MCBA NEWSLETTER |
march 13, 2023 |
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2023
March Events 3/14/2023 (Tues.) CLE - Family Bar 3/15/2023 (Wed.) BOG Meeting- [note change of date] 3/16/2023 (Thurs.) Happy Hour @ Mystic -sponsored by FONTIER TITLE COMPANY, LLC 3/17/2023 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 3/22/2023 (Wed.) 6pm-8pm Ethics CLE- Operation Greylord 3/24/2023 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 3/28/2023 (Tues.) CLE Committee Meeting April Events 4/1/2023 (Sat.) Young Lawyer Award Nominations Open 4/7/2023 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 4/11/2023 (Tues.) BOG Meeting 4/12/2023 (Wed.) D&I Committee Meeting Criminal Law Committee Meeting 4/14/2023 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 4/18/2023 (Tues.) CLE Event 4/19/2023 (Wed.) 4th District Illinois Appellate Court Oral Arguments 4/21/2023 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 4/28/2023 (Fri.) Breakfast with the Bar 4/25/2023 (Tues.) CLE Committee Meeting Upcoming Save-The-Dates 5/3/2023 (Wed.) Law Day Celebration 9/22/2023 (Fri.) CIPA Legal Education Seminar 10/25 & 10/26 (Wed. & Thurs.) MCBA Biennial GAL Conference All Court Holidays & Closures |
Sponsored by Frontier Title Company, LLC
happy hour |
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Dear Members of the McLean County Bar Association,
I am writing this letter to let you know about “AmeriCorps Week” from March 12th- March 18th. During this time, AmeriCorps members spread the word about AmeriCorps programs, members, and alumni as well as the impact that our services have on the country. My name is Shaul Latif. I am a full-time fellow with Illinois JusticeCorps, a program of the Illinois Bar Foundation and AmeriCorps. The program places volunteers in courthouses around Illinois to help people without lawyers navigate the civil justice system. There are now 12 courthouses in the State of Illinois that have JusticeCorps in it. Fellows and members consist mainly of students and recent college graduates such as myself. I work in the McLean County Law & Justice Center, in the Law Library.
Since the start of this fellowship in August of 2022 till January 2023 we have helped in total 1,350 court patrons in McLean county. As someone who wants to attend law school and become a practicing attorney in the State of Illinois, I find my position an amazing way to gain exposure to the civil justice system. Being able to serve everyday people in need, regardless of socio-economic status, has been a rewarding experience. Across the state the fellows and volunteer members engage in services, increasing access to justice for our communities’ most underserved.
I work alongside one college intern from ISU Brittany Lurz and three high school interns Cort Welch, Megan Segrist, and Plamedie Lubika. Every one of these interns work extremely hard to provide legal assistance to every pro se litigant who walks through our doors. I find the work we do here at the McLean County Law & Justice Center extremely important and rewarding. The majority of the patrons we help are grateful we are here to help and make sure we know the work we do here matters. At times not all court patrons make us feel this way, oftentimes taking their frustration out on us. We all know what we signed up for and understand that we must approach each patron with patience and empathy.
I am not always in the Law Library. I help with McLean County foreclosure mediation as well as assisting Prairie State legal services with their eviction clinic. I attend monthly Court Navigator Network meetings and attend CLE meetings that help me improve my scope of knowledge so I can better serve self-represented litigants. Recently I and some of my other JusticeCorps colleagues were at the first Law Student Leader Summit run by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice, in Chicago. At this Summit we discussed ways to improve how we can better assist self represented litigants. Even though I have been here for almost six months there are always areas we can improve and grow from.
I am very proud to be an AmeriCorps member and as for “AmeriCorps Week” I ask that you spread the word of the great work we are doing. Feel free to follow us on social media; our instagram is @iljusticcorps.
Sincerely, Shaul Latif, Fellow Illinois Justice Corps
104 W. Front Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
Email: slatif@iljusticecorps.org
I am writing this letter to let you know about “AmeriCorps Week” from March 12th- March 18th. During this time, AmeriCorps members spread the word about AmeriCorps programs, members, and alumni as well as the impact that our services have on the country. My name is Shaul Latif. I am a full-time fellow with Illinois JusticeCorps, a program of the Illinois Bar Foundation and AmeriCorps. The program places volunteers in courthouses around Illinois to help people without lawyers navigate the civil justice system. There are now 12 courthouses in the State of Illinois that have JusticeCorps in it. Fellows and members consist mainly of students and recent college graduates such as myself. I work in the McLean County Law & Justice Center, in the Law Library.
