​​​​​MCBA NEWSLETTER 

​october 27, 2025

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MCBA Events 2025
October
10/31 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

November
11/5 (Wed.)
An Afternoon of PR CLE & Attorney Self-Care

11/7 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

11/11 (Tues.)
BOG Meeting
Law & Justice Center Closed

11/14 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

11/21 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

11/27 & 28 (Thurs. & Fri.)
​Law & Justice Center Closed

December
12/3 (Wed.)
CLE - Problem Solving Courts
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session

12/5 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

12/9 (Tues.)
BOG Meeting

12/10 (Wed.)
DEIA Committee Meeting

12/12 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

12/16 (Tues.)
CLE Committee Meeting

12/17 (Wed.)
Holiday Luncheon

12/19 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

MCBA Events 2026
6/25 (Thurs.)
Annual Meeting

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​Complete 2025 List of Court Holidays & Closures

​Complete 2026 List of Court Holidays & Closures

2025 Jury Calendar

2026 Jury Calendar

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last weeks gal certification conference

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Treat Yourself:
An Afternoon of Self-Care

wednesday, November 5, 2025 - beginning at noon
​[2 hours profession responsibility - mental health cle credit approved]

How are you doing? Feeling stressed, drained, or maybe spread too thin? Then spend one afternoon working on your greatest non-dischargeable asset: yourself! You deserve it.

On November 5, 2025, starting at Noon, we will be hosting an event focused not only on helping you recharge for one day, but also on teaching you the skills to keep yourself refreshed on any hectic days to come. The event will begin with a luncheon. After lunch, we’ll dive into our first programs, “Mindful Attorney” and “Compassion Fatigue,” where we’ll learn all about caring for and maintaining mindfulness of our physical, mental, and emotional needs. We’ll be taking a mid-day break for complimentary meditation, and yoga sessions. During the break, we’ll have time to connect with friends and colleagues.

To cap off the event, we’ll end the afternoon with a social event and a healthy cooking session, complimented by wine and Horsd'oeuvres.

Know anyone else who could use a chance to refresh themselves? Invite them along too! The more the healthier. Whether it’s a coworker, an associate from a different office, or even a friend from a different field entirely, this event is open to everyone, since we all deserve a chance to treat ourselves.

Be your own bailiff and direct the course of your own self-care. You can be happier, and it can start when you sign up.
​

*Many thanks to our generous sponsor, 
Costigan & Wollrab, P.C., 
without whose help this event would be impossible.*
​

This event needs at least 25 participants.
Registration closes at 5pm on Thursday, October 30th.​

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Registration and More Information

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social
​happy 60th birthday - chuck erickson

​All are invited!
Saturday, November 1st
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Bloomington VFW

Light hors d'oeuvres will be served
 
For more information please follow this LINK and to let them know you’re attending
so they can get a good headcount to prepare for.

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prairie state legal services
pro bono attorneys
​needed

We have a client needing assistance with a McLean County case. Client would need representation to sue her auto lender for damages due to failure to give her proper notice before selling her car. If you are willing to take this case, please contact Stacy James at [email protected]

We have a client needing assistance with a McLean County divorce with no children and no property.  Client has spouse's address in Michigan and they seperated in September 2024. If you are willing to take this case, please contact Stacy James at [email protected]

thank you for considering!

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Although all of our volunteers make a valuable impact on our clients' lives, every year we recognize one volunteer who has truly gone above and beyond to make a difference for PSLS clients throughout our service area.

This year we are proud to honor Thomas McClure, an attorney and recently retired professor at Illinois State University (ISU).

Tom began taking pro bono divorce cases from our Bloomington office in 2011. In the fall of 2020, he launched the Expungement Clinic at ISU in partnership with PSLS. Through this partnership, PSLS transferred expungement and sealing clients directly to Tom, who then assigned their cases to his ISU Legal Studies students. These students analyzed the criminal history documented within each case and prepared the Petitions to Expunge or Seal. Tom reviewed all completed documents, made corrections, and sent them to PSLS to file with the Circuit Clerk. When clients received objections after filing, Tom made himself available to represent them at objection hearings.

