediation Association, Project Oz’s Board of Directors, McLean County Chamber of Commerce, Eastview Christian Church, and more. Her passion for criminal justice shines through in her care for the community and her dedication toward peaceful mediation, sufficient mental health care, and restorative justice principles as the presiding Judge over McLean County's Recovery Court. 

coming january 1, 2022

more information to come

october social event

​Happy Hour - Wednesday, October 27
​beginning at 5.00 pm
This will be an indoor event
​Light Appetizers Provided
click on the Holiday Inn sign for venue website

holiday luncheon
tuesday - december 21
registration to open in november

MCBA SCHOLARSHIP
last call

If you know any law students, please inform them about the 2021 MCBA Community Service Scholarship. The $2,500 scholarship is open to second or third year law students with strong ties to McLean County, Bloomington-Normal, or its surrounding communities. Prime candidates will express and demonstrate a commitment to legal aid work, pro bono activities, or community service. The application deadline is October 31, 2021. Please see the link to the scholarship application below.
Click on the image above to submit an application.

october
domestic violence ​awareness month

frank hoffman captures the win!

Frank correctly named 10 of 12 attorneys depicted in the painting below. When asked how he knew as many, Frank commented, 'Well, when you are as old as I am, you think that you are a contemporary with them.' 

Law and McLean County: A 175 Year Partnership

Each print is individually numbered and signed by the artist, Randy Souders.
Each print measures 22”X28”       The cost of each print is $75.

isu mock trial tournament 2021

NOVEMBER 5-7, 2021
The Illinois State University Mock Trial Program is hosting its annual invitational mock trial tournament at the McLean County Law & Justice Center on the weekend of November 5-7. We need volunteer judges/evaluators for the tournament! Any available judges, attorneys, paralegals, or other law-related professionals are welcome to participate, and we need your help! Please see the attached flyer for details about the tournament, this year’s mock trial case, and instructions for how to sign up as a volunteer judge/evaluator. 
 
--Scott Kording

attorneys on the move

Renee K. Fehr is Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Heartland Bank. She joined the Bank in April 2021, after 10 years in private practice and 21 years at a Fortune 50 Insurance Company in Legal, Bank Operations and Compliance roles.
 
As General Counsel, Ms. Fehr has oversight of and provides legal services to Heartland to protect the Bank and limit its legal risk. She also provides strategic advice, consultation and support to Executive and Senior Management and the Board of Directors on legal risks associated with carrying out the mission of the Bank.
 
Ms. Fehr received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan University and her Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law.
​Please welcome Ms. Fehr!

new to your office?

If your office has new attorneys and support staff, then we would like to update membership on your additions! Please click on the link below to submit a little about the new addition and feel free to add a photo as well. 

online arbitration competition
seeking volunteer judges

November 19 & 20

RECORDED OPPORTUNITY
no cle
Bench/Bar Listening Session

If you happened to miss the last Bench/Bar Listening Session, please request the link below.

RECORDING AVAILABLE UNTIL october 31, 2021

cle - recorded OPPORTUNITY

1 HOUR CLE [approved]
RECORDING AVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER 30, 2021

protecting your client's medicare benefits

Many thanks to our own John Muir, JD and Mr. Craig Pawley who presented this original CLE on August 24, 2021. The CLE presentation covered settling cases with a Medicare beneficiary and understanding the Medicare Secondary Payer Statue. This session also covered addressing Medicare liens, Medicare Set Asides, and how to administer those funds while adhering to the CMS guidelines. 

CLE - RECORDED OPPORTUNITY

1 HOUR CLE [approved]
RECORDING AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2021

adoption cases from start to finish

Please join the McLean County Bar Association in thanking the panel of presenters, Hon. Donald Bernardi Circuit Judge (Retd.), Hon. J. Brian Goldrick, Julia Davis, JD and Kathleen M. Kraft, JD. The presenters walked through the steps required for private and foster-care conversion adoptions. The presenters covered petition requirements, notice requirements, termination, hearings, and judgments.  ​

CLE
​guardian ad litem
central illinois conference

october 27 & 28

​[APPROVED FOR 10 HRS GENERAL CLE CREDIT] 
[INCLUDING 1 PROFESSIONALISM-ETHICS]
​
Please join the McLean County Bar Association for the Guardian Ad Litem Child Representative Certification Seminar. The program will be held on October 27 and 28 at The Holiday Inn and Conference Center [Formally known as the Radisson], 8 Traders Circle, Normal, Illinois. 

