MCBA Newsletter updated april 13, 2020
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2020 April Events 4/14/20 (Tues.) - Virtual BOG Meeting 4/17/20 (Fri.) - Cancelled "Breakfast with the Bar" at Scouts 4/21/20 (Tues.) - ZOOM CLE Luncheon 4/24/20 (Fri.) - Virtual Family Law Bar Update/Check in Meeting 4/28/20 (Tues.) CLE Committee Meeting May Events 5/1/20 (Fri.) "Breakfast with the Bar" at Scouts 5/8/20 (Fri.) "Breakfast with the Bar" at Scouts 5/13/20 (Wed.) GAL Committee Meeting 5/15/20 (Fri.) "Breakfast with the Bar" at Scouts 5/22/20 (Fri.) "Breakfast with the Bar" at Scouts 5/25/20 (Mon.) Law & Justice Center Closed 5/26/20 (Tues.) CLE Committee Meeting 5/29/20 (Fri.) "Breakfast with the Bar" at Scouts June Events 6/16/20 (Tues.) Annual Bar Meeting July Events 7/3/20 (Fri.) Law & Justice Center Closed 7/21/20 (Tues.) CLE Luncheon-Collections August Events 8/18/20 (Tues.) CLE Luncheon September Events 9/7/20 (Mon.) Law & Justice Center Closed 9/15/20 (Tues.) CLE Luncheon 9/25/20 (Fri.) Law Day Celebration Gala October Events 10/12/20 (Mon.) Law & Justice Center Closed 10/20/20 (Tues.) CLE Luncheon 10/21 & 22 (Tues. & Wed.) GAL Conference November Events 11/11/20 (Mon.) Law & Justice Center Closed 11/17/20 (Tues.) CLE Luncheon 11/26 & 11/27/20 (Thurs. & Fri.) Law & Justice Center Closed December Events 12/24 & 25 (Thurs. & Fri.) Law & Justice Center Closed 2021 January Events 1/1/21 (Fri.) Law & Justice Center Closed |
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTI hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Easter weekend. As we take a moment to look forward I hope that you are joining me in continuing the effort to keep some semblance of normalcy during this unusual time. I hope you are enjoying the new MCBA Facebook page! If you are interested in being a part of this community, please submit your request to the private page. We are keeping this private to ensure that only genuine MCBA members are allowed access. Even though I have participated in several MCBA committee meetings via Zoom conferencing, I remain optimistic for in-person meetings soon. The CLE committee is working diligently to bring you monthly CLE opportunities via Zoom. They plan on offering Tuesday, April 21st CLE via Zoom. Please see the registration LINK below. And if the current restrictions remain in place heading into the Summer, we will consider Retired Judge David Butler's presentation on Collections will be presented, via Zoom, on Tuesday, July 21st. Obviously, we will keep you advised of the specifics of the Bar's Annual meeting, currently scheduled for June 16th, as we draw closer. I also remain hopeful for an early Summer social get-together. Since all of the social cancellations, we thought it would be best to redirect our focus to support our healthcare providers at Advocate BroMenn and the OSF St. Joseph Medical Center. This week and next, the MCBA will be providing a number of boxed lunches/meals to each hospital. Simply put, we want to show our appreciation for the dangerous work being undertaken by these brave healthcare workers and to support our local eateries during these financially difficult times. Finally, nominations remain open for The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award. The deadline is Thursday, April 30. Continue to Be well and Be safe. Best regards, Joe Foley announcement
I hope everyone is doing well during this challenging time. Prairie State Legal Services is fully staffed and accepting cases. Our physical office is closed. Our staff are working from home. Our staff’s contact information has not changed. Please contact Adrian at abarr@pslegal.org or (309) 433-0065 if you have any questions. Adrian Barr 2020
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Adam W. Ghrist is an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), where he works in all areas related to general criminal prosecution. Upon joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in June of 2018, he was assigned to the Peoria Illinois Branch Office of the Central District of Illinois, where in 2018, CBS News ranked Peoria Illinois as the 18th deadliest city in the country. Immediately upon enter the US Attorney’s Office Adam was assigned to a multi-defendant racketeering and murder conspiracy involving a violent Peoria street gang. In December of 2019, after an eight-week trial of twelve defendants, the jury convicted all twelve defendants of engaging in a racketeering enterprise, as well as a number of shootings and murders between 2013 and 2018.