Since the clinic's launch, Tom and his ISU students have helped 114 clients request to seal or expunge their criminal records, contributing more than 376 hours of service to members of their community. The impact of this work extends far beyond the individual clients served. Each cleared record represents a renewed opportunity for employment that supports families, for housing that provides stability, and for community members who can fully participate in civic life. Local employers gain access to qualified workers who were previously excluded, strengthening the regional economy. Families experience reduced financial strain and increased security. Communities benefit when residents can move forward from past mistakes, contributing their talents and energy without the barrier of a criminal record. Tom's clinic model also cultivates the next generation of community-minded legal professionals, as ISU students learn firsthand the power of using their skills to serve others. In the words of Adrian Barr, Managing Attorney for PSLS’ Bloomington Office, “through this program, Tom helps people who cannot afford attorneys get a second chance at life and inspires and trains our future pro bono lawyers and paralegals.”

Tom shared why he did this work: “My objective in creating the clinic was twofold. First, it serves the community by providing representation for clients who are unable to realize their potential because of their criminal record. Once the court grants their petition, clients can pursue employment opportunities that were not previously available to them. Second, it gives students experiential learning by giving them the opportunity to work on actual cases. Every student in the Legal Studies Program prepares a petition seeking criminal records relief. This assignment also instills in the students the importance of pro bono work.”
​
After a long and distinguished career at ISU, Tom recently retired. He will be deeply missed by his students and everyone at PSLS. We are committed to honoring his legacy by continuing the clinic at ISU and maintaining our presence in the greater Bloomington community. In a remarkable act of generosity, Tom and his wife have donated $100,000 to the ISU Foundation to establish the Thomas E. McClure Pro Bono Endowment, which now provides the majority of the clinic's funding.

Thank you, Tom, for your unwavering dedication to advocating for individuals in need and for your generosity in ensuring that future generations can continue this vital work.

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Hockey
Buffalo Bison’s Lincoln’s Birthday Celebration game

The game is February 22nd at 4:00 pm. The doors open at 3:00 pm and our reserved suite will be open at that time.
 
The cost per ticket is $68.00 and includes all you can eat and drink (details below). There are only 50 tickets available for the suite and the tickets are available starting today. If someone wants to go, I suggest they get their tickets early because I anticipate all 50 tickets being purchased. To purchase tickets for the suite, they should contact GABE MATHERLY at 309-965-4370. They should tell him that they want to purchase tickets for the McLean County Bar Association suite for the Abe Lincoln’s Birthday Celebration game.
 
The refreshments provided in the suite will be:
 
FOOD:
- Pizza
- Boneless Wings: Served plain with sauces on the side ( BBQ, Buffalo, Sweet & Sour, Ranch, and Honey Mustard)
- Salad Bar
- Cookies
- Popcorn
 
DRINKS:
Domestic beers: Busch Light, Michelob Ultra, Bud Light, Budweiser, and Coors Light
Seltzer: High Noon (hard seltzer made with vodka)
Non-alcoholic drinks: Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Lemonade, and Aquafina

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MCBA SCHOLARSHIP

If you know of any L2 or L3 law students, please inform them about the 2025 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, 2025. Please see the link to the scholarship application below.
​

Click on the image above to submit an application.

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the 3rd thursday [most months]
​monthly social

November 20 - The Station Saloon
December - No Social Planned

Coming in 2026 - trivia and local hockey!

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save the dates
​2025

For all CLE dates and information, please see the CLE section below.
​
Wednesday, December 3 - Problem-Solving Courts as Alternatives to Prison CLE
​Wednesday, December 17 - Holiday Luncheon - BCC

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bar committee activities

​BOG Meeting - November 11 noon
​​Scholarship Committee Meeting - November 13 noon
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session - December 3
​DEIA Committee Meeting - December 10 12.15 pm
CLE Committee Meeting - December 16 12 noon

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new to your office?
​or maybe an attorney/staff 'on the move'?

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

New to My Office? or Retiring? or Moving? Any Update!