Since the start of this fellowship in August of 2022 till January 2023 we have helped in total 1,350 court patrons in McLean county. As someone who wants to attend law school and become a practicing attorney in the State of Illinois, I find my position an amazing way to gain exposure to the civil justice system. Being able to serve everyday people in need, regardless of socio-economic status, has been a rewarding experience. Across the state the fellows and volunteer members engage in services, increasing access to justice for our communities’ most underserved.
I work alongside one college intern from ISU Brittany Lurz and three high school interns Cort Welch, Megan Segrist, and Plamedie Lubika. Every one of these interns work extremely hard to provide legal assistance to every pro se litigant who walks through our doors. I find the work we do here at the McLean County Law & Justice Center extremely important and rewarding. The majority of the patrons we help are grateful we are here to help and make sure we know the work we do here matters. At times not all court patrons make us feel this way, oftentimes taking their frustration out on us. We all know what we signed up for and understand that we must approach each patron with patience and empathy.
I am not always in the Law Library. I help with McLean County foreclosure mediation as well as assisting Prairie State legal services with their eviction clinic. I attend monthly Court Navigator Network meetings and attend CLE meetings that help me improve my scope of knowledge so I can better serve self-represented litigants. Recently I and some of my other JusticeCorps colleagues were at the first Law Student Leader Summit run by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice, in Chicago. At this Summit we discussed ways to improve how we can better assist self represented litigants. Even though I have been here for almost six months there are always areas we can improve and grow from.
I am very proud to be an AmeriCorps member and as for “AmeriCorps Week” I ask that you spread the word of the great work we are doing. Feel free to follow us on social media; our instagram is @iljusticcorps.
Sincerely, Shaul Latif, Fellow Illinois Justice Corps
104 W. Front Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
Email: slatif@iljusticecorps.org
committee updates
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*Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 12 noon
5th Floor Jury Assembly Room at L&J Center *Topics: see the Newsletter by clicking on the logo to the left |
law day 2023 celebration
wednesday may 3
CLE
wednesday - MARCH 22
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
up to 2 hours pr ethics cle [approved]
Operation Greylord:
Corruption in the Cook County Courts
Please join the McLean County Bar Association and The Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University in welcoming Mr. Terrence Hake. Mr. Hake was a young attorney who became an important untrained undercover agent in America's biggest corruptioni bust (Operation Greylord).
Mr. Hake relates how as a young prosecutor in complained about the corruption in the Cook County Courts. After his complaint, he was approached the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI to work undercover as a prosecutor and later as a criminal defense attorney in Operation Greylord. Mr. Hake was undercover as an attorney for almost four years. Greylord is one of the FBI’s most successful undercover cases. Relating the facts of the corruption in the Circuit Court of Cook County is still a relevant lesson in ethics for law students and attorneys in 2015.
Hear about:
Mr. Hake relates how as a young prosecutor in complained about the corruption in the Cook County Courts. After his complaint, he was approached the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI to work undercover as a prosecutor and later as a criminal defense attorney in Operation Greylord. Mr. Hake was undercover as an attorney for almost four years. Greylord is one of the FBI’s most successful undercover cases. Relating the facts of the corruption in the Circuit Court of Cook County is still a relevant lesson in ethics for law students and attorneys in 2015.
Hear about:
- 3.5 years of work as an attorney undercover, posing as a corrupt prosecutor by accepting bribes
- Investigation Greylord resulted in bribery charges being filed against 103 judges, lawyers, and other court personnel
- Professional Legal Ethics rocked to its core!
This event is open to the public. The cost of $20 is for an attorney who wants to obtain up to two hours of Professional Responsibility Ethics CLE credit. If you are not seeking PR Ethics CLE credit, please fill in the registration form and select the fee waived option.
CLE
tuesday - March 14
noon
up to 1 hour general cle [approved]
abolishing irs back taxes,
a family law attorney's guide
Please join the McLean County Bar Association in welcoming Robert Schaller, JD. A family law attorney can become the client’s hero by eliminating IRS back taxes. Learn how to eliminate your client’s IRS tax debt instead of merely shifting the tax payment burden to an opposing spouse, who may or may not pay. Congress authorized relief to the “innocent” spouse who would otherwise be inequitably harmed by the non-requesting spouse. The presentation will focus on the statutory components of three types of relief from joint and several tax liability with relevant citations to the U.S. Tax Code, Treasury regulations, court opinions, and the Internal Revenue Manual. The focus on Innocent Spouse Relief, Separation of Liability Relief, and Equitable Relief. 26 U.S.C. § 6015; 26 C.F.R. § 1.6015-1 and § 1.6015-2 and § 1.6015-3.
This Tuesday, March 14 program will be held both via zoom and in-person with the out of town guest speaker via ZOOM beginning at 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Check-in begins at 11:45 a.m. The cost is $20 for MCBA Members and $25 for non-members. This includes a light lunch for those who have registered before this event. Walk-in's are welcome, however, there may not be enough planned food for those who do not register.