While Adam has handled matters including criminal appeals, white-collar crime, child exploitation, narcotics, fraud, as well as immigration, he has been designated by DOJ to focus on areas related to violent crime. He is the Peoria Coordinator for Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), DOJ’s strategic approach to reducing gun violence through various crime reduction initiatives. Since becoming PSN Coordinator, Adam worked with the McLean County’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) to add a designee of the United States Attorney’s Office to the CJCC to better coordinate local and federal efforts to stop gun violence–he currently serves as that designee. Adam was also recently named the District Wide Coordinator for all Disruption and Early Engagement Programs. In this role, Adam is tasked with initiating programs designed to effectively and efficiently disrupt potential mass shootings and other rapidly mobilizing threats of targeted violence.
Prior to becoming a federal prosecutor, Adam was the First Assistant, McLean County State’s Attorney, where he managed operations for the Criminal Division of the office and supervised a staff of approximately 40 people. While serving as First Assistant in 2016, he received the McLean County Bar Association’s Young Lawyer of the Year Award. Prior to that, he spent time leading the office’s Child Exploitation Division, where in 2014, he received the Moxie Award from the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault for outstanding efforts in sexual assault prosecutions. He also spent four years prosecuting state narcotics related crimes and handling all money laundering and civil forfeiture matters; and in 2010, the Illinois’ M.E.G. Commanders and Task Force Association recognized him for “outstanding accomplishments in narcotics prosecution.” Adam continues to be a member of the McLean County Bar Association where he has been an active member of the Lawyers in the Classroom and served on the Underwood Professionalism Committee, where he helped draft the Bar Association’s Principles of Professionalism.
Adam graduated from Illinois State University in 2004, and in 2017 was inducted into the ISU Student Affairs Hall of Fame. He graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2007 where he gave the commencement address as the John S. Rendlemen Award recipient, chosen by his classmates as the student most likely to make a difference in the practice of law.
Adam is married to his college sweetheart, Tracie. Together they have three young children. They are both actively involved at Eastview Christian Church, where they lead a bible study and have been marriage mentors. Adam also volunteer with Bloomington-Normal Cursillo and Home Sweet Home Mission.
While Adam has handled matters including criminal appeals, white-collar crime, child exploitation, narcotics, fraud, as well as immigration, he has been designated by DOJ to focus on areas related to violent crime. He is the Peoria Coordinator for Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), DOJ’s strategic approach to reducing gun violence through various crime reduction initiatives. Since becoming PSN Coordinator, Adam worked with the McLean County’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) to add a designee of the United States Attorney’s Office to the CJCC to better coordinate local and federal efforts to stop gun violence–he currently serves as that designee. Adam was also recently named the District Wide Coordinator for all Disruption and Early Engagement Programs. In this role, Adam is tasked with initiating programs designed to effectively and efficiently disrupt potential mass shootings and other rapidly mobilizing threats of targeted violence.
Prior to becoming a federal prosecutor, Adam was the First Assistant, McLean County State’s Attorney, where he managed operations for the Criminal Division of the office and supervised a staff of approximately 40 people. While serving as First Assistant in 2016, he received the McLean County Bar Association’s Young Lawyer of the Year Award. Prior to that, he spent time leading the office’s Child Exploitation Division, where in 2014, he received the Moxie Award from the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault for outstanding efforts in sexual assault prosecutions. He also spent four years prosecuting state narcotics related crimes and handling all money laundering and civil forfeiture matters; and in 2010, the Illinois’ M.E.G. Commanders and Task Force Association recognized him for “outstanding accomplishments in narcotics prosecution.” Adam continues to be a member of the McLean County Bar Association where he has been an active member of the Lawyers in the Classroom and served on the Underwood Professionalism Committee, where he helped draft the Bar Association’s Principles of Professionalism.
