Last week, the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism emailed Illinois lawyers a brief, anonymous survey on their experiences with bullying in the legal profession.
The survey was emailed to active Illinois lawyers who, based on information submitted to the ARDC, listed an Illinois business address or, if such address was left blank, listed an
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AI-Powered Mentoring: Harnessing GenAI for Lawyer Development

Mentoring relationships play a crucial role in the professional development of lawyers, providing guidance, support, and substantive learning for the next generation. Yet, mentors and mentees alike struggle to prioritize such professional development in today’s fast-paced legal profession. Enter generative artificial intelligence (genAI), a groundbreaking tool that has the potential to transform mentoring relationships for…
Illinois 1Ls Take the Pledge of Professionalism to Begin Their Law School Careers

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis leads Loyola University Chicago School of Law students in the Pledge of Professionalism
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that, for the 17th year, it has collaborated with Illinois law schools to facilitate professionalism orientations for incoming 1Ls. All nine Illinois law…
New Illinois Supreme Court Learning Center Opens to the Public

Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission Executive Director John Lupton speaks at the grand opening of the Learning Center (Photo Credit: Illinois Supreme Court)
The Illinois Supreme Court Learning Center opened its doors to the public in a grand opening program on September 20, 2023, where Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis and Supreme…
Celebrating Hispanic Attorneys: A Q&A with HLAI President Jennifer Crespo

Each year, National Hispanic Heritage Month pays tribute to the Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation.
This year we celebrate against the backdrop of a booming Hispanic population in the U.S., a growing community of immigrants in Illinois, and frequent arrivals of migrants and asylum seekers to the state.
According to…
Illinois Supreme Court Names Lea Gutierrez as New ARDC Administrator

The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that it has appointed Lea S. Gutierrez as the new Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), the organization responsible for the registration and discipline of Illinois lawyers. Gutierrez’s appointment is effective October 23, 2023.
In this role, Gutierrez will serve as the organization’s principal executive officer…
Lawyer Spotlight: Bridget Duignan, Latherow & Duignan Ltd.

Our Lawyer Spotlight series highlights Illinois lawyers who are demonstrating the ideals of professionalism in their daily lives.
Bridget Duignan, Partner at Latherow & Duignan in Chicago, represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice, construction negligence, sexual abuse, and wrongful death matters.
Before joining Latherow & Duignan, she served as Assistant Counsel to the Speaker of…
World Justice Project Releases Toolkit to Help Lawyers Talk About the Rule of Law

The World Justice Project (WJP) is calling on lawyers to lead in rebuilding trust in the rule of law.
In a speech before the National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP) covered by the WJP, retired U.S. Judge J. Michel Luttig told bar association leaders that “American democracy and the rule of law are in…
Illinois Supreme Court Finds that Remote Pretrial Hearings May Be Necessary to Comply With SAFE-T Act

The Illinois Supreme Court has officially found that operational challenges in Illinois circuit courts will necessitate remote pretrial hearings to comply with the pretrial release provisions of the SAFE-T Act, according to an Order issued in late August.
The Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, which provides reforms to various aspects of the criminal…
Illinois Ranks High as Preferred State for Law Students

Illinois ranks third in the U.S. for states aspiring law students should consider, with its strong job prospects, degree affordability, and the emotional health of its working professionals, according to a recent study.
The study, conducted by re-settlement loan company Uplift Legal Funding, ranked states on a scale of 1 – 10 on factors important…
Lawyer Spotlight: Jesse Hodierne, Prairie State Legal Services, Inc.

Our Lawyer Spotlight series highlights Illinois lawyers who are demonstrating the ideals of professionalism in their daily lives.
Jesse Hodierne is a managing attorney at Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. in Rockford. He currently supervises attorneys practicing in public benefits, housing, domestic violence, and many other areas.
Jesse received a J.D. from Southern Illinois University…
Getting Started With ChatGPT for Lawyers

In the fast-evolving landscape of legal practice, staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage, but a necessity. Staying up to date on new technology helps lawyers attain competence in the benefits and risks of technology for you and your clients, while providing ways to streamline your work and enhance client service.
Whether…
Where Two Illinois Law School Professors Stand on AI in Their Classrooms

It is yet to be determined how ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications may transform the legal profession and the delivery of legal services. However, law schools and their faculty are deciding now whether to permit students to use these AI tools in their law school classes and how best to train students…
7 Work Essentials for Lawyers’ ‘Back-to-School’ Refresh

Quick poll: as a student, did you skip or sulk down the school supplies aisles during back-to-school season? If new gear still gears you up, or if you need to treat yourself to sweeten the end of summer, even lawyers can get in on back-to-school shopping with new work essentials.
We asked Illinois attorneys Bryan…
Lawyers, Don’t Miss Your Deadline to Have Fun This Summer

As lawyers, we live by deadlines and an important summer deadline is quickly approaching. Before panic sets in, take a deep breath. This is a positive deadline. Summer is not over yet, so you still have time to recharge and, dare I say, have some fun.
While summer does not end until September 23, the…
Survey Finds Black Women Lawyers Continue to Experience High Rates of Discrimination and Bias

A recent survey found 70% of Black women lawyers had experienced or witnessed discrimination and bias in the workplace and 47% said they feel the burden of having to educate people on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) just because they are Black.
The study, conducted by the National Bar Association (NBA) Women Lawyers Division…