MCBA Newsletter july 13, 2020
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2020
July Events 7/14/20 (Tues.) Annual Bar Meeting 7/17/20 (Fri.) "Breakfast with the Bar" at Scout's 7/21/20 (Tues.) - Virtual CLE Luncheon-Collections 7/24/20 (Fri.) "Breakfast with the Bar" at Scout's 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 11/03/20 (Tues.) Law & Justice Center Closed 2020 General Election Day 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 12/25 (Fri.) Law & Justice Center Closed 2021 January Events 1/1/21 (Fri.) Law & Justice Center Closed |
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTWell, it is that time to pass the baton onto George Wood, who I know will do a wonderful job in leading our Bar Association into the next year! It was a great privilege and honor to serve as your President over this past year plus. To say that it was a fun, interesting and trying journey would be an understatement. Last June, I received the reins from Judge Lawrence at a time when I had a heavy heart with the very recent passing of my Mother. We started my tenure off with a bang, however, with great CLEs, social events and an overwhelming amount of volunteers from the MCBA for Bruegala resulting in a wonderful windfall for Prairie State Legal Services. And, then in the interests of trying new things after our mainstay holiday season speaker, Justice Knecht retired from this gig, we closed out 2019 with holiday trivia and gifts for our winners. We had a great turnout of carolers at the McLean County Nursing Home so I think we will be asked back! Lastly, with the hard work of our Social chairs, the holiday Happy Hour was a huge success. We enter into 2020 with high hopes and aspirations for our CLEs and Bar function. Our Law Day committee was hard at work to bring something new, an evening gala with a great theme: 100th anniversary of the Suffrage Movement. Then, the blasted five letter word surfaces and things came to a screeching halt. Not to be deterred, however, we regroup and tweak our monthly meetings to provide CLEs via Zoom. A big thanks to the CLE committee and our presenters for stepping up when we needed it the most. Now, on the cusp of our Annual meeting, albeit a month later than usual, we are treading new waters once again. A Zoom Annual meeting with some of our usual important matters of business, such as the Memorial Resolutions and presentation of the Young Lawyer of the Year award, pushed to a later date down the road. On a side note, Congratulations to Emily Petri as our Young Lawyer of the Year award recipient ! Despite all of these strange and difficult times, particularly over the last four months, this has been a wonderful and exciting journey. We bid farewell to Judge Lawrence from the BOG with great thanks for his years of service to the MCBA. We welcome Peter Brandt and Jenna Finegan. I wanted to express my gratitude for all of the committees and their work over this past year and to all of our members for your support and attendance at and work for our monthly luncheons, charitable efforts and social events. I continue to encourage all of our members, young and seasoned alike, to become involved in our Bar, join a committee, volunteer for Prairie State and Mock Trials, etc. The work can be time-consuming and trying at times, but well worth it. Thank you all once again. I was truly honored to sit at the helm of the McLean County Bar Association ! Continue to Be Well and Be Safe.. Hope to see you all in person very soon! ave a great week Joe Foley court news
The Courts continue to operate under Administrative Order 2020-19. With the pandemic evolving daily, we are in a “holding pattern” right now in terms of court operations. While more in-person hearings are taking place, we must still be vigilant to not risk people’s health and welfare by reverting to pre-pandemic in-person hearing levels too fast. Fortunately, many Judges, Attorneys and litigants have responded positively to more remote hearings in a variety of case-types. Preliminarily, it seems in the civil dockets that we are seeing fewer pro se litigants fail to appear as they embrace the remote hearing technology, while at the same time not costing the litigants time off work and/or arranging childcare to attend some hearings. While we could not have predicted remote hearings to this magnitude four months ago, I can’t predict what the future of remote hearings will look like other than I think they are here to stay. We look forward to further guidance from the Illinois Supreme Court as it continues to study the long-term implementation of remote hearings throughout the State. We look forward to further ramping up court operations as soon as is possible and thank you for your continued patience and understanding. Stay safe. With regards, Chief Judge Mark A. Fellheimer Should you have any questions or concerns on court operations, please contact the Trial Court Administrator, William Scanlon at (309) 888-5266. annual meeting
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Helping lawyers and their families through uncertain times
Helping attorneys through the toughest times of their lives has been at the core of what we at the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF) have done since 1951. Today, we recognize that the COVID-19 crisis has presented all of us with a new set of unforeseen, unpredictable challenges. With limited court access and futures uncertain for many, the IBF has established the COVID-19 Lawyers Care Relief Fund as an extension of our existing Warren Lupel Lawyers Care Fund. This initiative will enable us to further our reach to even more attorneys in need throughout the state and will specifically provide financial aid to attorneys struggling to make ends meet as a result of this crisis. This special relief fund has been made possible by a generous cy pres award directed to the IBF by our friends at Edelson PC.
The IBF COVID-19 Lawyers Care Relief Fund will provide one-time, non-renewable lump sum payments of $2,000 to attorneys facing financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Attorneys must be based in Illinois and in good standing with the ARDC to be eligible for a grant. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis through July 15. Please be assured that all information provided in the application process, as well as the identity of all applicants and recipients, will remain confidential.