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cle recording opportunities

CLE
Originally Recorded
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
​Ends, July 1, 2027

A Case Review from the Bench
​

Presented by: Hon. Donald Bernardi [Ret.] & Hon. Charles Feeney [Ret.]
​
​[Up to 1 hour general CLE - Approved] 

​

Retired Judges Donald Bernardi and Charles Feeney have each selected two cases from their time on the bench that present interesting legal issues. These cases are both civil and criminal and include a variety of issues, including legal malpractice and the use of the involuntary intoxication defense in criminal cases.

Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

CLE
Originally Recorded
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
​Ends, March 1, 2027

Small Law Office Efficiency - AI

Presented by: Drew Vaughn

​[Up to 1 hour general CLE - Approved] 

Please join the McLean County Bar Association in welcoming Mr. Drew Vaughn. He will be teaching about how Artificial Intelligence works, the ethical implications of its use, and practical applications of Artificial Intelligence that you can implement today.  

Learning Objectives:
1. Foundations of Artificial Intelligence [A.I.]
2. Ethical Implications of the use of AI
3. Practical AI Application
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Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

CLE
Originally Recorded
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
​Ends, August 1, 2026
​
​IRS Taxes Discharged in Bankruptcy

Presented by: Robert Schaller, JD

​[Up to 1 hour general CLE - Approved] 
​

You can become the client’s hero by eliminating IRS back taxes. Learn how to spot opportunities for IRS tax resolution. The focus of the seminar is how to eliminate IRS back taxes thru bankruptcy. The presentation will discuss Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 basics and the bankruptcy adversary proceeding process.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn how to spot IRS tax resolution opportunities.
2. Learn how to eliminate IRS back taxes thru bankruptcy.
3. Learn Bankruptcy Code basics: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 and adversary proceedings.
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Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

CLE
Originally Recorded
​Tuesday, July 16, 2024
ENDS June 25, 2026
​
Traffic Stops & Motor Vehicles Searches

Presented by: Hon. David Butler (Ret.) & Matthew Butler

​[up to 1.5 hours general CLE - Approved] 

Evidence of a crime is often found by police during the search of a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. Items found during the search may be illegal contraband, such as drugs or weapons, or evidence of another crime. What starts out as a minor traffic violation can turn into a search of the vehicle to investigate evidence of crimes unrelated to the traffic stop. This CLE program presents an examination of the various legal bases for the police to conduct a motor vehicle search and the possible legal challenges to the search. Attorneys who either defend or prosecute criminal cases involving the possession of contraband will be better able to recognize evidentiary issues related to criminal charges arising out of traffic stops and motor vehicle searches.
 
TOPICS TO BE COVERED ARE:
 
Lawful basis of traffic stops
“Out of the Car”  Drivers and Passengers 
Search of Persons in the Vehicle
Search of Vehicles
Probable Cause Searches
Dog Sniffs
Odor of Cannabis
Search Incident to Arrest
Parole Searches
Inventory Searches
Consent Searches
Motions To Suppress Evidence

The cost is $20.00.
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Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

CLE
Originally Recorded
​Tuesday, February 20, 2024
​Ends February 16, 2026
​
​CYBER RISK & CYBER LIABILITY INSURANCE

presented by
Scott Dunton & Adam Czerwinski

​[up to 1 hour general CLE - Approved] 
​

This CLE will provide a basic understanding of the cyber risks facing law firms and why firms must care. Real-life examples will be shared. Attendees will leave this course with a better understanding on how to mitigate your firm's cyber risk and avoid cyber losses. 

Registration for Recording & CLE Credit Instructions

Below are comments shared from attendees evaluations...

It was an excellent presentation highlighting pitfalls for the unwary.

With ISBA insurance withdrawing their cybersecurity coverage, I will need to look into other insurance. This presentation assisted in learning areas of inquiry when looking for this kind of insurance.

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

Ivy Lane Bakery - Downtown Bloomington
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career opportunities 
&
law student opportunities

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williams & swee, ltd.

Information

Posted October 27

attorney needed

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 livingston county

Information

Posted October 20

public defender

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woodford county

Information

Posted Sept 1

assistant state's attorney​

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Mclean COUNTY state's attorney

Information

assistant state's attorney i, ii, iii

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office space available

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802 N. Clinton, bloomington

Information

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108 w. monroe, BLOOMINGTON

Information

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