This seminar is currently approved for certification as a GAL in the 1st, 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 21st Judicial Circuits.  Please provide the seminar agenda to the presiding judge in your circuit to seek approval in that circuit.  And just added to the approved Judicial Circuits - 6th!

isba women & law committee
​activities

FROM YOUR LOCAL MEMBER CONTACT
LAURA CASTAGNA

CLE - 1.5 PR HOURS-DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
The $250,000 Difference:
​What does gender have to do with it?

NOVEMBER 12 - 12.00 PM-1.30 PM

ISBA'S WOMEN & LAW COMMITTEE HAS PARTNERED
WITH A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
FREE THE GIRLS: FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING
A BRA DRIVE

Yes, you read that correctly: A bra drive. By donating your new or gently used bras, you're giving economic opportunity to victims of human trafficking in Mozambique, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. Donations allow survivors of human trafficking to start their own businesses by selling bras in their local second-hand clothing markets while they recover and build their new life. Our office -- Kelly & Castagna, LLC-- is serving as a drop off location. From now until December 3rd, members can drop off new or gently used bras of all sizes and styles to our office at 121 N. Main St., 3rd Fl., Bloomington and place them in our drop box. We'll also be accepting monetary donations. Please see the above red button for an informational flyer. Thank you for your consideration!! 

​friday breakfast with the bar
join us this friday
8:00 am- 9:00 am

Downtown Bloomington

mark your calendar
​2021 & 2022

​October 27 - Happy Hour
October 27 & 28 - The Guardian Ad Litem CLE Event 
​November 5-7 - ISU Mock Trials
​December 21 - Holiday Luncheon at noon
2022
January 18 - CLE State of the Circuit
February 15 - CLE Social Security 
February 23 - Bench/Bar Listening Session 12.05 pm
March 15 - CLE Orders of Protections  [up to 2 hours of CLE]
April 19 - PR CLE Underwood Committee Professionalism Program
May 17 - CLE Drone Law Update

BLOOMINGTON CANNON ESTATE PLANNING
TELECONFERENCE SERIES PROGRAM
​HOSTED BY PNC WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Please contact​ Jennifer.julius@pnc.com if interested in attending.
If you have questions please call Jennifer at 309.655.5484

career opportunities

mclean county state's attorney office

​seeks
Closes 11-07-2021 


​assistant states attorney i

abbey, adams, byelick & mueller, llp​

​seeks
11-15-2021



attorney 
​


​​todd 
​miller ​
​seeks
posted 10-12-2021
​

​pro bono
rotation
​attorney ​

​us court of appeals for 7th circuit
​seeks
10-29-2021  - noon deadline​

federal
public
​defender


​ronda
glenn
​law offices
seeks
and
11-1-2021

associate attorney 

and

paralegal / legal assistant

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
Through December 2021

DOWNTOWN LAW OFFICE BUILDING
​FOR SALE

Through December 2021
DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDING
​FOR SALE OR LEASE
DOWNTOWN - ​BLOOMINGTON
Through December 2021

bar committee activities

2021
​​​​CLE Committee Meeting - October 26 noon
​​​BOG Meeting - November 9 noon 
​MCBA Foundation - December 16 noon
Executive Committee 
President                            
​Kathleen Kraft

2nd VP
Judge Pablo Eves

Secretary
Nargis Khokhar
1st VP
​Nathan B. Hinch

Immediate Past President
Julia Davis

Treasurer
Calli Farrell
Disclaimer:
The McLean County Bar Association (MCBA) presents the information on this web site as an information service to our members and other Internet users. While the information on this site is about legal issues, it is not legal advice. The information is not intended to create, and receipt of the information does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. Those using this information should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel.
Board of Governors
John L. Pratt
Brendan Bukalski
Michael Butts
​Dean Davis

Administrative Assistant
Mary Sellmyer

​Find a Lawyer Disclaimer:
The intention of the MCBA"Find a Lawyer"search is only to refer members of the public requiring legal services to members of the MCBA who have indicated that they wish to receive referrals in a particular area of the law.
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