Illinois State Bar Association

09/02/2026

Happening this month❕ Join us in Peoria for ISBA’s 2026 Solo & Small Firm Conference, “From Log Cabin to Legacy,” a two‑day, in‑person event designed to bring Illinois solo and small firm attorneys together.

Hosted at the Pere Marquette in the historic city of Peoria, this program delivers actionable CLE, real‑world insights, and the tools you need to help you build, grow, and sustain a lasting legal practice.

Whether you’re launching your first law firm or focused on strengthening an established law business, you’ll gain the best practice tips and strategies for every stage of your professional journey.

Register ➡️ https://ow.ly/Nmze50Zl804

✨ Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association | Sponsored by ISBA Mutual Insurance Company ✨

09/01/2026

2️⃣ WEEKS AWAY❕ This immersive 13‑week online program is designed for practitioners who want to confidently guide families through some of life’s most challenging transitions using a non‑adversarial, solution‑focused approach. Designed specifically for family and divorce cases, this training equips you with the full range of skills required to serve as a qualified family mediator in Illinois. You’ll gain practical tools, legal insight, and psychological understanding to help parents, children, and families move forward with clarity and dignity.

The program is taught by Case Ellis, Law Office of H. Case Ellis; Missy Greathouse, Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc.; & Jerald A. Kessler, Attorney and Mediator — nationally recognized mediators, authors, educators, and full-time alternative dispute resolution practitioners.

View specific course topics and learn about our instructors ➡️ https://ow.ly/Tu4150Zwfzt

08/31/2026

📢 The ISBA is excited to announce that our two new member directories are now live!

📌 ISBA Member-to-Member Directory: Whether you are interested in making or receiving referrals from other members or just want to look up a member you recently met at a meeting, the Member-to-Member Directory is your go-to source for finding ISBA members. Only ISBA members can access the directory, and all ISBA members are eligible to have a free profile in it.

🔗 isba.org/directory/search

📌 Illinois Lawyer Finder: Get found by potential clients looking to hire a lawyer in our revamped public-facing directory. Available to lawyer members (except judges and inactive, retired, and military members), this public directory has additional client-oriented search options, a contact form for privacy, and is completely free.

🔗 isba.org/public/illinoislawyerfinder/search

Find Out More About the Member Directories ➡️ isba.org/directory/about

08/31/2026

🎵 Family Law Update: Music City Conference 2026 🎶🎸

✨ Friday, October 2, 2026 – Saturday, October 3, 2026 ✨

Get up‑to‑the‑minute updates on case law and statutory changes, learn how to draft enforceable orders that withstand scrutiny, and master the appellate pitfalls that can reverse a loss—or protect a win.

🎹🎵 View the topics, speakers, and our generous sponsors ➡️ https://ow.ly/wmHe50ZEUW6

08/30/2026

REGISTER NOW 📌 Taught by Scott Lane, partner at Lane Brown, LLC❕

Improve your trial skills in this “learn-by-doing” program that covers all phases of trial work from both a plaintiff/prosecutor and defendant’s viewpoint, in both civil and criminal cases. Through this course, you will learn and practice new trial techniques that are most effective and consistent with the Illinois Rules of Evidence and the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Each session is audio-video taped so you can see and hear the improvements in your voice, manner, and trial technique. The course has been proven to be of value whether your practice includes trying jury and non-jury cases, administrative hearings, arbitrations, or even mediations.

Learn more about the Fall Semester topics ➡️ https://ow.ly/ubji50Zqblk

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

Thank you, Alexandra, for being a valued ISBA author!

We congratulate Alexandra Wizda, Paralegal Assistant, on her article “My Journey From Policy to Practice.” This was published in the Illinois State Bar Association’s Law-Related Education newsletter. In the article, Alexandra recounts her transition from policy work to family law. This has shaped her understanding of the law’s direct and meaningful impact on individuals and families.

You may read Alexandra’s article here: https://www.isba.org/committees/lawrelatededucation/newsletter/2026/04/myjourneyfrompolicytopractice

08/28/2026

📢 Applications for the 2027-28 Rural Practice Fellowship Program season are now open❕

The ISBA Rural Practice Fellowship Program connects rural and small town law firms looking to hire law clerks and associates with law students and recent graduates interested in practicing law in rural communities of Illinois. The Program has placed 44 associate fellows and 34 summer clerk fellows in rural firms all over Illinois since its creation in 2020.

📌 Apply and learn more about how the Program benefits both rural firms and attorneys considering rural practice by visiting isba.org/ruralpractice.

08/28/2026

New release! 📗 Fully updated for 2026 with all the changes from the SAFE-T Act, including an expanded and up-to-date section on the pre-trial release provisions that took effect on Sept. 18, 2023.

This essential guide for criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges condenses everything you need to know before appearing at a sentencing or pre-trial release hearing.

Available in hard copy and Fastbook PDF.

📘 ISBA members receive a discount on all ISBA books!

Place your order ➡️ https://ow.ly/5EM950ZB0U5

Special thanks to author Darren O’Brien for this publication. Darren is now in private practice after a 30-year career at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted thousands of defendants and tried hundreds of cases.

08/27/2026

Take Advantage of Our Early Bird Registration Pricing On or Before August 30❕

Join us in Peoria for ISBA’s 2026 Solo & Small Firm Conference, “From Log Cabin to Legacy,” a two‑day, in‑person event designed to bring Illinois solo and small firm attorneys together.

Hosted at the Pere Marquette in the historic city of Peoria, this program delivers actionable CLE, real‑world insights, and the tools you need to help you build, grow, and sustain a lasting legal practice.

Whether you’re launching your first law firm or focused on strengthening an established law business, you’ll gain the best practice tips and strategies for every stage of your professional journey.

Register ➡️ https://ow.ly/Nmze50Zl804

✨ Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association | Sponsored by ISBA Mutual Insurance Company ✨