Almost 70 years of providing aid to attorneys in crisis has proven time and time again how generous our profession is, and how committed attorneys from all walks of life and all parts of the state are to helping our own. If you know a colleague who is struggling, please share our application and let them know the IBF and our supporters are here for them. If you are in a position to contribute and looking for a way to help those less fortunate, please consider making a donation of any amount to the IBF COVID-19 Lawyers Care Relief Fund.
The IBF COVID-19 Lawyers Care Relief Fund will provide one-time, non-renewable lump sum payments of $2,000 to attorneys facing financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Attorneys must be based in Illinois and in good standing with the ARDC to be eligible for a grant. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis through July 15. Please be assured that all information provided in the application process, as well as the identity of all applicants and recipients, will remain confidential.
Almost 70 years of providing aid to attorneys in crisis has proven time and time again how generous our profession is, and how committed attorneys from all walks of life and all parts of the state are to helping our own. If you know a colleague who is struggling, please share our application and let them know the IBF and our supporters are here for them. If you are in a position to contribute and looking for a way to help those less fortunate, please consider making a donation of any amount to the IBF COVID-19 Lawyers Care Relief Fund.
LAP VIRTUAL OFFERS NEW CLE CONTENT
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Click on the LAP logo to find the home page.
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LAP Virtual CLE’s are offered to support Illinois’ legal community year-round. In response to the COVID19 pandemic, LAP releases new CLE content Fear No Evil: COVID19 Driven Anxiety, one (1) Mental Health/Substance Abuse, Professional Responsibility credit delivered by LAP Deputy Director, Tony Pacione, LCSW, CSADC.
Description: Not too many things in our lives motivate us to change our behavior like fear. Fear when associated with great uncertainty, often elicits strong emotions and anxious thoughts that we can easily conflate, or confuse with facts. This presentation explains how fear, uncertainty, and anxiety all too often lead to a continual feedback loop that creates more fear and anxiety during the current pandemic. Two evidenced based practices to manage uncertainty and fear, while reducing anxiety are presented. Up to six (6) CLE credits can be earned, access to all of LAP Virtual CLE’s available 24/7 at this LINK.
Description: Not too many things in our lives motivate us to change our behavior like fear. Fear when associated with great uncertainty, often elicits strong emotions and anxious thoughts that we can easily conflate, or confuse with facts. This presentation explains how fear, uncertainty, and anxiety all too often lead to a continual feedback loop that creates more fear and anxiety during the current pandemic. Two evidenced based practices to manage uncertainty and fear, while reducing anxiety are presented. Up to six (6) CLE credits can be earned, access to all of LAP Virtual CLE’s available 24/7 at this LINK.
Information about a Virtual Pro Bono Opportunity to Help Those in Need
Illinois Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal clinic where low-income Illinoisans can submit a question online to ask a lawyer for help with a civil legal issue. Volunteer lawyers then log onto the site at their convenience and answer questions waiting in the queue that they feel comfortable addressing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a great way to help those in need from the comfort and safety of your home.
Illinois Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal clinic where low-income Illinoisans can submit a question online to ask a lawyer for help with a civil legal issue. Volunteer lawyers then log onto the site at their convenience and answer questions waiting in the queue that they feel comfortable addressing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a great way to help those in need from the comfort and safety of your home.
A project of the American Bar Association, Free Legal Answers was created as a national platform to increase access to advice and information about non-criminal legal matters for those who cannot afford legal assistance. It is now active in 42 jurisdictions within the United States, including Illinois, with the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) as the statewide administrator. Most clients’ questions tend to be in one of the big three civil legal aid categories—family, housing and consumer law. However, since the pandemic and resulting shutdown, now people are also asking about employment and benefits issues. PILI provides the necessary support, including an online resource page with training videos and sample questions and answers. The ABA provides malpractice coverage for volunteer lawyers. You can learn more by clicking on the Free Legal Answers Logo below or visit the site to register at this LINK.
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Please click on the above logo to view the IDPH website.
As you are probably already familiar with the personal safety guidance, there is also a need for an awareness of employee and staff of businesses. Please see this LINK for more information.
mark your calendar
2020
July 14 - Annual Meeting
July 21 - CLE - Collections
September - Law Day Gala - an evening event - more information to come
October 21-22 - The Guardian Ad Litem Event - more information to come
November 13-15 - The ISU Invitational Mock Trial Tournament
July 21 - CLE - Collections
September - Law Day Gala - an evening event - more information to come
October 21-22 - The Guardian Ad Litem Event - more information to come
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.
Please RSVP by replying to Erica Fleming erica.fleming@pnc.com and include a list the names of the colleagues who will be attending. If you have questions please call Erica at 309.655.5312
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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
BOG Meeting - July 7 noon
Law Day Committee Meeting - July 17 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - July 28 noon
GAL Committee Meeting - July 29 noon
BOG Meeting - August 11 noon
BOG Meeting - July 7 noon
Law Day Committee Meeting - July 17 noon
CLE Committee Meeting - July 28 noon
GAL Committee Meeting - July 29 noon
BOG Meeting - August 11 noon
save the dates
2020
july 14 - annual meeting
july 21 - cle luncheon or virtual meeting - 'collections'
SEPTEMBER 25 - 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 - resuming Friday, July 8!
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!