This Tuesday, March 14 program will be held both via zoom and in-person with the out of town guest speaker via ZOOM beginning at 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Check-in begins at 11:45 a.m. The cost is $20 for MCBA Members and $25 for non-members. This includes a light lunch for those who have registered before this event. Walk-in's are welcome, however, there may not be enough planned food for those who do not register.
Registrationi closes March 13.
cle recording opportunities
4th District Illinois Appellate Court
Oral Arguments
Wednesday, April 19, check-in begins 10.30 am
4th District Illinois Appellate Court Oral Arguments at ISU
Every member of the audience will need to pass through a metal detector.
Every member of the audience will need to pass through a metal detector.
The Department of Politics and Government has formalized the venue for the Fourth District Illinois Appellate Court oral argument that the department is co-sponsoring with the McLean County Bar Association. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 19 at 11:00 a.m. in the Prairie Room in the Bone Student Center. Everyone who enters the room must pass through a metal detector. Doors will open a half hour before the argument to allow people to get screened.
Carla Bender, the appellate clerk for the fourth district, has advised me that People v. Marzette is the case set for oral argument at ISU. The defendant was convicted of attempted first degree murder after a bench trial and sentenced to 43 years in prison. The issues raised by the defense are:
- The defendant’s convictions should be vacated where it was improper to convict him based on a theory of accountability. Alternatively, the firearm enhancement imposed should be vacated because there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that he discharged a firearm.
- The circuit court erred by committing a number of evidentiary errors that resulted in it relying on improper evidence when convicting the defendant.
- Trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call witnesses who would have supported the defense.
The rules for audience cell phones are stringent.
Phones need to be either silenced or powered off for the duration of the presentation.
If a phone makes sound during the presentation, the owner will be ushered out.
Phones need to be either silenced or powered off for the duration of the presentation.
If a phone makes sound during the presentation, the owner will be ushered out.
Save the Date
registration coming soon
registration coming soon
Tuesday, April 18 - CLE Vicarious Trauma (Can it Affect Civility?)
Wednesday, May 3 - Law Day Celebration
Friday, September 22 -Central Illinois Paralegal Association Legal Education Seminar
Wednesday & Thursday, October 25 & 26 -MCBA Biennial GAL Conference
Wednesday, May 3 - Law Day Celebration
Friday, September 22 -Central Illinois Paralegal Association Legal Education Seminar
Wednesday & Thursday, October 25 & 26 -MCBA Biennial GAL Conference
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.
career opportunities
office space available
105 n. center street - downtown blooomington
office - for sale
Downtown Bloomington is home to over 100 shops, restaurants, and services ready to provide you with distinctive merchandise and friendly small town customer service. You can be apart of what makes Downtown great in owning this spectacularly cared for former law office. The property has three stories and a full basement, private offices, conference rooms, storage, vaults, restrooms, library and more.
posted February 2023
Office Space Available
Located one block from the McLean County Law & Justice Center, two offices (209 sq. ft. & 108 sq. ft.) available for rent. The offices are ideal for a single office user or a professional with an administrative assistant. Both offices are newly painted, fully furnished, and move-in ready. Offices have access to kitchen/break room. Conference room available for reservation. Parking included.
For more information, call or text (708) 831-2733.
For more information, call or text (708) 831-2733.
posted January 2023
OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE
2nd Floor
121 N Main St., Bloomington, IL
3,625 sq. ft. Total. Smaller space units available.
Parking on site
Call or Text 309-868-1604
posted November 2022
2nd Floor
121 N Main St., Bloomington, IL
3,625 sq. ft. Total. Smaller space units available.
Parking on site
Call or Text 309-868-1604
posted November 2022
bar committee activities
2023
BOG Meeting - March 15 noon [note change of date]
Law Day Committee Meeting - March 21 12:15 pm
GAL Committee Meeting - March 22 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - March 28 noon
Diversity & Inclusion Committee Meeting – April 12 noon
Criminal Law Committee Meeting - April 12 noon
Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee [ADR] Meeting - April 14 noon
Underwood Committee Meeting - April 18 noon
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session - May 3, 3.30 pm
Criminal Law Committee Meeting - May 10 noon
BOG Meeting - March 15 noon [note change of date]
Law Day Committee Meeting - March 21 12:15 pm
GAL Committee Meeting - March 22 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - March 28 noon
Diversity & Inclusion Committee Meeting – April 12 noon
Criminal Law Committee Meeting - April 12 noon
Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee [ADR] Meeting - April 14 noon
Underwood Committee Meeting - April 18 noon
Quarterly Family Law Bench/Bar Listening Session - May 3, 3.30 pm
Criminal Law Committee Meeting - May 10 noon