MCBA NEWSLETTER |
updated x 2 november 1, 2021 |
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November Events
11/5/21 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 11/5 - 11/7 (Fri. - Sun.) ISU Mock Trials 11/11/21 (Thurs.) Law & Justice Center Closed 11/12/21 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 11/19/21 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 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 |
isu mock trial tournament 2021NOVEMBER 5-7, 2021
HELP STILL NEEDED – I.S.U. MOCK TRIAL TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND!
We still need volunteers for our invitational mock tournament this upcoming weekend (November 5-7, 2021). We have tournament judge/evaluator needs in all four trial rounds this weekend, but our rounds of greatest need are Round 3 (Saturday afternoon) and Round 4 (Sunday morning).
If you are available, or if you know a lawyer, paralegal, or other law-related professional who may be interested, then please see the attached flyer for details about the tournament and instructions for how to sign up. Please help if you can! Thank you! --Scott Kording 
aba law student division
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Thank you for your continued support!
Please click on the MCBA button to the left to renew your MCBA membership. |
a note from our circuit clerk
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October 29, 2021
Dear Members of the McLean County Bar, When you e-file, we understand you have an expectation of quick processing by the circuit clerk. Why wouldn't you? Less handling of paper documents, quicker processing - right? |
Unfortunately, the limitations of McLean County's aged case management system (CMS) prevent the courts from being fully electronic, i.e., paperless, requiring circuit clerk staff to print your electronically filed documents and create or add to a paper case file.
There are numerous other challenges clerk staff face with a CMS that does not integrate with Tyler's e-filing manager (EFM) - which is the statewide hub for all e-filing. What use to take staff 5 minutes to process (prior to e-filing), can now take upwards to 15 – 20 minutes.
Recent staff shortages, either due to illness or retirement, the current difficulty in finding qualified applicants, and this month's surge in eviction filings add to the mix.
Please know that, since the 2018 Illinois Supreme Court e-file mandate for all civil case types, clerk staff have regularly worked overtime to review and process filings. As able, clerk staff from other divisions assist - all working hard to process your e-filings as quickly as possible.
There is light at the end of the tunnel (hopefully). Starting Monday, November 1, the Small Claims court will reply solely on the CMS for SC case information, a process that should allow clerk staff to process filings quicker.
Additionally, within the next 2 - 3 years the courts should be fully electronic. The courts, circuit clerk, justice partners and county administration formed a CMS exploratory committee, holding its first meeting in January 2019. This is a huge undertaking requiring considerable time and effort for all involved.
In the meantime, we ask for your understanding and patience as we work through the current issues. If you have an e-filing approaching filing statute of limitations, call or email the filing's envelope number.
Respectfully,
Don Everhart
There are numerous other challenges clerk staff face with a CMS that does not integrate with Tyler's e-filing manager (EFM) - which is the statewide hub for all e-filing. What use to take staff 5 minutes to process (prior to e-filing), can now take upwards to 15 – 20 minutes.
Recent staff shortages, either due to illness or retirement, the current difficulty in finding qualified applicants, and this month's surge in eviction filings add to the mix.
Please know that, since the 2018 Illinois Supreme Court e-file mandate for all civil case types, clerk staff have regularly worked overtime to review and process filings. As able, clerk staff from other divisions assist - all working hard to process your e-filings as quickly as possible.
There is light at the end of the tunnel (hopefully). Starting Monday, November 1, the Small Claims court will reply solely on the CMS for SC case information, a process that should allow clerk staff to process filings quicker.
Additionally, within the next 2 - 3 years the courts should be fully electronic. The courts, circuit clerk, justice partners and county administration formed a CMS exploratory committee, holding its first meeting in January 2019. This is a huge undertaking requiring considerable time and effort for all involved.
In the meantime, we ask for your understanding and patience as we work through the current issues. If you have an e-filing approaching filing statute of limitations, call or email the filing's envelope number.
Respectfully,
Don Everhart
press release
October 25, 2021
Robert Porter, J.D. to assume
Public Guardian and Public Administrator of McLean County office
The Office of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has appointed Robert Porter of Costigan & Wollrab, P.C. to assume duties as the Public Guardian and Public Administrator of McLean County on December 4, 2021. Mr. Porter will succeed Daniel Deneen, who has served in the office since 2003. Mr. Deneen is not retiring from the practice of law.
The Public Guardian of McLean County Office is a position in which an individual serves as the legal representative for a person with a disability who does not have qualified and willing family or friends to assume the position as guardian. In addition, the Public Guardian assists in situations in which local hospitals and nursing homes require immediate assistance or upon requests of families if there is a dispute between family members or factions. The Public Administrator assumes similar duties for deceased persons, including assisting the McLean County Coroner.
The Public Guardian of McLean County Office is a position in which an individual serves as the legal representative for a person with a disability who does not have qualified and willing family or friends to assume the position as guardian. In addition, the Public Guardian assists in situations in which local hospitals and nursing homes require immediate assistance or upon requests of families if there is a dispute between family members or factions. The Public Administrator assumes similar duties for deceased persons, including assisting the McLean County Coroner.
gal conference
Special Thanks to our resident photographer - Nargis Khokhar!
holiday luncheon
tuesday - december 21
registration will open in mid-november
attorneys on the move
Mueller, Hinch and Reese, LLC, has changed.
Mr. Mueller has retired. Mr. Hinch joined Meyer Capel, A Professional Corporation. Mr. Reese has opened his own local office at 802 N. Clinton St., Suite B, Bloomington.
cle - recorded OPPORTUNITY
1 HOUR CLE [approved]
RECORDING AVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER 30, 2021
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
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.
isba women & law committee
activities
FROM YOUR LOCAL MEMBER CONTACT
LAURA CASTAGNA
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
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
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
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
Through December 2021
DOWNTOWN LAW OFFICE BUILDING
FOR SALE
Through December 2021
DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDING
FOR SALE OR LEASE
DOWNTOWN - BLOOMINGTON
FOR SALE OR LEASE
DOWNTOWN - BLOOMINGTON
Through December 2021
bar committee activities
2021
BOG Meeting - November 9 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - November 30 noon
MCBA Foundation - December 16 noon
BOG Meeting - November 9 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - November 30 noon
MCBA Foundation - December 16 noon