MCLEAN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
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​MCBA NEWSLETTER


​​december 14, 2020


 2020
December Events
​12/18/20 (Fri.)
​canceled until further notice
"Breakfast with the Bar" 


12/24 (Thurs.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

12/25 (Fri.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

12/29/20 (Tues.)
CLE Committee Meeting

2021
​January Events

1/1/21 (Fri.)
Law & Justice Center Closed

1/12/20 (Tues.)
BOG Committee Meeting 


deliveries!

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Dear Members:
 
We have learned that Santa has dispatched his elves to deliver baked goods and/or lumps of coal to area firms throughout this week. The North Pole has ensured contactless delivery at your law office or firm or home so please be aware of any packages left outside lest they be eaten by one of the reindeers. Remember to continue to mask and socially distance in case you catch one of Santa's helpers in the act of coming down a chimney! 
 
Thank you for your cooperation and have a wonderful week!         Your Social Committee

PS: For those who have made a donation instead of the deliveries, please stay tuned for updates.

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life savers

Please join me in congratulating Prairie State Legal Service’s 2020 Lifesaver Award recipients. This year more than ever it is important to recognize the volunteer service that the MCBA provides to this community. Our community and our legal system is a better place because of these volunteers. Thank you so much! ​Adrian Barr
​
Hon. David Butler (Ret.)
​

Judge David Butler is a brilliant attorney who has significant judicial experience with orders of protection and evictions. Judge Butler retired from the bench at the end of 2018. He started volunteering at PSLS in early 2019. Since that time, he has helped over 50 people who could not afford to hire attorneys by providing legal help with landlord-tenant and domestic violence issues in McLean, Livingston, and Woodford counties. Without his help, PSLS would have had to turn many of those cases away due to limited resources. Judge Butler has also helped establish a volunteer driven eviction clinic in McLean County. As a result, PSLS will be better able to serve this community when evictions resume.
​
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Angela Skinner
​

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Angela Skinner is an attorney at Allison & Mosby-Scott, a firm that is committed to providing pro bono representation and to equal justice. Ms. Skinner has continued her firm’s tradition of serving the community. Since joining the firm in 2015, she has helped 15 PSLS pro bono clients with contested divorce and family cases. This is the highest area of need. Her pro bono clients give her the absolute highest rating in service, describing her as professional and thorough. One recent client said, “Great service in a timely manner even with us going through a pandemic. [She] always got back to me in a timely manner and answered all my questions.” Another of Ms. Skinner’s client said, “Angela made everything easier.” 

Nichole Byers
​

Nichole Byers is a paralegal at Ogar & Miller, a firm with a long history of pro bono service and multiple Lifesaver Award recipients. Ms. Byers works with Todd Miller, a 2010 PSLS Lifesaver Award recipient. In addition to working with Mr. Miller on pro bono divorce and family cases, Ms. Byers began volunteering directly with PSLS in 2015 at the semi-annual Legal Advice Fairs. Family law experience is in high demand at the Legal Advice Fairs so she is one of the last to leave at the end of the day. Together, Mr. Miller and Ms. Byers have helped over 56 PSLS pro bono clients. Ms. Byers is also the incoming President of the Central Illinois Paralegal Association.
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december press releases

12-10-2020 Supreme Court of Illinois, justice rita garman announces formation of judicial screening committee to fill 11th circuit vacancy
12-2-2020 Mark A Fellheimer Re-Elected 11th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge
12-3-2020 Courthouses Remain Open with Continued Precautions
Reference from 12-3-2020. AO 2020-19 Resumptions of Court Operations-Covid-19

2021 MCBA membership

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​Click on the MCBA Logo to renew. 

Daniel Deneen, McLean County Public Guardian, has extra copies of the Illinois Guardianship Association Guardian manuals for your clients. Although the Illinois Guardianship Association will be updating the manuals in 2021, they should still be able to provide some assistance and guidance for your clients. Please contact Dan’s office at 309.663.0555 if you would like him to set aside one or more manuals for you or your clients to pick up at his office.  

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Central Illinois Paralegal Association is pleased to announce the elected officers
​for the 2021 term:
​

President-Elect: Nichole Byers (Ogar & Miller)
Vice President-Elect: Jenny Ogle (Caterpillar)
Secretary-Elect: Denise Risinger (Moss & Moss)
Treasurer-Elect: Celeste Poole (Caterpillar)
NALA Liaison: Tracey LaForge, CP (Caterpillar)


You are invited to attend the remote meeting to induct the 2021 officers on December 15th at noon via Zoom. Hon. Amy McFarland (Eleventh Judicial Circuit, McLean County) will be swearing in the officers. Register here to receive the Zoom meeting link: https://tinyurl.com/CIPA-12-15-2020
 
If you have questions about membership with Central Illinois Paralegal Association, whether for legal staff, attorneys, educators, or others interested in the paralegal profession, please do not hesitate to ask!
​E-mail [email protected] or visit www.ciparalegal.org for more information. 

retirement
judge drazewski

press release 11/24/2020

illinois courts needs your help!

