Illinois Bar Journal

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Articles in Oct, 2009 issue of Illinois Bar Journal

• Our season of service: meeting the pro bono challenge: need is up and resources are down in this struggling economy. Now more than ever is the time to give your time, talent, and treasure to the pro bono cause
  by John G. O'Brien
• U.S. Supreme Court: Confrontation Clause requires lab analysts to testify: prosecutors can't rely on lab reports alone, the Court rules. But ISBA lawyers disagree about how much impact the ruling will have in Illinois
  by Helen Gunnarsson
• Strip-search of student violates Fourth Amendment: education lawyers say the U.S. Supreme Court's Safford ruling confirms their longstanding advice to school officials: don't strip-search kids
  by Helen Gunnarsson
• New statute clarifies family law attorney-fee provisions: a new law drafted by ISBA's Family Law Section Council should bring some order to Illinois's confusing, inconsistent scheme for awarding attorney fees in family law cases
  by Helen Gunnarsson
• How-to advice for rookie associates: make sure you're taking the steps that will help you thrive as a new member of the firm
  by Helen Gunnarsson
• Telling a prospective client "I'm just not that into you": ISBA lawyers offer various ways to deliver the message, but all agree that you can't be afraid to tell would-be clients "no" if representing them doesn't feel right
  by Helen Gunnarsson
• Although a trial court's failure to rule on a motion in limine may constitute an abuse of discretion, a harmless error will not overturn a ruling
• The right to a jury trial is not guaranteed in an action nonexistent at common law
• Illinois amends standards for foster family homes
• Illinois creates emergency contact database
• Get ready for Illinois' new rules of professional conduct: on July 1, the Supreme Court approved new rules that bring Illinois legal-ethics regulation closer to that of other states. This article highlights the most important changes, which take effect Ja
  by Robert A. Creamer
• Anatomy of a will: a step-by-step guide: with so much passing outside of probate, do lawyers still need to know how to draft wills? This ISBA lawyer says absolutely yes - and she offers a step-by-step primer on simple wills for newbies, and litigators, an
  by Helen W. Gunnarsson
• When recusal leads to deadlock: a constitutional cure: a recent U.S. Supreme Court's opinion may increase the number of recusals in Illinois, which could lead to important cases not being decided by our state's highest court. This article proposes a const
  by J. Timothy Eaton; Lynn A. Ellenberger
• The duty to warn against serious injury: can plaintiffs successfully challenge Illinois' tough standard? In Iseberg v Gross, the Supreme Court ruled that a defendant has no duty to warn a plaintiff against serious injury unless the two are in one of the &
  by Eugene I. Pavalon; Harry C. Lee
• Inactive client relationships may create per se conflicts for criminal defense lawyers: a per se conflict of interest may arise because of a past client relationship, regardless of whether criminal defense attorneys have spoken with their former client in
  by Isaac J. Colunga
• Blogs for dummies immigrants: how can you be a blogger when you aren't sure what a blog is, you ask? Read on
  by Karen Erger
• Urban legends about family law: think men don't get custody? Think they don't get maintenance? Think again
  by H. Joseph Gitlin
• Could a "clunker" program solve the real estate lending problem? How about letting homeowners trade in their high interest or adjustable rate mortgages for fixed-term mortgages at current rates?
  by James K. Weston
• Presenting property tax appeals