Adam graduated from Illinois State University in 2004, and in 2017 was inducted into the ISU Student Affairs Hall of Fame. He graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2007 where he gave the commencement address as the John S. Rendlemen Award recipient, chosen by his classmates as the student most likely to make a difference in the practice of law.
Adam is married to his college sweetheart, Tracie. Together they have three young children. They are both actively involved at Eastview Christian Church, where they lead a bible study and have been marriage mentors. Adam also volunteer with Bloomington-Normal Cursillo and Home Sweet Home Mission.
Community Supervised Non-Custodial Visitation Facilitator
maureen schiller
Please be advised that Maureen Schiller, of Bloomington, IL, will be assuming the position of Community Supervised Non-Custodial Visitation Facilitator from retiring Marie McCurdy, LCSW, ICDUP. The Children’s Home & Aid Family Visitation Center will continue to schedule services for clients with Orders of Protection and who are not involved with the Child Welfare System. Maureen, a National Certified Guardian, has extensive experience in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in guardianship matters, as well as court processes and reporting requirements. As our community opens up, Maureen will begin scheduling through the Children’s Home and Aid Family Visitation Center but will also be accepting other cases where the Visitation Center is not involved.
For more information, she may be contacted at maureenschiller@gmail.com or (309)242-1437.
For more information, she may be contacted at maureenschiller@gmail.com or (309)242-1437.
tuesday - april 21 - cle
via
zoom
'WHO'S BIAS?
THE TRUTH ABOUT IMPLICIT BIAS'
1 HOUR OF professional responsibility
diveristy & inclusion
[APPROVed]
The Underwood Committee on Professionalism cordially invites you to attend a presentation on 'Who's Bias? The truth about implicit Bias'. This McLean County Bar Association sponsored event is presented in conjunction with the Public Initiative Law Interest [PILI]. The presentation will be lead by Latasha Barnes, JD who has worked to advance equity and inclusion in the delivery of legal services. She joins us from the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.
For those in the legal profession, understanding the ways implicit bias influences our choices and approaches towards legal issues can make a huge impact not only on ways we structure our practice but also how we build a legal system that provides justice and effective service to its citizens. Learn techniques and practical tips to interrupt biases and practice in a culturally sensitive manner, as well as promote inclusion within your law practice and in the legal profession.
For those in the legal profession, understanding the ways implicit bias influences our choices and approaches towards legal issues can make a huge impact not only on ways we structure our practice but also how we build a legal system that provides justice and effective service to its citizens. Learn techniques and practical tips to interrupt biases and practice in a culturally sensitive manner, as well as promote inclusion within your law practice and in the legal profession.
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McLean County Immigrant Resource Guide LINK
Over the last ten years, Immigration Project has helped over 500 Lawful Permanent Residents to naturalize-be sworn in as U.S. citizenship! We would love your assistance in conducting legal eligibility screenings and in completing appropriate USCIS forms. We will provide training. Spanish is not required, though helpful for about a quarter of the cases and if necessary we can provide interpreters.
In-house clinics are held on a Thursday or Friday, with legal screenings in the morning, followed by a different team of form-fillers. We really need help with the legal screenings 9am-1pm, but would also love help with form-filling if you wish. (Our next Normal Citizenship Clinics is scheduled for May 15th, but subject to change due to COVID-19.)
We normally have quarterly, Saturday workshops in Monmouth, Springfield, Kankakee, and Normal. Our Monmouth June 6th workshop is still on the schedule. If interested in dedicating your Saturday and/or doing some direct representation on other types of cases, please contact Danielle DeWinter ddewinter@immigrationproject.org .
