​​​MCBA NEWSLETTER


​​​​​  ​december 13, 2021   

December Events
12/14/21 (Tues.)
BOG Meeting

12/16/21 (Thurs.)
Clerks Office CLOSED noon-1 pm

12/17/21 (Fri.)
Breakfast with the Bar

12/21/21 (Tues.)
Holiday Luncheon

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

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

12/28/21 (Tues.)
CLE Committee Meeting

12/30/21 (Thurs.) NOON
eFileIL unavailable through 
1/12/2022 (Sun.) 1:00 pm

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

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 

​​COURT NOTES

December 9, 2021
To:  The McLean County Bar Association:
 
On behalf of the entire Judiciary and staff, we wish you and your family Happy Holidays and best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year. As has been said before, it sure seems like time is flying by, although with the pandemic it sometimes feels like we are stuck in time.  

With 2021 almost behind us, we remain hopeful 2022 will let us turn the corner to resume more of what we were used to doing. Without sounding like a broken record, we remain hopeful the Supreme Court will lift the courtroom mandates soon. Again, I am pleased to report that court operations are fully functional with both civil and criminal jury and bench trials being conducted.
​Please remember that Administrative Order 2021-28 is effective January 1, 2022. A new wrinkle now exists to ensure a seamless transition of Zoom web links for virtual hearings with the docket changes. In pre-Zoom days, it was simple to post signs in the Courthouse telling you where to go to find where your case was being heard with docket assignment changes. Now we must make sure Judges’ virtual courtroom links are up-to-date on-line to avoid massive problems come January 1, 2022. We will be updating the McLean County Circuit Clerk’s website at the end of the year to reflect the Zoom links for the Judges that are changing dockets and publishing updated Judges’ chamber locations and secretarial assignments soon. We are trying to keep as many Zoom links the same as possible to avoid too much disruption. 

As always, on behalf of the entire Judiciary, we thank you for your continued patience and understanding.  Should you have any questions or concerns on court operations, please contact Trial Court Administrator William Scanlon at (309) 888-5266.
 
Best regards.
Chief Judge Mark A. Fellheimer

2022 Member application

Please click on the MCBA button above to renew.

​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 jganschow@ganschowlaw.com or Angela Skinner at angela@ams.law
Retirement Reception for the Honorable Paul G. Lawrence

Friday, December 17, 2021
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Jury Assembly Room
McLean County Law & Justice Center
Light refreshments will be served 

ARDC
ATTORNEY REGISTRATION & DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION

A Serving Opportunity
Each year, the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission appoints lawyers and nonlawyer members to its Inquiry and Hearing Boards. New members are appointed each year and the Commission is committed to bringing fresh talent to the Boards. The Commission receives letters each year from individuals who are interested in serving on the Boards, and typically, the Commission uses those letters when looking to fill vacancies. The...
Deadline: December 31
Project Santa
​2021​
​It has truly been my pleasure to work with McLean County Bar Association!! You all are little angels in my eyes and the eyes/hearts of many residents!! MCBA has always gone above and beyond!! I am so humbled!! God bless each and every one of you!!
Sincerely, Lidia [McLean County Nursing Home Staff Member]

a THANK YOU!

AMS - Allison & Mosby-Scott LLC
Julie Anderson
Jonathan Bobel
Brendan Bukalski
Laura Castagna
Shelley Clark
Tammy Cook
Julia Davis
Joseph Dehn
​Rusty DePew
​DePew & Dehn Attorneys
Allen DeVary
Lisa Dorch
Judge Sarah Duffy
Erin Duncan
Chuck Erickson
Judge Rebecca Foley
Jaime Ganschow
Alexandra Hayworth
Tori Hoban
​Frank Hoffman
Jennifer T. & Her Mom
Jenna Kearns
Katy Kraft
Kraft, Wood, Kelly
​​Laura Lauterbach
Tim Leighton
LivingstonBarger
Judge Amy McFarland
Karen McKinney
Meyer Capel
Rachael Moore Perry
Jennifer Patton
Emily Petri
​Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols
Cathy Pratt
Pratt & Pratt PC
Ritchie Law Office Ltd
Alice Smalley
Jacki Smith
​Jean Swee
Robert T. Varney & Associates
Bri Williams
Taylor Williams
Wood DeVary & Armstrong PC
George & Gina Wood
Megan Wood
Stephen Wood

Project Santa

Caroling is BACK

The Holiday Party
​2:00 pm on Thursday, 12-23

(Masks must be worn at all times.)

a retirement celebration
all are welcome!

The mclean county circuit clerk office

​will be closed 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 16, 2021
this will allow our staff to attend the office Holiday Luncheon

**IMPORTANT NOTICE-update**

From the Supreme Court Communications Office - 12-9-2021
eFileIL will be unavailable statewide starting on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 12:00 PM CDT through Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 1:00 PM CDT., in preparation for the changes required by the new Recordkeeping Manual that go into effect January 1, 2022.

Filers will be unable to submit documents to the court through eFileIL during this time, but you can file paper documents locally at the appropriate clerk’s office during regular business hours without submitting a Certificate of Exemption from e-Filing form. Please contact your local Circuit Court Clerk with any questions.

​Past Notice from Odyssey
In preparation of the changes required for the new Recordkeeping Manual case types effective January 1, 2022, eFileIL will be unavailable statewide starting on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 12:00 PM CDT through Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 1:00 PM CDT.
  
Filers will be unable to submit documents to the court through eFileIL during this time, but will be permitted to file paper documents locally at the appropriate clerk’s office during regular business hours without needing to submit a Certificate of Exemption from e-Filing form. 

new to your office?

If your office has new attorneys and 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. 

sexual harassment prevention training program

annual training reminder​

completition required by december 31

holiday luncheon
tuesday - december 21

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21 12:00 - 1:00 PM
​BLOOMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB
CLICK ON THE HAPPY HOLIDAYS ABOVE TO REGISTER.
Price discount through Friday, december 17

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.

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.  ​

​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

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

imeri rogers llp
seeks
posted 12-13-2021

experienced attorney
Closes 12-17-2021 


attorney
​positions
​

mclean county public defender office

​seeks
Closes 12-22-2021 


​assistant
public
defender 1

livingston, barger, brandt & schroeder, llp
seeks
posted 11-15-2021

LEGAL ASSISTANT


​prairie state legal services​
seeks
​and
posted 11-15-2021

A2J attorney-peoria ​

and

staff ATTORNEY-
waukegan

law offices of thomas j. pliura ​
​seeks
posted 11-15-2021

full time
PARALEGAL  ​

abbey, adams, byelick & mueller, llp​

​seeks
Posted 11-15-2021



attorney 
​

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
​​​BOG Meeting - December 14 noon 
​MCBA Foundation - December 16 noon
​​​​CLE Committee Meeting - December 28 noon
Executive Committee 
President                            
​​Nathan B. Hinch

2nd VP
​John L. Pratt

Secretary
Spencer Chikahisa
1st VP
​Judge Pablo Eves

Immediate Past President
​Kathleen Kraft

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
Brendan Bukalski
Michael Butts
​Dean Davis
​Jaime Ganschow

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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