Motion to Vacate & Expunge Eligible Cannabis Convictions Form

Dear Court Stakeholders:
 
We are writing to remind you that the “Motion to Vacate & Expunge Eligible Cannabis Convictions” draft forms are still open and available for public comment. You can find the forms here. The public comment period will be ending on December 17th, 2020.  After that time, the commission will review all feedback or suggestions received and make any revisions it deems necessary.
 
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice is also pleased to announce that it has published Spanish translations for the “Certificate of Good Conduct” form suite, available here, and the “Minor Name Change” form suite, available here.
 
Please share the news about these forms with your networks and communities. Thank you for all you do in furthering access to justice initiatives in Illinois.
 
Sincerely,
 
Hayley D. Yussman
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Assistant to the Assistant Director
Access to Justice Division, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts

​COURT house reminders

* Check your Clerk's folder.
* Keep your in-person interactions brief (less than 15 minutes).
 
* Stay at least 6 feet apart.
* Wear your face covering.
* The 3rd floor lactation room is not to be used as an attorney conference room. 

MCBA Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program Announcement

Developing strong relationships between new and experienced attorneys in our community is so important to the MCBA. Please consider becoming involved in the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program (sponsored by the MCBA), which is a program created by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.
 
We welcome applications from mentors or mentees throughout the year. A mentor must be licensed for more than five years and act as a resource to the mentee. The mentee must be licensed for four years or less. By completing eight mentoring sessions, both mentor and mentee will qualify for six hours of professionalism credit (which can be rolled over to future years). We are looking for new lawyers who would like to be connected with mentors, and experienced lawyers who are willing to serve as mentors. 
 
Please contact one of the mentoring program coordinators:
Jaime Ganschow at [email protected] or Angela Skinner at [email protected],
​or visit the following site to fill out an online application at this
LINK.

canceled due to area covid infections rising.

​friday  -  ​breakfast ​with the bar

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mark your calendar

2021
January 19 - State of the Circuit CLE noon time event
​February 3 - Criminal Day Seminar CLE
February 16 - CLE noon time event
March 16 - CLE noon time event

April 21-22 - The Guardian Ad Litem Event 
June 7 - MCBA Golf Outing at BCC beginning at noon

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2020 BLOOMINGTON CANNON ESTATE PLANNING
TELECONFERENCE SERIES PROGRAM
​HOSTED BY PNC WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Time: 12.00 noon - 1.30 pm
​via teleconference​


 1 hour of Continuing Legal Education Credit will be earned for attendance at each call.
A certificate of attendance will be given to each participant.
Please RSVP ​ by replying to Jennifer.julius@pnc.com and include a list the names of the colleagues who will be attending. If you have questions please call Jennifer at 309.655.5484

​December 15
Conflicts of Interest Issues Facing Estate Planning Professionals


services AVAILABLE


SPENCER INVESTIGATIONS, PLLC

Spencer Investigations, PLLC is a licensed and insured private investigation company. With 28 years of experience as a Special Agent for the FBI and recent corporate experience, Greg Spencer offers a highly trained and wide skill set with a reputation of reliability and integrity for any private investigation need.
more information


career opportunities



​kanoski 
​bresney

seeks
1+ years experience
and
3+ years experience
Posted Dec 14

associate litigation attorneys


Hinshaw & culbertson
​LLP

seeks
Information
Posted Nov 16

junior level litigation associate



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
Posted August 3 - End December 31


downtown law office building
​for sale


105 N. Center Street - Bloomington
Posted August 10 - End December 31


bar committee activities

2020
​CLE Committee Meeting - December 29 noon
2021
​BOG Meeting - January 12 noon
​CLE Committee Meeting - January 26 noon


MCBA Breakfast with the Bar  -  canceled until further notice...
Remember to have “Breakfast with the Bar” every Friday morning between 8:00 am and 9:00 am. It’s a great way to meet and talk with your fellow attorneys in an informal setting. Stay for 10 minutes and have a cup of coffee or stay for an hour and have a full breakfast before court. Grab an associate, partner or friend and come.      See you Friday!

Executive Committee 
President                            
​Judge Pablo Eves

2nd VP
Adrian Barr

Secretary
Paige Thielen
1st VP
​John L. Pratt

Immediate Past President
​​Nathan B. Hinch

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
Michael Butts [Year 4]
​Dean Davis [Year 3]
​Jaime Ganschow [Year 2]
Laurel Bingaman [Year 1]

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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