In-house clinics are held on a Thursday or Friday, with legal screenings in the morning, followed by a different team of form-fillers. We really need help with the legal screenings 9am-1pm, but would also love help with form-filling if you wish. (Our next Normal Citizenship Clinics is scheduled for May 15th, but subject to change due to COVID-19.)
We normally have quarterly, Saturday workshops in Monmouth, Springfield, Kankakee, and Normal. Our Monmouth June 6th workshop is still on the schedule. If interested in dedicating your Saturday and/or doing some direct representation on other types of cases, please contact Danielle DeWinter ddewinter@immigrationproject.org .
mark your calendar
2020
April 21 - CLE Luncheon ZOOM offering
April 24 - Family Law Bar Update/Check in Meeting
July 21 - CLE Luncheon - Collections
September - Law Day Gala - an evening event - more information to come
October 21-22 - The Guardian Ad Litem Event
November 13-15 - The ISU Invitational Mock Trial Tournament
April 24 - Family Law Bar Update/Check in Meeting
July 21 - CLE Luncheon - Collections
September - Law Day Gala - an evening event - more information to come
October 21-22 - The Guardian Ad Litem Event
November 13-15 - The ISU Invitational Mock Trial Tournament
2020 BLOOMINGTON CANNON ESTATE PLANNING
TELECONFERENCE SERIES PROGRAM
HOSTED BY PNC WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Time: 11:30 am Location: Same
PNC Wealth Management
202 E. Washington St.
2nd Floor Conference Room
Bloomington, IL 61701
PNC Wealth Management
202 E. Washington St.
2nd Floor Conference Room
Bloomington, IL 61701
1.5 hours of Continuing Legal Education Credit will be earned for attendance at each call.
A certificate of attendance will be given to each participant.
A certificate of attendance will be given to each participant.
As part of PNC’s ongoing effort to protect the health of our employees, customers and business partners from the potential impacts of the Coronavirus, we will be canceling the April 2nd Cannon teleconference. We have been in contact with Cannon Financial Institute to see if there is a way to offer CLE credit, where you are able to access the program from your home or office. Should this current health climate stretch into May, we will work toward being able to do that. So stay tuned…..
Jennifer Julius Administrative Assistant - jennifer.julius@pnc.com (P) 309-655-5484
PNC Wealth Management, 301 SW Adams, D2-Y701-03-3, Peoria, IL 61602
Jennifer Julius Administrative Assistant - jennifer.julius@pnc.com (P) 309-655-5484
PNC Wealth Management, 301 SW Adams, D2-Y701-03-3, Peoria, IL 61602
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April 30
Developing and Keeping Business for Estate Planning and Trust Professionals June 4 The Relationship Among Trust Beneficiaries and Trustees, the IRS and the Courts July 9 Ethics-Based Obligations in Specific Client Engagements August 6 Maximizing Flexibility With Powers of Appointment |
September 3
Picking Up the Pieces: Post-Divorce Planning October 1 Moving the Needle With Your Clients’ Retirement Asset Planning October 29 Contemporary Challenges in Trust Administration December 3 Essential Asset Protection Planning January 7, 2021 Conflicts of Interest Issues Facing Estate Planning Professionals |
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
bar committee activities
2020
Board of Governor's Committee Meeting - April 14 12:00 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - April 29 12:00 noon
GAL Committee Meeting - May 13 12:00 noon
Law Day Committee Meeting - May 20 12:00 noon
Board of Governor's Committee Meeting - April 14 12:00 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - April 29 12:00 noon
GAL Committee Meeting - May 13 12:00 noon
Law Day Committee Meeting - May 20 12:00 noon
save the dates
2020
may 9 - softball challenge - pending
SEPTEMBER 26 - LAW DAY GALA.. AN EVENING EVENT
october 21-22 -gal conference
november 13 - 15 - the isu invitational mock trial tournament
MCBA Breakfast with the Bar - postponed 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!
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!